Leave no one behind: Vaccine equity in the Global South
Event Recording
June 15, 2021
In response to our partners in the Global South, Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) supports the current global campaign for COVID-19 vaccine equity that advocates for making vaccines more accessible to people in low and middle-income countries. The campaign focuses on a waiver of certain provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for all medical products related to COVID-19.
Without the waiver, low and middle-income countries will have to rely on charity from pharmaceutical companies and wealthy countries or go without access to lifesaving medicines and technology.
CJI invited four distinguished guests, Fr Charles Chilufya SJ, Dr Sunita Narain, Dr Katrina Plamondon and Dr Jeffrey Sachs to talk about the campaign on vaccine equity, speak of the impact of COVID in the Global South, and inform us on how we can support this campaign.
Make your voice heard!
Write to Prime Minister Trudeau (and your MP) and ask the Government of Canada to support the TRIPS waiver and to play its part in reimagining global governance that paves the way for a just future for all.
You can use the sample letter below, copy and paste it on an email, sign and send it to the Prime Minister (and your MP). Please make sure to copy the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Their emails are in the sample letter.
Please support our COVID-19 Emergency Appeal.
This has to be one of the best webinars I have attended. It has challenged me to use my one voice to other injustices that our nation and world face. Every voice counts no matter how small and no matter the volume. It is that one voice that can tip the balance towards a better world.Thank you for such a well organized event and such powerful speakers on the panel. They spoke from their hearts, from their knowledge and more importantly from their lived experience.
MJ Racz
Thank you for orchestrating the webinar "Leave no one behind: Vaccine equity in the Global South". The speakers, each in their own way stretched not only my knowledge but my own heart.
Anonymous
CJI as a team, thank you so much. What a great [group of] people you managed to pull together, such knowledgeable, informative, and passionate people.
Peter, you were a great co-host and you worked well together with the host, Jenny.
Jenny, you have a kind, appreciative manner and also professional presence. I found this such a current and relevant topic.
David Shulist SJ
Let me congratulate the CJI team for organizing such an important thematic webinar on "Vaccine equity in the Global South". It was a very moving/touching experience to listen to all distinguished guests on the panel. We need good global leadership with good governance to work for global justice specially to bring the poor inside the social, economic and demoratic safety net during this covid pandemic and thereafter.There is a sharp contrast in Global equity between the North and the South. A huge challenge remains with us in the coming months. I feel a collective effort to address this global pandemic with good global governance and enlightened leadership in service of humanity is a way forward to voice out "Leave no one behind' is a great world vision to work globally.
Pascal Xalxo SJ
Mil enhorabuenas por el fantástico seminario o webinar de ayer!! Me encantó todo.
Me gustaría destacar que me pareció buenísima la participación de las mujeres.
Muy buena la ponencia de Sunita Narain- qué buena la relación entre Covid, vacunas, cambio climático, seguridad alimentaria… y me gustó, por diferente, la perspectiva de Katarina.
Estoy deseando volver a escuchar la charla grabada.
Valeria Méndez de Vigo
Such an impressive program yesterday…so compelling and such top shelf presenters. And [Jenny's] moderation was excellent to frame it all. I don’t know how you do it, but am grateful and amazed every time.
John Sealey
Planned Giving
Photo: Fe y Alegría Peru
@canadianjesuitsinternational
We're now on Bluesky! 🦋 Follow us: @wearecji.bsky.socialPhoto: CJI staff with family and volunteers at their Christmas party, 2024
6 hours ago
𝙅𝙪𝙖𝙣 𝙀𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙤 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙯, 𝘾𝙅𝙄 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧, 𝙚𝙣 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙙𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙖, 𝘼𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙨, 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙪. 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙮: 𝙅𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙮 𝘾𝙖𝙛𝙞𝙨𝙤/𝘾𝙅𝙄Jenny Cafiso, Executive Director of Canadian Jesuits International (CJI), and Juan Emilio Hernandez, Coordinator of International Programs, are participating in a meeting of the Jesuit Pan-Amazonian Ministry (SJPAM) in Santa Maria de Nieva, Peru, from December 11-13.The meeting will reflect on how the Society of Jesus should respond to the challenges facing the Pan-Amazon region. The provincials of the region, which includes Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela, will be present. Other organizations represented include Fe y Alegria, the Jesuit Migrants' Network, the Network of Solidarity and Indigenous Apostolate, and Alboan.The Jesuit presence in the Pan-Amazon region currently includes 95 schools, five social centers, two institutions of higher education, 10 Indigenous missions, a radio station, five churches, two retirement homes, a news agency, a cultural center, and initiatives on migration and youth.#CasaComun #CPAL #SJPAM #Jesuits #Panamazonia #Amazonas
2 days ago
Today, 10 December, is Human Rights Day.#DYK CJI supports the defence of human rights and community rights – especially among Indigenous and other marginalized groups – through the work of its Jesuit partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CJI supports its Jesuit partners whose projects promote human rights and dignity, economic justice, social transformation, equality, sustainability and the integrity of creation.Among them is the RSAI Solidarity Network of the Indigenous Apostolate, which fosters the democratic participation of groups traditionally excluded from decision-making processes, such as Indigenous women.CJI supports a RSAI project that strengthens the leadership of Indigenous women in Latin America as they defend their ancestral lands and culture and fight against climate change.Learn more, including how to support the RSAI Network: Click link in bio to visit our website#humanrightsday #Jesuits
2 days ago
This Christmas, you can make a difference by supporting tea workers in India.Half of the workers on tea plantations are women, and they are paid the lowest minimum wage.The Jesuit-run Human Life Research and Development Centre, a CJI partner, teaches tea workers about their rights and helps them get benefits. It also helps workers who have lost their jobs on closed tea plantations.Donate now: https://bit.ly/ChristmasAppealWeb or click link in bio
3 days ago
Jenny Cafiso (right), Executive Director of Jesuits International Canada, met with Gianfranco Dulanto. Executive Director of the Development Office of the Jesuits of Peru. Jenny is currently in Lima, Peru for a meeting of the Conference of Jesuit Provincials of Latin America and the Caribbean.
