Commemorating Mahatma Gandhi
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jROXV5h0HvR7Aw6koGZr7EoDhm5w

MUMBAI, India - India commemorated the 60th anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi's assassination Wednesday, January 30, 2008, with his great granddaughter scattering the peace icon's ashes in the sea off the country's most bustling metropolis. Gandhi, who led the nonviolent struggle for independence from Britain, is still revered as the moral conscience of the nation and pictures of his wizened, smiling face are everywhere in India, from the country's rupee notes to murals along the highway.

To honor the nonviolence leader, Gandhi's followers carried his ashes through the streets of Mumbai to the coast of the Arabian sea. Some 300 people, including schoolchildren and elderly followers, watched as Gandhi's family members took the ashes nearly 1.5 kilometres into the sea on a decorated motorboat.

Newcomer Strategy Group Nets $830,000 In Funding
Thursday January 24 2008 - BY TINA DEPKO, Staff Writer
Excerpts from:  http://www.northpeel.com/printArticle/41768

A task group that is looking for ways to make it easier for new immigrants to settle in Peel has received a huge financial boost. The Peel Newcomer Strategy Group is getting $830,000 from the federal government. The money will be used over the next two years to develop a co-ordinated service delivery model to enhance social and economic integration of newcomers in the region.

The group consists of members from government, businesses and social service providers, such as United Way of Peel. "It is in the best interest for the community to have a strategy that makes Peel an attractive place because we need to get workers and when they do come here, to expedite their integration," said Evelyn Myrie, director of the Peel Newcomer Strategy Group. "When people come to Canada, they think they are going to come into employment in their chosen career field and they are very disappointed when that doesn't happen. I would like to see Peel region become a model in how it attracts newcomers and keeps them."

The new funding for the group comes through Citizenship and Immigration Canada under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement. Diane Finley, minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, made the announcement last week in Mississauga.

"The Government of Canada is committed to helping newcomers succeed," Finley said. "With this funding, the Peel region will be better prepared to welcome and assist newcomers, providing much-needed services and easing their transition to life in Canada."

The goal of making Peel more immigrant-friendly is more relevant than ever. According to the 2006 census, 561,240 immigrants live in Peel, which is 49 per cent of the region's population.
"If we don't have workers who can supply the labour, there is going to be a problem," Myrie said. The Peel Newcomer Strategy Group has a multi-pronged approach to identifying gaps in the settlement sector. Besides monthly meetings for the 28 group members, there will be community consultations and interviews with new immigrants in Peel.

There are also several projects on the go, such as an immigrant settlement services database and a map detailing where newcomers are settling in the region. For information about the Peel Newcomer Strategy Group, visit www.peelnewcomer.org  or call their office at 905-602-3650.

Immigrants In Quebec And B.C. Starting To Do Better Than Those In Ontario
From: hrreporter.com,
January 21, 2008

Canada needs to overhaul its immigration policy to favour younger candidates like foreign students and temporary workers, according to a new study. One of the biggest barriers immigrants to Canada face is the inability to transfer foreign qualifications and work experience, but these are less of a barrier for younger immigrants and temporary foreign workers, according to the study by researchers at the Universite de Montreal.

"There is a serious lack of consistency between the government policy of wanting to attract qualified new immigrants to the labour market, and the reality that confronts those immigrants when employers refuse to recognize their experience and qualifications," states the study.

The study also found while Ontario's immigrants have historically fared better financially than those in Quebec and British Columbia, that situation is changing. In the 1990s, the salary of immigrants to Ontario fell behind that of immigrants in Quebec and B.C.

Immigrants to Quebec are doing better largely because since the 1960s Quebec has been allowed to select its "economic class" immigrants, and in the last six or seven years has changed its policies to favour North African and European francophones. Immigrants in B.C. are faring better because that province has a longer experience with new arrivals from Asia, who now form the bulk of immigrants to Canada.

The study found language skills are the most important factor in determining an immigrant's success, while economic cycles had little effect, said Brahim Boudarbat, a professor at the Universite de Montréal and the study's co-author along with doctoral student Maude Boulet.

