Weekly Justice Highlights

The Updated SCN Process for making a Corporate Stance is located here.    

Immigration: Urge Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor to move swiftly forward on immigration that includes a pathway to legalization and eventual citizenship for the undocumented, reforms the family and business immigration system and provides visas for Irish workers by calling 1-866-940-2439 or visiting their contact pages at http://www.speaker.gov/contact and http://majorityleader.gov/Contact/   

Immigration: Tell Speaker Boehner and Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte how unacceptable Representative Steve King’s remarks likened DREAMers to drug mules.  

Promoting Peace: Urge U.S. Senators to support and sign the Feinstein letter to President Obama supporting diplomacy with Iran.  

Sign a petition urging state legislators to say NO to the American Legislative Exchange Commission (ALEC).  

Urge U.S. Representatives and Senators to support the Fair Minimum Wage Act.    

Urge U.S. legislators to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement fast track.   

Urge Governor Beshear to work to oppose the Bluegrass Pipeline and include it in the August 2013 special session of the General Assembly.  

An economic toolkit containing messages for legislators on the budget is located here.    

A toolkit on immigration containing legislative messages is here.  

Weekly Justice Highlights

The Updated Process for making a Corporate Stance is located here.   
Immigration: NETWORK staff Ashley Wilson, after visiting Representative offices states that, “U.S. Representatives need to hear Catholic values from constituents in their efforts at comprehensive immigration reform.”  It is imperative that individuals call (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) or write on a regular basis in the upcoming month.  

In the Spirit of St. Vincent:  U. S. citizens are urged to contact U.S. Representatives telling them that: As people of faith, we urge our members of Congress to enact a farm bill this year that alleviates hunger and malnutrition, supports vibrant farms and healthy communities, and protects God's creation.  Please support a full, multi-year reauthorization of the farm bill that alleviates hunger and malnutrition protects and strengthens programs that reduce hunger and improve nutrition in the United States through SNAP and sustains a robust international food aid and improves nutritional quality of this food aid.  Individuals are also invited to send a message to your Senators and Representative and tell them to protect this vital program.

Promoting Peace: Urge Members of Congress to support a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as many are working nonviolently for peace.

Urge U.S. Senators and Representatives (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) to co-sponsor the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 that would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour to keep pace with cost of living increases.    

Urge State Legislators to REPEAL “Stand Your Ground” laws or similar laws in states that currently have these.  

Urge Governor Beshear to work to oppose the Bluegrass Pipeline and include it in the August 2013 special session of the General Assembly.  
Louisville:  Urge Mayor Greg Fisher and LG&E to move Louisville beyond coal to clean energy. 

Corporate Stance Process for Sisters of Charity of Nazareth

Definition:  A corporate stance of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is a public statement or action made in the Congregation’s name, on behalf of and with the informed consent of a simple majority of community members, polled in regard to a major issue of concern resulting from individual/group study, networking partners (i.e. LCWR, CRI, Charity Federation, etc.) and/or prayerful reflection.

Rationale:  As Sisters of Charity of Nazareth we hold values in common which may be acted upon to live out our Charism and simultaneously to build the Reign of God.  We also look for ways of furthering our Mission Statement and opportunities to bring about systemic change.  Moreover, a corporate rather than an individual stance is more effective in addressing public policy or an issue calling for a public response.  

Process for taking a Corporate Stance:
Step 1    An individual and/or group identifies and documents an issue for a corporate stance. 

The issue should meet the following criteria:

à        External to the Congregation

à        Relevant to the Mission Statement, Gospel and/or Catholic Social Teachings

à        Affect human rights and/or the integrity of creation

Step 2    Having met the criteria, the individual/group brings the issue to the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee decides:

à        Does the issue meet the criteria for a corporate stance?

à        Is the issue appropriate for congregation-wide discernment?

Step 3    The Executive Committee appoints a committee composed of:

à        Members who have submitted the issue

à        Additional persons if deemed appropriate

à        Director of Office of Global Ministries as ex-officio member

 

A chairperson can be decided by the committee.

Step 4    The Executive Committee announces the process to the congregation.

Step 5      The responsibilities of the committee:

à        Prepare and distribute a process and materials for theological reflection around the issue to congregational members and associates

à        Prepare and distribute the Corporate Stance for congregational members and associates

à        Prepare a ballot.

Step 6     The committee distributes the ballot to Congregational members after sufficient time has been provided for study, reflection, discussion and prayer on the issue.

Step 7      Ballots are completed and returned to the committee.

Step 8       A corporate stance is made if returned ballots show a simple majority with a “yes”.

