Media Advisory - Hundreds of Churches Join KAIROS and WCC Bell Ringing Action
This Sunday

TORONTO, Dec. 11 /CNW/ -

    
    WHO:      More than 250 of KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice
              Initiatives' member churches and local committees from coast to
              coast to coast.

    WHAT:     Church bells will toll 350 times either at 3PM or immediately
              following morning worship.

              Where churches do not have bells, they will gather outside and
              bang pots, clang cowbells, beat drums and whatever else will
              make a holy noise to get the attention of world leaders.

              Many churches are incorporating creative activities into the
              action such as drumming lessons and creating sound art.

    WHERE:    From Richmond, British Columbia to Berwick, Nova Scotia and
              points in between.

              See the KAIROS website for a map of participating churches that
              have registered. Zoom in on the bells to find churches in
              specific locations:

    http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=107169348847471664149.00047932df8fbb506c1d3&ll=28.304381,-95.625&spn=85.827353,105.46875&z=2&source=embed

              Many churches have not yet registered though they plan to
              participate. We estimate that at least 500 churches and
              local committees are joining this action.

    WHEN:     Sunday, December 13, 2009 at 3:00PM local time or earlier.

              (Please Note: Exact times may vary since some churches will be
              doing this action immediately following their morning worship.
              Please check local times with specific congregations).

    WHY:      The KAIROS bell ringing campaign is part of a global day of
              action for churches around the world on Sunday, December 13th.
              The global bell ringing action is timed to coincide with an
              ecumenical service that the World Council of Churches is
              coordinating at the height of the United Nations Climate Change
              talks in Copenhagen. When the service ends at 3:00PM, churches
              all over Denmark will ring their bells.

              For thousands of years church bells have been used to invite
              people to prayer, warn them of imminent danger and to call them
              to action. Climate change is a present threat to millions of
              people in the developing world and a future threat to the
              entire earth. Now is the time for prayer, for preparedness and
              for action!

              Why 350 times? See the WCC website for the explanation:

    http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/events/ev/se/article/1634/bellringing-for-climate-j.html

              KAIROS staff member Ian Thomson and eight of KAIROS partners
              from the global South will be among those making a joyful noise
              at the ecumenical service in Copenhagen. For more on the KAIROS
              journey to Copenhagen, read Ian Thompson's blog about
              http://www.kairoscopenhagen.blogspot.com/

              For more information on the climate talks at Copenhagen and the
              issues at stake visit our website at: http://www.kairoscanada.org/en/ecojustice/climate-change/copenhagen-2009/
    

KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives unites seven of Canada's largest churches in joint action on social justice issues in Canada and overseas with primary focus on ecological justice and international human rights. KAIROS' bell ringing action and participation in the UN climate talks proceeds undaunted despite the recent decision by the Canadian International Development Agency to cut funding for its human rights program. For more information on the cuts see: http://kairoscanada.org/index.php?id=647

For further information: Media contact: Adiat Junaid, Communications Program Coordinator, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, [phone], ext. 223, [e-mail], www.kairoscanada.org