The researchers also discovered that immigrant women in Quebec and immigrant men in B.C. earn the least, while immigrants from Africa and Latin America have a harder time having their qualifications recognized.

Cholera Threatening Kenya, Warns Caritas
January 23, 2008

NAIROBI, Kenya (Zenit.org): Caritas is concerned that the delicate situation of refugees in Kenya could worsen to a cholera epidemic. After contested Dec. 27 presidential elections, some 250,000 people fled their homes amidst a wave of violence.

The situation is especially critical in the Archdiocese of Kisumu, where a cholera epidemic is most feared. For now, the aid organization affirmed, the refugees are receiving food and basic necessities. However, Caritas launched an appeal for $2.6 million to continue providing for the thousands currently depending on the organization for sustenance.

New Jesuit Superior To Focus On Service
http://www.theindiancatholic.com/report.asp?nid=10226
January 23, 2008 - By Marta Lago

ROME (Zenit.org): As Jesuits, as Christians and as people of God, we are called to serve the Church, the world and the Gospel, the new superior-general of the Jesuits said in the Mass of thanksgiving for his election. Father Adolfo Nicolás, 71, was elected superior-general of the Society of Jesus on Saturday. The order is in Rome celebrating its 35th General Congregation.

The priest succeeds Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, 79, who presented his resignation after having led the order for nearly 25 years. Father Nicolás presided over the Sunday Eucharist and was received with applause from the countless faithful who participated in the celebration.

Immediately before the Liturgy of the Word, he prayed: "Oh God, eternal king of everything, you have instituted a Society ardently in love with Christ and the Church his spouse, look on me, your servant, with kindness, whom you have prepared as successor of St. Ignatius, to rule and watch over this apostolic body.

"Grant that I may conserve it and develop it in unity and charity, through prayer, word and example, so that, pleasing you in everything, it can achieve the end which you have desired."

Economic Turbulence Will Leave 5 Million Unemployed: ILO

GENEVA (ICNS) – Economic turbulence largely due to credit market turmoil and rising oil prices could spur an increase in global unemployment by an estimated 5 million persons in 2008, the International Labour Office (ILO) said Wednesday in its annual Global Employment Trends report (GET).

The new projection for 2008 is in contrast to 2007, a watershed year in which sound global GDP growth – of more than 5 per cent –, led to a “stabilization” of global labour markets with more people in work, a net increase of 45 million new jobs and only a slight increase in the number of people unemployed, to a total of 189.9 million persons worldwide, an ILP release noted.

“This year’s global jobs picture is one of contrasts and uncertainty”, said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia. “While global growth is annually producing millions of new jobs, unemployment remains unacceptably high and may go to levels not seen before this year. What’s more, though more people are in work than ever before, this doesn’t mean that these jobs are decent jobs. Too many people, if not unemployed, remain among the ranks of the working poor, the vulnerable or the discouraged.”

Significantly, the ILO report noted that the reduction in the growth in developed economies attributed to credit market turmoil and higher oil prices so far had been “compensated for in the rest of the world”, especially in Asia, where economic and job growth remained strong.

However, the ILO report warned that an expected slowdown in growth during 2008 could increase the global unemployment rate to 6.1 per cent, with a resulting absolute increase of at least 5 million unemployed worldwide.

Pope Will Not Attend Quebec Eucharistic Congress
By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News Ottawa

Pope Benedict has sent his regrets he will not attend the 49th International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City June 15-22.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec, said the pope will send a representative to the congress that coincides with the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec. Ouellet cited the pope's packed schedule and concerns about maintaining the health of the 81-year old pontiff.

Pope Benedict will visit Washington, D.C. and New York City in April and Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day in July. "Obviously, I'm disappointed, since his visit would have enhanced the celebration of the International Eucharistic Congress and given Quebec City's 400th anniversary a global profile," Ouellet said.

The Congress will feature speakers like L'Arche's Jean Vanier, other lay Catholic luminaries, and prominent clerics.

"The Eucharistic Congress is really about Jesus' presence in the Eucharist," said Archbishop James Weisgerber, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. "And that reality will be there."

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