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Canada finally signed the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights (UNDRIP). Since UNDRIP’s adoption in 2007, when Canada was one of only 4 member nations to oppose the declaration, Canada’s First Nations, Métis, and Inuit leaders have urged the government to reconsider. Canada’s endorsement of UNDRIP will “further reconcile and strengthen our relationship with Aboriginal peoples in Canada” said Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs John Duncan.—digitaljournal.com

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The global AIDS epidemic has slowed with a 20 percent decrease in new HIV infections over the past decade, according to the UN AIDS agency. Noting the success of preventative efforts, the report stated that mother-to-child transmission could be virtually eliminated by 2015. UNAIDS said 5.2 million people in developing countries were accessing life-saving anti-retroviral drugs in 2009, compared to just 700,000 in 2004. However, 10 million people are still waiting to be initiated onto the drugs. Worldwide, 33.3 million people live with HIV, with 7,000 new infections daily.—theglobeandmail.com

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For every person sleeping in a shelter, there are 23 households on the verge of homelessness – families spending more than 50 percent of their income on unsafe housing. These “vulnerably housed” Canadians face the same health problems as the homeless, according to a Toronto doctor’s report calling for a national housing strategy. Homeless and marginally housed men in the study had the same chance − 32 percent − of living to 75 as an average man in 1921, before the advent of antibiotics.—Toronto Star

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While 380,000 people in Java, Indonesia, waited to see what was left of their homes after Mount Merapi erupted, 97 families in Rado, Papua, grieved 71 villagers as they cleaned up the destruction caused by an October flash flood. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) invites gifts toward its commitment of $145,000 to help partner agency Indonesian Mennonite Diakonia Service respond to both disasters.—mcc.org

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The God Uses Ink Novice Writing Contest encourages never-before-published Canadian writers (age 14 and older) who are Christian to submit stories, poems, scripts, and articles on the topic “Changing the World with Words.” All entries receive feedback, and first-prize winners enjoy free registration (valued at $400) to the Write! Canada conference in Guelph, Ont., June 16−18, 2010. Deadline is Jan. 15.
—canadianchristianwritingawards.com. At a Remembrance Day service in Warman, Sask., 2 participants from MCC’s International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP), Ying Ying Wang of China and Santiago Gomez of Colombia, spoke about God’s peace before a crowd of 600, which included RCMP officers and former peacekeepers to Bosnia.—MCC release

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To enable them “to expand their leadership development ministry across the United States and Canada,” Arrow Leadership International Ministries has restructured to include one president for each nation, announced board chair Miller Alloway. Carson Pue, president for the past 12 years, is transitioning to CEO. Since 1991, Arrow Leadership has helped over 1,400 leaders around the world “to be led more by Jesus, lead more like Jesus, and lead more to Jesus.”—www.arrowleadership.org

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In a letter to Mennonite Publishing Network and Mennonite Church USA, Scottdale (Pa.) Mennonite Church leaders expressed their concern Mennonites may get a bad name, like the steel companies who 20 years ago “left behind deteriorating buildings that…became eyesores,” when MPN closes its Scottdale facility and relocates staff to Harrisonburg, Va. MPN and Mennonite Church USA executive board welcomed Scottdale Mennonite’s invitation to “explore possibilities for the use of the MPN building as the basis for a continuing presence in Scottdale that would serve the community,” saying they were “delighted” to see the church focused on reaching out to its community.—themennonite.org

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In its 5-year history, the Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) school of writing has helped hundreds of writers gain confidence and experience. At the May 9−13, 2011 session, instructors Marina Endicott (fiction), Allan Rudy-Froese (sermon), Joanne Klassen (life writing), and Myrna Kostash (creative nonfiction) will connect with writers at CMU’s north campus. Registration deadline is Mar. 1. —www.cmu.ca/schoolofwriting

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Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Bolivia has created a new resource for Old Colony teachers, many of whom have not had formal training. The 63-page booklet includes lesson plans and teacher’s manual for 13 mathematical concepts, and a map of Bolivia that highlights the 63 Mennonite colonies and settlements in Bolivia. Also encouraging, in 2009, Riva Palacios Colony teachers began meeting regularly in small groups to share new teaching methods, songs, and information.—MCC release

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