The room is buzzing with lots of discussion, as delegates consider ways and means to guide D&P over the next five years. From this morning, there emerged some of the more encouraging aspects emerging from this process and some of the challenges that will need to be overcome.Here are some of the Cheers:
- Commitment and passion of members
- Our partners
- Exposure trips
- The level of analysis in our approach
- D&P’s 43-year history
- Catholic social teachings
- Care for humanity
- Holding firm to our principles and to our commitments to our partners and people in the Global South
- The desire for a clear and simple message
- The faith and action of D&P
- The results of advocacy activities
- D&P’s strong and unique voice
- Support to women’s groups and reaffirmation of that support
- To tap into more information from Global South
- Consensus of vision amongst members
- The engagement of those involved with D&P
- Recognize change without losing hope or our mission
- Potential for communication between partners and us
Three common themes emerged:
- There is a common vision emerging of what environmental justice should be, that it must be tied to social justice and not veer D&P away from its mission.
- There is a genuine enthusiasm and appreciation for the emerging presence of youth within the organization and recognition that activities should engage youth and encourage them to participate.
- Recognition that D&P should reach out to others outside of the Church who share D&P's values.
Challenges:
- The challenge of integrating our Partners
- Some communities feel isolated
- The work that needs to be done in the North
- The rapid advance of climate change and its impact on increasing poverty
- The policies that negatively affect the Global South don’t seem to be changing
- That D&P does not have a broader reach; there is not enough awareness of what we do – even after 43 years of existence
- The need to connect all the issues together
- D&P's message is not clear and can make it difficult to transmit; our history is not known
- We don’t put enough accent on our achievements
- Lack of resources, such as materials and animators, to respond to all the needs
- Reacting quickly enough to emerging realities
Three themes emerged:
- D&P’s message is very nuanced and can be difficult to express, which has impeded the organization from taking its place among public opinion.
- Canadian policies are detrimental to local production in the Global South.
- It is difficult to recruit new members; new strategies and approaches need to be adopted.
Let us know what you think!
Posts
Great job on the cheers and challenges...
ReplyDeleteRe: "D&P's message is very nuanced and can be difficult to express, which has impeded...." Perhaps part of our problem of expressing what we do, is that we are a church organization operating in a largely unchurched world.
Perhaps a key strategy for D&P's survival is learning to express what we do in language that everyone - both churched and unchurched - can understand. Eg. everyone understands food sovereignty.
Debbie - Thunder Bay
Also, we may have been discounted or our perspective not heard, or publicized by media, because we are Catholic. One positive aspect of the current political climate is that it seems somewhat easier to wear one's "faith-basedness" publicly.
ReplyDeleteWe could immediately do more to present our message to the world by using social media more effectively. You need to follow the example of groups like MSF Canada - this organization is so good at getting their stories out there. All we write and say this weekend are no more than empty words unless we finally do something effective in this area.
ReplyDeleteCommit to some bold new initiatives this weekend! Start by putting our Twitter account on the web page. Continue by showing us a dynamic Development and Peace, finally confident enough to tell it's spry to the world.
Paul McGuire
I don't think we should ever apologize for being a Catholic organization. If some are troubled by our catholicity, it is perhaps that they have a particular negative view of what "Catholic" means, which may be very different from what we, as members of D&P strive for. For some who view "Catholic" negatively, we may be a pleasant surprise within the church, different from what they have experienced, but certainly central to the social mission of the church.
ReplyDeleteFrank St Catharines
Global social justice, food sovereignty and solidarity, peace and prosperity amongst the poorer classes are a universal need. We can be the light and leaders, but, our main concern in my mind is encouraging and "bringing into the fold" some harried, working class people in our today's Western society. Our emphasis needs to be on building friendships with other groups, keeping in mind the peaceful measures of success ( i.e government involvement, local library talks,going more into the schools at all levels, hosting events that give us the chance to "walk the talk" - BBQs', cultural events that will give us the chance to talk about what happens in those countries.
ReplyDeleteI think that the 3rd theme that was mentioned -- reach out to others outside the church who share the values of D&P -- is very well put. I also see many comments in this blog related to the need to communicate our vision and mandate WITHIN the church. Relationship-building (internally & externally) seems to be key at this point. That doesn't mean we apologize for being a Catholic organization.
ReplyDeleteGina Bennett
Cranbrook, BC