What is it?

​What do we do?

The Beaconsfield Initiative is a grassroots human rights advocacy partnership. We work in collaboration with several national and international organizations to end the harms inflicted on the Indigenous Peoples of the Cordillera region by Canadian mining interests. We also campaign more broadly for Human Rights in the Philippines. 

We sponsor resolutions affecting United Church policies
We appear before Parliamentary Committees
We speak at human rights conferences
We host international visits
We have served as International Elections Observers
We work for justice and peace

Background:

During trips to the Philippines, the damage and human rights violations we observed caused by the Canadian Mining Industry were prominent and disturbing. We visited many rural communities in the Philippines, most of which were directly impacted by mining activities that resulted in environmental degradation, human rights violations, militarization, and other socioeconomic impacts. We have been touched by the relationships we formed with the people in these communities, and we are dedicated to working to improve their living conditions, The Philippines is not the only country affected by human rights abuses and environmental degradation linked to Canadian mining - there are similar problems in the Congo and Guatemala, and even here in Canada.​​

Rev. Shaun Fryday offers a short reflection on the devastation caused by mining on the Abra River

Learn more:

Article about the Beaconsfield Initiative in Bulatlat

Philippines Government's attack on Freedom of Information

2020 report by the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines - Canada

International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines - Canada Call for Action

International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines - Canada Statement for International Human Rights Day 2019

Participants and Partners:

The Very Reverend Dr. Bill Phipps, Former Moderator UCC, Calgary
The Reverend Shaun E. Fryday, Beaconsfield United Church, Montreal
Honorio Guerrero, Canadian Philippine Solidarity Group, Vancouver
Beth Dollaga, Canadian Philippine Solidarity Group
Darlene Brewer, Ph.D., (Theology), UCC, Fredericton (Principle Writer)
Guy Lin Beaudoin, UCC, Montreal
The Reverend Patricia Lisson, St. Columba House, UCC, Montreal
The Reverend Marie-Claude Manga, St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, UCC, Montreal
The Reverend Bob McElhinney, UCC, Toronto
Dorothy McElhinney, UCC, Toronto
Ivy Taguik Prénoveau
Alain Prénoveau, Former Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Aboriginal Peoples, Québec, Laval
Connie Sorrio, Kairos, Toronto
Tess Tesalona, Centre for Philippine Concerns, Montreal
Darlene Brewer, Guy-Lin Beaudoin, Shaun Fryday (Writing Team)

Get Involved:

To get involved or find out more, contact [email protected]