Step 9       The Executive Committee:

à        Communicates the results of the ballot to members and/or refer to Provinces (When Congregation does not adopt as Corporate Stance, provinces are free to follow a process for Provincial Corporate Stance)

à        Distributes the Corporate Stance publicly

à        Promotes continued education and advocacy with regard to the Corporate Stance through the Office of Global Ministries

à        Monitors the Corporate Stance on an ongoing basis

Revised February 2013

Weekly Justice Highlights

July 2013 Stop Trafficking newsletter co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is located here   

Care of Earth:  Urge Secretary of State John Kerry to reflect the truth in the Keystone XL Pipeline report at  Individuals are also invited to tell President Obama to reject the Keystone XL.   

Death Penalty: New Dead Man Walking resources for teachers are available here.  

Challenging Unjust Systems: Denounce the murder of a peaceful indigenous protestor in Rio Blanco, Honduras (Tomás García) who was participating in a peaceful demonstration, was shot and killed by members of the Honduran Army.    

Empowering Women and Girls: This past week Malala spoke at the United Nations with regard to education for girls.  Her testimony would be excellent for girls around the world to see.      

Urge U.S. legislators to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement fast track.    

Urge the United States to participate in the new multilateral disarmament forums.   

Sign a petition and add a message to the Bureau of Land Management urging Public land be protected from hydraulic fracturing.  

Urge Louisiana officials to release Herman Wallace, a 71 year old prisoner with advanced liver cancer who has been held in solitary confinement longer than anyone else in modern U.S. history (41 years).   

Urge President Obama and members of Congress to close Guantanamo.   

U.S. citizens are invited to download, sign and deliver a letter to Wendy’s encouraging them to join the Fair Food Program where farmworker rights are protected. 

Weekly Justice Highlights

Nuclear Weapons: Sign a petition to eliminate nuclear weapons.  

Immigration: U.S. citizens are invited to call toll free 1.866.940.2439 and urge U.S. Representatives to support immigration reform that creates a path to citizenship and reunites families.  The SAFE Act, Border Security Results Act, Agricultural Guestworker Act, and SKILLS Visas Act are not real reforms to our broken immigration system. 

Care of Earth: Tell President Obama that natural gas is not a solution to U.S. future energy, especially when the industry of fracking is not held accountable for pollution.   

Call and urge U.S. Representatives (1.866.940.2439; no charges apply) to vote for the Quigley amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that would cut excess funds for the B61 nuclear bomb.

Sign a petition urging CEO’s of public television to keep Koch money from influencing public television programming.   

A resolution to action on Immigration Reform published by LCWR is located here.    

U.S. citizens are invited to download, sign and deliver a letter to Wendy’s encouraging them to join the Fair Food Program where farmworker rights are protected.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement continues without transparency.  Urge Congress to expose the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement details.  Please scroll down.

 Urge U.S. Senators to co-sponsor the State Energy Race to the Top Initiative Act that would engage states in a friendly competition to find the best ideas, strategies and innovations for increasing energy production.     

Plastics turned into oil? Why are we not doing this?  Check this five minute video out here. 

Educational resources on the topic of peace are located here. 

The 2013 Trafficking In Persons Report can be read and/or downloaded here. 

January to June 2013 Legislative Accomplishments

In February, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was re-authorized and sent to the President including an amendment reauthorizing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. 

In March, Kentucky passed HB 3, The Human Trafficking Victims Rights Act which strengthens state law for fighting human trafficking and provides more services for victims. 

In March, Whole Foods took a huge step towards giving its customers the right to know what they are eating. By 2018, it will require any product containing GMOs sold in its stores to be labeled.

In March, the bipartisan Levin-Hatch Amendment 708 to the Budget Resolution was passed that that works on curbing corporate tax avoidance and stopping corporate offshore tax loopholes!

In April, delegates from 154 nations voted to adopt the first-ever international Arms Trade Treaty!  This treaty will help monitor and control the flow of arms and ammunition across borders.  Work continues on the adoption of this treaty by each nation. 

In May, the Senate Judiciary passed S. 744, immigration legislation out of committee.  It is now expected to go to the Senate floor in mid-June.

In June, Connecticut is the first in the nation to pass a strong GMO labeling bill that will require genetically engineered foods to be labeled. 

In June, the House defeated the Farm Bill that would have cut over $20 billion to SNAP (formerly food stamps), $2.5 billion in cuts to food aid, and policy changes that would have substantially increased hunger for years to come.

In June, the Louisville Metro Council passed a FY 2013-2014 budget that included $1 million in funds for the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund that will begin to address housing needs of working families. 

In June, the U.S. Senate passed immigration legislation by a vote of 68-32 that includes a path to citizenship as well as further border security. 

