Weekly Justice Highlights

Challenging Unjust Structures: The Gambian President has decided to execute all death row inmates in just a matter of days, despite serious concerns over whether the inmates ever received fair trials. This past weekend, nine individuals were dragged from their cells without warning or good-byes and executed. Urge Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to stop executing death row inmates. (International Action is available)

Protecting Housing:  One in seven of the world's population lives in slums.  More than 2 million people a year who live in slums are displaced through force eviction.  Forced evictions are illegal under international and regional law.  Urge African leaders to protect citizen's rights to housing.   (International Action is available)

Human Trafficking:  September 4 is National Call-In Day with regard to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2011(S. 1301).  U.S. citizens are invited to contact their federal legislators (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) urging them to reauthorize S. 1301.  Action on this and other human trafficking legislation can be taken here. (Scroll down page)

Challenging Unjust Corporations: Oil and gas giant Enbridge is working to mislead the public (taking islands from its public video and map to make route look less treacherous than actually is) into accepting a dangerous pipeline and tanker project.  The company is fighting to get permits to build 1,177 km of pipeline across North America despirt massive public opposition.  Enbridge has caused over 800 oil spills in the last decade alone.   Urge Enbridge to stop misleading the public and pull the ads immediately.  (International Action is available)

Nuclear Weapons: Urge President Obama and members of Congress to take swift action to eliminate all nuclear weapons.

Challenging Unjust Systems: Things are really heating up in this campaign! Reynolds finally agreed to meet with FLOC and initial discussions are in the works. But this fight isn’t over. It’s time to kick it into high gear.   For months consumers have been asking Kangaroo —the largest convenience store chain in the Southeast that sells tobacco products including Reynolds— to use their power and influence to ensure Reynolds does the right thing. After hundreds of messages and store visits from our supporters, Kangaroo says that they did encourage Reynolds to meet with FLOC. Urge COB Ed Holman to visit North Carolina tobacco fields with FLOC.

Empowering Women:  It has been 320+ days since the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) expired and over 1280 victims as a result of Congress inaction.  Individuals are invited to urge U.S. Representatives, U.S. Senators and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass the VAWA as soon as possible (1.202.224.3121; charges apply).

In the Spirit of St. Vincent:  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has a new website on poverty in the United States.  The website offers tools and resources to spread the word about poverty in America.  Resources include an interactive poverty map with state and county level poverty statistics, a Poverty Tour video which gives viewers a sense of what it is like to live at the federal poverty line, videos and links to PovertyUSA's social media sites, including www.facebook.com/povertyusa.

Weekly Justice Highlights

Empowering Women:  It has been 320+ days since the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) expired and over 1280 victims as a result of Congress inaction.  Individuals are invited to urge U.S. Representatives, U.S. Senators and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (202.224.3121; charges apply) to pass the VAWA as soon as possible.

In the Spirit of St. Vincent:  Several coalition groups including NETWORK and Coalition on Human Needs are circulating a letter for organizational sign on.  The letter calls upon Congress to promote the common good, protect the vulnerable, and rebuild the economy.  In addition, U.S. citizens are encouraged to contact their legislators with regard to budgeting decisions.  

Care of Earth: One of three Army Corps of Engineers offices has already given Canadian oil company TransCanada permission to break ground on the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline's southern segment to traverse hundreds of vital water crossings through Oklahoma and Texas to the Gulf Coast without any public input or scientific review.  Ask EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to intervene. Call EPA headquarters at 202-564-4700. (Charges apply; this number will connect you to staff in the Office of Administrator Lisa Jackson -- or you could get prompted to leave a voice message.) Express your desire for a rigorous environmental review to protect human health, water and air, and land rights.  Individuals are also invited to educate themselves and others on the issue through this video.    

The Robin Hood Tax is a financial transaction tax, a micro-tax on Wall Street trading (i.e. stocks, bonds, currency exchanges and derivatives traded by computers) the would curb harmful speculation and raise billions of dollars in new revenue to pay for urgently needed public goods and services.  More than 40 countries now have some form of financial transaction tax in place and the U.S. had one for decades until Wall Street lobbied to get rid of it.  This tax is endorsed by Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and more than 1,000 economists.  Urge President Obama to join many across the country, including faith leaders who support a Robin Hood Tax.       

Apple has released a report on their company’s climate impacts and risks.  Now, individuals are invited to urge Amazon.com CEO, Jeff Bezos to make action on climate change a priority through the issuing of a public report on the company’s climate impacts and risks.      

As U.S. legislators return for a short session of work in September, budget issues are high on the list of issues needing attention.  The U.S. Catholic Bishops offer some facts and insights into poverty.  

Louisville:  On August 23 at 7 p.m. the Jewish Voice for Peace film, Refuseniks will be shown at 1741 Frankfort Avenue (white dome on top of building and one block east of Mellwood Ave.).  The 56 minute color film uses archival footage, still photos and interviews to document the stories of Israeli women and men who refuse to serve in the military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

Louisville:  On August 25 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Drepung Gomang Institute (411 North Hubbards Lane near Westport Rd), KY Interfaith Power and Light and the Drepung Gomang Institute explore the Buddhist Response to the Climate Crisis. 

