GC43 or earlier GC41 From Province to Province: The Beaconsfield Initiative January 1–12, 2012; Strengthening Partnerships and Studying the Impact of Canadian Mining Interests in the Philippines That the 41st General Council 2012, in order to continue the work of the Beaconsfield Initiative in the Cordillera region in the Philippines, direct the Executive of the General Council and General Secretary, General Council to: call for the following, the end of the vilification and human rights violations of people and people's organizations.; the immediate release of the 347 political prisoners; the end of illegal arrest and imprisonment of people; the end of abuse, violence, and sex crimes against women in indigenous communities as practiced by the military; and the protection of the ancestral lands and resources from destructive large scale mining and all projects affecting indigenous communities; and take the following actions: develop a properly worded petition, with 25 accompanied signatures (to be developed in consultation with the Beaconsfield Initiative), to be distributed to all of its congregations and ministry sites, which will be hand delivered to every member of Parliament demanding the regulation of Canadian mining companies and their practices abroad. In addition, to invite Kairos and all our national Church partners and NGO’s to join in this campaign, to be completed by December 1, 2012; encourage our membership and lobby the Canadian government to boycott and divest from any companies who use and employ private militias or security forces, trained and equipped by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. And encourage Kairos and other Church partners to do the same; and increase funding and support for the National Council of Churches of the Philippines, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Regional Ecumenical Council of the Cordillera, Cordillera Peoples Alliance and the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance, who have been long term partners, allowing them to expand their capacity to report on human rights violations, extra judicial killings, enforced disappearances, violence against women and children, the treatment of indigenous populations, the militarization of communities and monitor Canadian Mining applications and interests. GC41 2012 ROP, pp. 210-211, 355-356 Save to PDF True Document Date August 17, 2012 Document Type Social Policy Originating Body Other Topic Environment and Ecology Latest News Moderator of the 45th General Council installed The installation service of the 45th Moderator of The United Church of Canada, the Right Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath, took place at Knox United Church, 506 4 St. SW, Calgary, Alberta, tonight. Monday, Aug. 11: Decision session summary The final day of GC45 began with a moving service that remembered the Communion of Saints, before settling business on a number of proposals. Sunday, Aug. 10: Summary of the day After the Alvin Dixon Walk/Run raised over $25,000, participants heard from Toward 2035, Indigenous Ministry and Justice, and a message of continued support from Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson.