Good News: The U.S. State Department announced that a final decision on the tar sands Keystone XL pipeline is delayed pending an environmental review. The extraction and transportation process associated with tar sands oil would produce more carbon emissions than traditional oil. Thank President Obama for delaying this decision and urge him to ultimately reject it. Additionally, Rand Paul’s resolution that would block a clean air rule and potentially prevent the EPA from ever issuing a similar rule was defeated.
Migrants: Urge U.S. Senators and Representatives to provide robust funding for Migration and Refugee services, including those of Iraqi refugees, in the State and Foreign Operations appropriate bill.
Care of Earth: Call or write Administrator Fleming at the Environmental Protection Agency to urge her to protect KY from Mountaintop Removal Mining.
Urge U.S. Representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 3368, the Latin America Military Training Review Act. The bill would suspend operations at the (School of Americas) SOA/WHINSEC, investigate torture manuals and human rights abuses associated with the school.
Urge U.S. Senators and Representatives to vote NO on any Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the Constitution. A BBA would place limits on meeting growing population needs due to aging and disabilities and affect the long-term unemployed.
Call U.S. Representatives (1.202.224.3121, not toll free) urging them to oppose H.R. 2309, relating to the U.S. postal service, will eliminate 200,000 jobs including thousands of veterans, end Saturday service, end door delivery to 90 percent of households and businesses, and close thousands of local post offices.
Urge U.S. Senators to fix the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes provisions making it more difficult to close Guantanamo Bay prison and explicitly allows for indefinite detention, without trial of individuals associated with Al Qaeda or the Taliban.
On November 20, people of all faiths will unite in prayer during a national “Super Vigil” to ask God to move the hearts of policy makers and encourage U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration to draft a fair federal budget NOT placing the burden on those living in poverty “while shielding the wealthiest from any additional sacrifice.” Materials for this prayer are located here.
Tipping Point: The End of Oil is a powerful new documentary by Clearwater Media. It introduces stories of real people whose health and way of life have been tragically upended by the “biggest construction project on the planet.” Included in the movie are the indigenous people of Fort Chipewyan who live downstream from Tar Sands and have been dying in disproportionate numbers from rare forms of cancer. This seems pertinent given our struggle with the Keystone XL pipeline.
KY: "Issues Confronting the 2012 Kentucky General Assembly" contains 47 issue briefs prepared by members of the Legislative Research Commission staff. The book is not meant as an exhaustive list of issues that lawmakers will consider, but reflects a balanced look at some of the main topics that have been discussed in legislative committee meetings. The publication can be viewed online here.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Weekly Justice Highlights
Good News: On November 8, Ohioans overwhelmingly voted to repeal Senate Bill 5—Gov. John Kasich’s attack on middle-class jobs that was designed to destroy collective bargaining rights in Ohio. Also, this past week the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stayed the execution of Hank Skinner pending resolution of DNA testing.
Care of Earth: Urge Senators to reject Senator Rand Paul’s resolution that would not only permanently block an important life-saving clean air rule, it could potentially prevent EPA from ever issuing a similar rule again. (Act as soon as possible; vote is likely today)
Care of Earth: President Obama recently announced that he will be making the final decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline. Individuals are invited to join fourteen Senators and Representatives calling for an investigation into the process to make sure the State Department is held accountable.
In the Spirit of St. Vincent: The Super Committee on Deficit Reduction has a deadline of November 23, U.S. citizens are urged to express their Super Citizen attire and make some noise through the following actions: Send NETWORK’s “Proclamation in Honor of the American People” and/or write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper with writing tips. The U.S. Catholic Bishops also have messages for editing to Senators on the Super Committee and to Representatives on the Super Committee.
Wanted! Lobbyists for those who sit outside the banquet of Lazarus: The Vincentian Family invites you to their capwiz for working legislative issues.
On November 20, people of faith from around the U.S. will unite in a national “Super Vigil” to ask God to move the hearts of policy makers and encourage the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration to draft a fair budget that does not place undue burden on those living in poverty “while shielding the wealthiest from any additional sacrifice.”
U.S. citizens are invited to urge Senators NOT to cut international poverty programs. (Scroll down for action)
Tipping Point: The End of Oil is a powerful new documentary by Clearwater Media. It introduces stories of real people whose health and way of life have been tragically upended by the “biggest construction project on the planet.” Included in the movie are the indigenous people of Fort Chipewyan who live downstream from Tar Sands and have been dying in disproportionate numbers from rare forms of cancer. This seems pertinent given the current nature of the Keystone XL pipeline.