Weekly Justice Highlights

The August issue of Stop Trafficking co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is available here.  The focus of the issue is on Labor Trafficking in the U.S.A.

World Humanitarian Day is August 19.  The international community is invited to commit to doing something good for someone else that day.  A commitment can be made here.  

Care of Earth: Urge Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack to protect wild forests from fracking and not to give in to  oil and gas industry pressure. 

Human Trafficking:  The U.S. Congress has four pieces of pending anti-trafficking legislation.  PolarisProject urges support for pending legislation.  For more information and to take action.    

Challenging Unjust Practices: The international community is invited to sign a petition to President Kikwete (Tanzania) urging him to protect the Maasai people of Africa from foreign hunters looking for places to hunt wildlife.  

Urge Verizon board member Richard Carrion to demand that Verizon reach a fair deal for its workers with a contract.  

A free United Nation’s daily e-mail briefing called, UN Wire, informing the international community on news can be obtained by signing up here.   

Louisville:  On October 13, 2012, the 13^th annual Healthy Foods, Local Farms Conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the KY Country Day School.  Registration before September 15 is $30/day.  After September 15, the registration is $40/day.

Weekly Justice Highlights

Farm Worker Rights: Workers at Ace Tomato are tired of dirty bathrooms, lack of fresh water and decades of low pay.  Since 1989, the workers have been waiting for their contract and the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) who is suppose to protect workers has done nothing but shuffle paperwork.  After two decades, Ace Tomato workers are so close to getting their contract.  Urge the ALRB to immediately get a court order telling the company to comply with the law without delay.  

In the spirit of St. Vincent:  Urge U.S. Senators and Representative to Support Policies that Help (Scroll down and edit).

Challenging unjust Structures:  Urge General Motors leadershipand policymakers to do what is right to workers disabled on the job who were fired due to the inability to work and are now without any medical benefits or severance package.  You may remember GM was one of the companies bailed out by the U.S. government with U.S. taxpayer dollars.   This is funding human rights abuses with taxpayer money. 

Genetically Engineered Sweet Corn: Help spread the word about Walmart’s sale of GE sweet corn urging friends and family not to buy the product.   

As a part of the rally to Stop the Frack Attack, Dustin Steele was brutally beaten by police while in custody in West Virginia in an effort with other protestors to shut down the largest mountaintop removal coal mine in the state.  Urge U.S. AttorneyBooth Goodwin to launch and investigation into police misconduct and ensure fair treatment for the protesters.

KY Residents:  A smoke-free van recently made various stops around the state promoting a smoke-free Kentucky.  In an effort to keep the momentum going, KY citizens are invited to contact their state legislators at 1.800.372.7181 urging them to support a comprehensive smoke-free law to make all indoor workplaces and public places smoke-free.  Second hand smoke does save lives.   

Congress is in recess until September 10. Many members of Congress will be campaigning for re-election during this time.  Before adjourning, there was a tentative agreement among leaders of the House and Senate on a bill to fund the first six months of fiscal year 2013. Votes are expected when Congress returns in September, even though many question the wisdom of funding the government for only half the year. Congress is expected to put off other critical votes on budget issues until after the November election.

The Republican convention is August 27-30.   The Democratic convention is September 4-6.

Presidential Debates
October 3, 2012 in Denver, CO                      Topic: Domestic Policy
October 16, 2012 in Hempstead, NY             Town Hall Style 
October 22, 2012 in Boca Raton, FL             Topic: Foreign Policy

October 11, 2012 in Danville, KY                  Vice-Presidential Debate

Action Alert

August 2012

What actions do I take to promote gender equality?

Do you know that the average U.S. teenager spends over ten hours/day consuming media? While this may not be new to many, the way that women are portrayed in this media is pause for consideration. In 2011, a documentary entitled Miss Representation (90 minutes) was released. According to the website, “the film exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which makes it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.” In addition, “stories from teenage girls and provocative interviews with politicians, journalists, entertainers, activists and academics, like Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Cho, Rosario Dawson and Gloria Steinem build momentum as Miss Representation accumulates startling facts and statistics."

Among the statistics presented in the documentary are:

• 53% of 13 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies. That number increases to 78% by age 17 (Source is here).
• 65% of American women and girls have disordered eating behavior (Source is here).   
• About 25% of girls will experience teen dating violence (Source is here).
• The number of cosmetic surgical procedures performed on youth 18 or younger more than tripled from 1997 and 2007 (Source is here).

After the release, the director and filmmaker, Jennifer Siebel Newsom teamed up with a diverse group of educators to design a curriculum that gives media literacy a much needed gender focus. This K-12 and collegiate curriculum is divided into age appropriate content modules. According to the website for Miss Representation, the modules include age appropriate film clips, definitions of relevant concepts, reflection exercises, discussion questions, in-class activities and homework suggestions. The modules are sequenced to build on one another and equip both girls and boys with critical thinking skills to question the media that they are amidst daily.

