wfn.org | CWS Kenyan Katina to discuss water conflicts at advocacy gathering

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> For Immediate Release

Kenyan Katina to discuss water conflicts at advocacy gathering

NEW YORK, Tuesday, March 3, 2009-- Deborah Katina, coordinator of Church World Service-supported Yangâ??at in Kenya, will speak on water as both a life sustainer and a conflict creator at the March 13-16 Ecumenical Advocacy Days gathering of faith-based advocates outside Washington, D.C.  The conference will be held at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel in Alexandria, Va.

Katina and the Yang'at organization are helping people in dry, rural communities in the West Pokot region of Kenya and Uganda develop clean water resources for human consumption and for livestock.  The new water supplies have served to ease fighting between people from the two communities who cross borders to poach water from each other.

In January 2009, Katina was awarded Kenya's 2008 Head of State Commendation Award for her instrumental work with women and in bringing new fresh water resources to the region. The award is given annually by Kenya's head of state to individuals who have shown excellence in their respective fields of service.

The four-day advocacy conference, "Enough for All Creation," centers on the connections between climate change, migration and poverty in the United States and around the world.  The annual event will present a series of workshops, lectures and trainings aimed at exploring ways to promote economic, environmental and social justice for all the people who share the planet Earth.

Conference workshops will focus on issues of eco-justice, global economic justice and peace and global security in all regions of the world.  Topics will include the environmental impact of war, forced displacement of people because of climate change, the impact of climate legislation on children, the elderly, poor people and people of color,

Other Church World Service international partners scheduled to address conference plenaries and workshops include Fe'iloakitau Kaho Tevi, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, who will speak on the displacement of populations due to climate change and Ramzi Zananiri, executive director of the International Christian Committee ?? Jerusalem, who will speak on environment, water, poverty and peace building in the Palestinian  Territories.

Ecumenical Advocacy Days will include training in effective advocacy and will conclude with participants going to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers or their staff.

For information and conference registration, visit http://advocacydays.org/.

> Media Contacts

Lesley Crosson, (212) 870-2676, media@churchworldservice.org

> Jan Dragin, (781) 925-1526