Annie Leonard (author of The Story of Stuff) is out with another story entitled, “The Story of Broke.” The script and movie are located here.
The National Farm Worker Ministry has a well-done 2-minute video on farm workers.
A new journal, Thinking Nature, publishes essays that address various philosophical and ecological approaches to inquiring into the concepts of nature. It is an open access journal edited by Timothy Morton and Ben Woodard.
Care of Earth: Urge Senators to reject Senator Rand Paul’s resolution that would not only permanently block an important life-saving clean air rule, it could potentially prevent EPA from ever issuing a similar rule again. (Act as soon as possible; vote is likely today)
Care of Earth: President Obama recently announced that he will be making the final decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline. Individuals are invited to join fourteen Senators and Representatives calling for an investigation into the process to make sure the State Department is held accountable.
In the Spirit of St. Vincent: The Super Committee on Deficit Reduction has a deadline of November 23, U.S. citizens are urged to express their Super Citizen attire and make some noise through the following actions: Send NETWORK’s “Proclamation in Honor of the American People” and/or write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper with writing tips. The U.S. Catholic Bishops also have messages for editing to Senators on the Super Committee and to Representatives on the Super Committee.
Wanted! Lobbyists for those who sit outside the banquet of Lazarus: The Vincentian Family invites you to their capwiz for working legislative issues.
On November 20, people of faith from around the U.S. will unite in a national “Super Vigil” to ask God to move the hearts of policy makers and encourage the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration to draft a fair budget that does not place undue burden on those living in poverty “while shielding the wealthiest from any additional sacrifice.”
U.S. citizens are invited to urge Senators NOT to cut international poverty programs. (Scroll down for action)
Tipping Point: The End of Oil is a powerful new documentary by Clearwater Media. It introduces stories of real people whose health and way of life have been tragically upended by the “biggest construction project on the planet.” Included in the movie are the indigenous people of Fort Chipewyan who live downstream from Tar Sands and have been dying in disproportionate numbers from rare forms of cancer. This seems pertinent given the current nature of the Keystone XL pipeline.
Annie Leonard (author of The Story of Stuff) is out with another story entitled, “The Story of Broke.” The script and movie are located here.
The National Farm Worker Ministry has a well-done 2-minute video on farm workers.
A new journal, Thinking Nature, publishes essays that address various philosophical and ecological approaches to inquiring into the concepts of nature. It is an open access journal edited by Timothy Morton and Ben Woodard.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
November Action Alert
Standing in Solidarity with the Indigenous
This past month, the focus title of the New Internationalist October Magazine was, “Nature’s Defenders: Can Indigenous People Save the Planet?” The articles highlight indigenous people defending their natural resources from corporations and individuals who sit in offices working to meet consumer demand.
Indigenous people around the world tend to lead the struggle to save Earth because they have experienced first-hand the destruction of their natural resources to meet consumer demand.
- What is the average Earth citizen’s role in this struggle?
- How aware am I/are we that with each purchase I/we have demanded a product at the expense of others? What actions might decrease this expense and burden?
- How have I/we opened ears, eyes, and heart to the world view of extraction and consumption?
- What characteristics would be included in growth for our economies?
- Dam Projects for Hydropower
- Deforestation
- Diamond and Other Mineral Mining
- Land Grab in the Name of Development
- Mountaintop Removal
- Oil and Natural Gas Extraction
- Water Extraction
- Trading in more eco-friendly natural forest products cultivated by the indigenous people.
- Community tourism for sustainable development.
- Alternative energy solutions that are less invasive.
Reflection:
- How are these costs really worth the consumption individuals make?
- What makes individuals feel that they deserve to have this or that NEW product?
- What justifications do I use to declare that my material goods have landed up in some other country for consumption?
- In what ways do I keep challenging myself and community to take bigger steps in reducing consumption?
- Support local indigenous groups and alternative economies that place Earth rights and indigenous rights first.
- Avoid unethical investment in corporations destroying the planet.
- When purchasing, think local, organic and fair trade as much as possible.
- Allow for space in mind and heart for imagination of a sustainable way of living, then create it. (An example of Eco-City Dreaming Comes True is located here.)
