mar19-25

	The Rev. Paul Kompass, representing KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, and Joan O'Connell, the CCODP Ottawa Diocesan Council chair, hold a framed Proclamation of World Water Day, presented by Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli, left. Also speaking at the event at City Hall March 22 marking World Water Day were Ottawa South Liberal MP David McGuinty, and Pauline Leduc, Ottawa animator for the CCODP.
	Ottawa Anglican priest, the Rev. Paul Kompass, representing KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, leads a march to Ottawa City Hall March 22 marking World Water Day. Over 150 Canadian municipalities - including Halifax, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Victoria - have passed resolutions recognizing water as a basic right and stressing the need to maintain public and collective ownership of water.
	Rev. Robert C. Assaly, chair of Canadian Friends of Sabeel, says the organization joins with the Christian Peacemaker Team in rejoicing over the return of the three CPT hostages. "At the same time, we yet grieve the death of Tom Fox," said Assaly, an Ottawa Anglican priest. Fox, an American, was killed by the group's captors."The power of their witness cannot be underestimated -- in their freedom and in their captivity, in their living and in their dying -- to our shared values of non-violent witness in the face of wholly unjustifiable violence." The Sabeel (an Arabic word meaning "the way" or "a spring of life-giving water") Centre is an ecumenical centre for Palestinian liberation theology based in Jerusalem.
	April is Daffodil Month in Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society is inviting Canadians to join in the battle against cancer. During April - the Society's Daffodil Month - thousands of volunteers from coast to coast will be selling daffodils, knocking on doors and organizing special events.

Toronto MP John Godfrey has announced he will seek the leadership of the Liberal Party when it chooses a successor to former Prime Minister Paul Martin in December. Godfrey, 63, said March 20 he will submit his official papers when the party declares the race open on April 7.

Alberta-based Christian singer Janelle, seen promoting her New Day album prior to World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, will be on pins and needles April 2. That's when the Canadian music industry honors its best at the Juno Awards ceremony in Halifax. Janelle's album, Livin' for Something is among the nominees for Contemporary Christian / Gospel Album Of The Year. Janelle sang the theme song for World Youth Day in Canada.

	Forbes Magazine recently reported that the number of billionaires throughout the world increased by 102 over last year to a record 793. Their combined wealth grew 18 percent to $2.6 trillion, according to the magazine’s 2006 rankings of the world’s richest people. The net worth of the world's richest man, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, rose to $50 billion from $46.5 billion, the magazine reported. The company's co-founder, Paul Allen, placed 6th on the list with a net worth of $22 billion. Allen's yacht, the 300-footTatoosh, seen in this February 2005 photo in the waters off Grand Cayman Island, reportedly carries a 30-person crew, two helicopters, a swimming pool, a spa, a private movie theatre, six other surface boats and a submarine. Allen bought the yacht in 2000 but "upgraded" three years later when he added the US$200 million Octopus to his fleet. It's the world's largest yacht spanning 416 feet and accomodating a permanent crew of 60.