6 days ago
Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for our 2024 Christmas online concert, Finding Refuge.We were moved by the messages we received.We thank our partners and performers from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean for sharing joy, dance, poetry and hope.A kind supporter offered to match donations up to $10,000. You gave generously and we raised $10,819.03 so far, plus the matching donation. Thank you.#GivingTuesday #JesuitsPlease support our Christmas/Giving Tuesday Appeal: http://bit.ly/CJIGivingTues2024
1 week ago
Fifty-seven students from five Catholic high schools in Hamilton used creative ways to reflect on the issue of forced migration during a "Social Justice Day" organized by Canadian Jesuits International on 26 November at Mount Mary Retreat Centre in Ancaster, Ont.
Staging a "posada" (meaning shelter or inn), a Mexican Christmas tradition that celebrates the biblical story of Mary and Joseph's journey to find shelter in Bethlehem, the students reflected on how this evokes the experiences of today's refugees, seeking safety and refuge from wars, conflicts and other factors.
Students from Colombia, Ethiopia and Ukraine shared their experiences of forced migration and how they are navigating their new lives in Canada.
With the permission of artist Kelly Latimore, the students also used some of her art to sell as Christmas cards to raise money for charities, including CJI.
The students came from the following Hamilton schools Cathedral High School, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School, Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School and Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School.
2 weeks ago
#DYK Today, 25 November, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.By supporting Canadian Jesuits International (CJI), you are helping to combat what the UN calls "one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world." CJI supports projects that prevent gender-based violence, empower women and girls through education and community organizing to make them aware of their rights.In Kenya, CJI supports a project that provides medical support programmes for people living with HIV/AIDS and support for victims of gender-based violence in the Kangemi slums of Nairobi. The project is run by Uzima, a programme of the Jesuit Province of East Africa.CJI also supports an African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN) project that provides medical care, skills training, scholarships, seed grants and HIV prevention services to vulnerable teenage girls and mothers in Burkina Faso, Togo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe. The Giving Hope to Women and Girls project aims to break the vicious cycle of economic instability and related risks associated with factors such as teenage pregnancy, unemployment, lack of education, forced marriage, HIV and poverty.Visit the CJI website to learn more about these and other projects we support: Click link in bio#NoExcuse #EndVAW #Jesuits #Africa #Kenya #DRC #Zimbabwe #Togo #BurkinaFaso#NoExcuse #EndVAW #Jesuits #Africa #Kenya #DRC #Zimbabwe #Togo #BurkinaFaso
2 weeks ago
This Christmas, you can make a real difference by supporting the Jesuit Refugee Service-South Sudan. Click link in bio to donate now, or go to http://bit.ly/ChristmasAppealWeb
Your donations will provide essential education and health services to those who have been forced to flee their homes due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
The war has uprooted nine million people, with more than two million fleeing across neighbouring borders. JRS provides learning spaces that protect children and promote social inclusion. It supports families so that their children can be fully integrated into local schools.
JRS also provides rehabilitation and health services, as well as essential items such as mattresses.#JRS #Jesuits #SouthSudan #ChristmasAppeal
2 weeks ago
Fr Charles Chilufya SJ
Fr Charles Chilufya is the coordinator of the Africa Task Force of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission. He is a Jesuit priest who has served as Director of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) Justice and Ecology Office (JEO) since 2018 in Nairobi. JEO coordinates the Jesuits’ work in economic, social, migration, gender and climate justice in Africa. JEO is a vital Jesuit interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and local issues confronting populations in Africa.
Dr Sunita Narain
Dr Sunita Narain is an environmentalist and writer, and presently serves as the director-general of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Editor of the fortnightly magazine, Down To Earth. Dr Narain plays an active role in policy formulation on issues of environment and development in India and globally. She has co-authored publications on India’s environment, conducted in-depth research on the governance and management of the country’s environment and directed campaigns on air pollution control, community water management, sustainable industrialization and food & toxins, among others. In 2016, she was featured in Time magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Dr Katrina Plamondon
Dr Katrina Plamondon is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. She is a Canadian woman of Cree-Irish-Quebecois ancestry whose research focuses on how to advance evidence-informed equity action. She co-chairs the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research’s University Advisory Council and is a member of Canada’s National Scientific Advisory Committee for Global Health. Dr Plamondon led the development of the equity-centred CCGHR Principles for Global Health Research (www.ccghr.ca/resources/principles-global-health-research/) and continuously contributes to national and international dialogue about Canada’s role in global health, amplifying issues of equity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Jeffrey Sachs
Dr Jeffrey D. Sachs is a professor, author, and advisor to governments around the world and to the United Nations. He leads global efforts for sustainable development and climate safety. Sachs is a strong supporter of the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. He is an expert on public health and epidemics and has advised the World Health Organization at the highest levels during the past 20 years. Sachs helped to conceive and implement the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.
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