- Hold governments and corporations accountable for human rights abuses and Earth abuses.
- Read and reflect on the Rio+20 materials received in previous Action Alerts located at www.scnfamily.org/stand (under side tab of Action Alerts)
- Rio+20 official website- offers up-to-date information and resources on the conference.
- Green Economy - Learn more about what a green economy is and share what you have learned. "A Green Economy is one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental and ecological scarcities."
- Earth Charter - Reread the Earth Charter which is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century.
- Urge your national leaders to attend Rio+20. (The U.S. - President Obama: email- comments@whitehouse.gov; regular mail – The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20500.)
- Write a letter to your local newspaper about the Rio + 20 Conference to be held in June 2012.
- Pray for the success of Rio+20
- Amazon Watch
- Cultural Survival
- Friends of the Earth International
- Indigenous Environmental Network
- Indigenous Peoples: Issues and Resources
- International Rivers
- Rainforest Foundation
- Revenue Watch International
- Servindi
- Survival International
______________________________________
The Social Protection Floor and the Eradication of Poverty
A Social Protection Floor (SPF) is an issue that keeps arising at the United Nations. The SPF corresponds to a set of basic social rights, services and facilities that all global citizens should enjoy. It can be seen as a core obligation of ensuring the realization of minimum essential levels of rights embodied in human rights treaties.
The two main elements that would help to realize these human rights are:
- Ensuring the availability, continuity, and geographical and financial access to essential services, such as water and sanitation, food and adequate nutrition, health, education, housing and other social services such as life and asset saving information; and
- Realizing access by ensuring a basic set of essential social transfers, in cash and in kind, to provide a minimum income and livelihood security for poor and vulnerable populations and to facilitate access to essential services. It includes social transfers to children, people in active age groups with insufficient income and older persons.
The SPF will continue to be on the United Nation’s agenda as an essential tool in the eradication of poverty. The theme for the 2012 Commission for Social Development is the eradication of poverty. This is a policy year so governments will be making decisions and the SPF will figure prominently in the recommendations of NGOs and, hopefully, in the resolutions passed by governments.
Actions:
- More information about the Social Protection Floor is located here.
- Thousands of people from more than 110 countries from global North and South have signed on to the online campaign initiated by our New York based NGO Committee on Social Development at the UN, ‘Support the Social Protection Floor Initiative.’ Please add your signature here.
- Pray for the success of this campaign and that government leaders recognize their responsibility for all of their citizens and agree to a Social Protection Floor.
________________________________________
G20 Meets in Early November
The G20 is scheduled to meet November 3-4, in Cannes, France. According to David Shorr of The Stanley Foundation, “the G20 is a group of the world’s largest economies, convened because of their impact on the overall economic picture. Since 2008, when the first meeting was held, the leaders have been working toward long-term systemic issues.” While no set agenda exists yet, Oxfam believes that “world leaders will address not only the financial meltdown but issues such as climate change, volatile food prices and growing inequality.”
Action: Spiraling food prices have driven millions into poverty and the situation threatens to get worse. Oxfam invites individuals from around the world calling on G20 leaders to act now on this issue.
________________________________________
Update on U.S. FY 2012 Budget and Super Committee
Both the Senate and House have passed legislation to extend FY 2012 spending until November 18. It is the hope of Congress to avoid another short-term appropriations bill by coming to an agreement on an omnibus bill for FY 2012 for discretionary programs. Both House and Senate leaders have agreed to accept the total $1.043 trillion overall cap on funding passed in the Budget Control Act on August 2. However, the details are likely to cause differences that will need to be resolved. Programs to be watchful for in their funding include:
- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
- Defense Spending
- Housing and Urban Development
- Emergency Food and Nutrition Programs for Women, Infants and Children
Simultaneously, the Super Committee is working on a deficit reduction package of $1.2 trillion in cuts by November 23. Super Citizens are needed to be watchful as these processes continue to unfold.
Action: American voters are encouraged to contact the super committee urging them to NOT cut social safety net programs (including Medicaid, SNAP and unemployment insurance), increase revenue to decrease the deficit and cut unnecessary military spending. The Super Committee list is located here.
Weekly Justice Highlights
Care of Earth: Individuals from the international community are invited to sign a petition to the Guatemalan Government urging them to protect the health, safety, livelihoods, and rights of local communities by suspending mining operations at the Marlin Mine. Action can be taken here.