This documentary leaves individuals imaging what healthy media looks like. Included on the website is information on the Healthy MEdia Commission. They recently developed a list of elements that all forms of healthy media should strive to include. Among these are healthy body images, active and diverse female characters, equal and healthy relationships, and increased number of roles for women and girls.  More information on this is located here. 

Reflection/Action:

• In addition to speaking with the manager of a store whose advertisement portrays women negatively, make an effort not to shop at these stores.
• On a monthly basis, how many magazines do I browse through? What would I put into a letter to the editor about the use of Photoshop to alter women’s bodies? How might I challenge them drop the use of Photoshop or limit its use?
• What do health, education, religious, political and other institutions share with us through action and word about equal and healthy relationships and the role of women?
• Women will account for close to 40% of participants at the Olympic Games while the percentage of women in governing and administrative bodies of the Olympic movement has remained low. This is often the case in many institutions. In solidarity with the SCN GA2008 directive, what more can I do to empower women to assume their rightful place in church and society?
• How gender friendly are the institutions and places of ministry that I work within with regard to recruitment, hiring, pay, and promotion?
• What mentorship programs and opportunities are available to young female leaders where I live?
• The documentary, Miss Representation, can be viewed here.      
•  Host a showing together with a group at work, in school, and other places. Be sure to preview BEFORE viewing with younger audiences for age appropriate clips.
• The website for the documentary is located here. In addition to a resource link, it also includes a link to a facebook page with abundant resources.
• The curriculum can be purchased from the website located here. There is opportunity here for donating curriculum to educational institutions.
• The first ever UN celebration for Day of the Girl will be on October 11, 2012. A toolkit is available for helping organize events by clicking here.
• Urge legislators to support gender friendly legislation for women and girls.
• Choose suppliers, distributers and business partners that promote women as leaders and challenge those that do not.

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International Day of the World's Indigenous People

August 9 is International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. The focus this year is Indigenous designs: Celebrating Stories and Cultures, Crafting our Own Future. The purpose of this UN celebration is to promote and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population.

According to the State of the World's Indigenous Peoples Report released in 2010, “indigenous peoples make up around 370 million of the world’s population – some 5 per cent – they constitute around one-third of the world’s 900 million extremely poor rural people. Every day, indigenous communities all over the world face issues of violence and brutality, assimilation policies, dispossession of land, marginalization, forced removal or relocation, denial of land rights, impacts of large-scale development, abuses by military forces and a host of other abuses.” “When indigenous peoples have reacted and tried to assert their rights, they have suffered physical abuse, imprisonment, torture and even death,” states the publication.

Given this reality of poverty, poor health and displacement, this year’s focus of celebrating stories and cultures is as important as ever. As individuals celebrate in solidarity, they are encouraged to reflect upon:

• What further understanding do I have related to the harsh realities of the indigenous people in my country? In other countries?
• Who are/were indigenous of the land that I currently occupy?
• How can I impart the significance of the present/former indigenous peoples?
• What concrete actions can be taken to demonstrate my own/others indigenous pride?
• What pieces of indigenous art exist in my surroundings?
• What aspects of wisdom do I have from indigenous ways of knowing?

Human persons are willed by God; they are imprinted with God's image. Their dignity does not come from the work they do, but from the persons they are. (The Hundredth Year, Donders translation, #11)

Reflection/Action:

• In reflecting upon the reality of indigenous persons and catholic social teaching, what call do I feel to promote the human dignity of the indigenous persons in my local, state, or national setting?
• Updated information for reflection and sharing is located here.      
• Several resources for use with others exist here.     

Weekly Justice Highlights

Promoting Peace: Urge President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney to issue a joint call asking Congress to reinstate the expired federal assault weapons ban.   

Food Security:  Urge President Obama to end hunger in countries by expanding the New Alliance to include at least 15 countries by the end of the year and double that amount at the end of next year.   

Challenging Unjust Practices: Urge U.S. legislators to stop the rubber-stamp approval of Genetically Engineered crops (supported by Monsanto) and to remove these provisions from the 2012 Farm Bill.  

Last week, the U.S. Senate approved the Middle Class Tax Cuts Act (S. 3412) and voted to end the Bush tax breaks above $250,000/year.  Express a thank you or disappointment to your Senators. 

Call and urge U.S. Representatives (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) to co-sponsor H.R. 3619 to make the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act permanent (this bill would permanently extend federal protections for renters facing foreclosure). 

Call and urge your Senators 1.202.224.3121; charges apply) to co-sponsor S. 489, and your Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 1477. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD) introduced bills that would capitalize the National Housing Trust Fund through profits from the Treasury Department’s sale of Troubled Asset Relief Program warrants. These bills would provide much-needed funding for the NHTF. 

Kentucky citizens are urged to file comments in writing until October 1 on a recent decision of the executive branch that filed a new regulation to govern how the state will kill inmates through lethal injection.  The new regulations are located here  (Comments can be sent to Ms. Amy Barker, Assistant General Counsel, Department of Justice, 125 Holmes Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601; or fax them to 502.564.6686.) 

New reports from Americans for Tax Fairness, Citizens for Tax Justice and the National Women's Law Center demonstrate how public investments and taxpayers in each state would be affected by the competing approaches to the Bush tax cuts.  These are located here.