In solidarity with Women and Children: An NGO Committee for Social Development at the United Nations is mounting a signature campaign in four languages in support of the Social Protection Floor Initiative. The signatures from the international community will be used as an advocacy tool at national level and at the UN during the Commission on Social Development in 2012, the Commission on the Status of Women 2012 and the International Labor Organization event in June 2012. To read the petition and sign it, click here.
In the spirit of St. Vincent, U.S. citizens are asked to urge Senators to maintain the levels of life-saving poverty-focused international assistance for FY 2012 as passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee and to oppose any amendments that would cut poverty-focused international assistance.
Tell Alabama Governor Bentley how the immigration law he recently signed criminalizes the compassion mandated by religious beliefs.
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court granting Mr. Skinner the right to sue for access to DNA testing, the state of Texas has continued to pursue his execution, with the sentencing judge signing a new death warrant for November 9, 2011. In the name of justice, please allow the evidence to be tested before it is too late. Take action here
Twelve members of the House and Senate are now deciding how to handle our federal budget deficit (known as the Super Committee). They need to hear from American voters by November 14, that we want
• No more cuts to social safety net programs, including Medicaid, SNAP and unemployment insurance
• Increased revenue to close the wealth gap and decrease the deficit
• Cuts in unnecessary military spending
For a list of those on the Super Committee, click here. (Be patient until it shows itself)
Urge U.S. Senators to oppose the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011 and any effort to delay federal coal ash regulations. This is about protecting our waters.
Urge Senators to pass HR 2867; reauthorizing the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom before November 18.
U.S. citizens are invited to challenge Mike Duke, CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. to pay its fair share of health care for all its employees.
Louisville: Journey of the Universe will be screened on November 6 at the IMAX Theatre (727 West Main Street) at 5 p.m.; November 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Louisville Collegiate School (2427 Glenmary Avenue) and at Bellarmine University (2001 Newburg Rd) at 4 p.m. with discussion to follow. Contact Kathleen Lyons at Kathleen@interfaithrelations.org for more information.
The National Farm Worker Ministry has a well-done 2-minute video on farm workers.
In solidarity with Women and Children: An NGO Committee for Social Development at the United Nations is mounting a signature campaign in four languages in support of the Social Protection Floor Initiative. The signatures from the international community will be used as an advocacy tool at national level and at the UN during the Commission on Social Development in 2012, the Commission on the Status of Women 2012 and the International Labor Organization event in June 2012. To read the petition and sign it, click here.
In the spirit of St. Vincent, U.S. citizens are asked to urge Senators to maintain the levels of life-saving poverty-focused international assistance for FY 2012 as passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee and to oppose any amendments that would cut poverty-focused international assistance.
Tell Alabama Governor Bentley how the immigration law he recently signed criminalizes the compassion mandated by religious beliefs.
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court granting Mr. Skinner the right to sue for access to DNA testing, the state of Texas has continued to pursue his execution, with the sentencing judge signing a new death warrant for November 9, 2011. In the name of justice, please allow the evidence to be tested before it is too late. Take action here
Call and urge U.S. Senators and Representatives (Congress 202.224.3121; not toll free) to support at least $60 million for HUD Housing counseling in the final budget discussions.
Twelve members of the House and Senate are now deciding how to handle our federal budget deficit (known as the Super Committee). They need to hear from American voters by November 14, that we want
• No more cuts to social safety net programs, including Medicaid, SNAP and unemployment insurance
• Increased revenue to close the wealth gap and decrease the deficit
• Cuts in unnecessary military spending
For a list of those on the Super Committee, click here. (Be patient until it shows itself)
Urge U.S. Senators to oppose the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011 and any effort to delay federal coal ash regulations. This is about protecting our waters.
Urge Senators to pass HR 2867; reauthorizing the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom before November 18.
U.S. citizens are invited to challenge Mike Duke, CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. to pay its fair share of health care for all its employees.
Louisville: Journey of the Universe will be screened on November 6 at the IMAX Theatre (727 West Main Street) at 5 p.m.; November 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Louisville Collegiate School (2427 Glenmary Avenue) and at Bellarmine University (2001 Newburg Rd) at 4 p.m. with discussion to follow. Contact Kathleen Lyons at Kathleen@interfaithrelations.org for more information.
The National Farm Worker Ministry has a well-done 2-minute video on farm workers.
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