Weekly Justice Highlights

In the Spirit of St. Vincent: Urge Prime Minister David Cameron and President Francois Hollande to urgently press the Burmese President to urgently protect the Rohingya and grant them citizenship and full legal rights as soon as possible.  (International Action available)

Gasland Part II, a documentary about hydraulic fracturing, airs on HBO on July 8. Check local TV  listings. The Bluegrass Pipeline project as highlighted in the July Action Alert now has a blog site here.   

Nuclear Weapons:  Urge President Obama to engage with the United Nations to eliminate nuclear weapons at the UN High-Level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament that will take place in September in New York.

Urge Secretary of State John Kerry (1-202-647-5291; charges apply OR secretary@state.gov) to actively encourage UN Security Council action in support of safe, cross-border corridors into Syria for humanitarian relief and to ensure that all promised U.S. aid for displaced and refugee communities is promptly delivered.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement continues without transparency.  Urge Congress to expose the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement details.  

Urge President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency to reject the increase in chemical residues (i.e. Monsanto’s glyphosate- linked to an alarming number of diseases threatening animal and human health, including obesity, infertility, cancer and Alzheimer’s) allowed on food. 

U.S. citizens are encouraged to call their federal legislators (1.202.224.3121; charges apply) urging them to stand with Elizabeth Warren who has introduced a bill mandating students get the same low loan rates as banks.

Plastics turned into oil? Why are we not doing this?  Check this five minute video. 

Louisville: On July 20 from 5 to 7 p.m., It’s A Girl film will be viewed with dialogue at St. Andrew’s United Church of Christ (2608 Browns Lane).   The viewing is hosted by Revealing Sophia’s Truth, a young adult faith activist group that attended the 57^th Commission on the Status of Women at the UN in March 2013. In this film global experts and grass-roots activists tell the stories of abandoned and trafficked girls, of women who suffer extreme dowry-related violence, of brave mothers fighting to save their daughter’s lives and of other mothers who would kill for a son.

July Action Alert

Hydraulic Fracturing: How Are Good Stewardship and Care of Creation Being Considered?

Around the world, many know the injustices associated with extracting natural resources. What is most disturbing about these processes is the lack of dignity and rights given to humans and our Earth. Depending on the location, land is either grabbed without consideration of indigenous rights or individuals are “persuaded for the right price” into signing a portion of their land away. Where does the question of the common good or stewardship come into the procedure? What about the economic future of the next generations?

According to a 2012 paper entitled, The Global Anti-Fracking Movement: What it Wants, How it Operates and What ’s Next, there are an estimated 63 shale gas reserves in India and 862 in the United States. This industry is dominated by companies whose names are well known – ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, and ConocoPhillips in the top ten. ExxonMobil and Chevron, the two largest energy companies spend over $25 million in lobbying to keep further regulations from “distracting their work.”

In an effort to move from foreign oil and coal, some have embraced natural gas as the “bridge fuel” to help kick the “dirty fuel” habit. However, what is becoming increasingly clearer by the many studies being done is that this unconventional gas boom is happening too fast, too recklessly and with insufficient concern for the potential cumulative impacts on clean air, safe drinking water and a stable climate.

The process used to extract natural gas is called hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” for short. While the process has been around for over fifty years, recent technological strides and global demand have empowered the industry to act with a “gold rush” mentality. According to an Environmental Protection Agency Study of Hydraulic Fracturing and Drinking Water Resources, fracking “involves the injection of more than a million gallons of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure down and across horizontally drilled wells as far as 10,000 feet below the surface. The pressurized mixture causes the rock layer to crack. These fissures are held open by the sand particles so that natural gas from the shale can flow up the well.”

As noted in the above process, the project is energy-intensive. Heavy equipment, usually run by a diesel engine, is needed to pump the mixture into the well and retrieve the waste. The construction of well pads, the collection of thousands of gallons of water and disposal of wastes all demand transportation, thus further pollution. According to a recent lifecycle analysis performed by a team of Cornell University scientists led by Professor Robert W. Howarth, “unconventional gas—particularly when it is extracted from shale using hydraulic fracturing methods—is likely to present an even greater climate disruption threat than coal and oil, the other dirty fossil fuels.” The most recent analysis conducted by Howarth’s team at Cornell, recently published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Climatic Change Letters, states that on a 20-year time horizon “the green house gas footprint for shale gas is at least 20% greater than and perhaps more than twice as great as that for coal when expressed per quantity of energy avail­able during combustion.” “The take home message of the study” says Professor Howarth, is “if you do an integration [study] of 20 years following the development of the gas, that shale gas is worse than conventional gas and is in fact worse than coal and is worse than oil.” In addition the system used to retrieve shale gas includes the following:

• The production, transport and burning of natural gas produces significant air pollution including the release of methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, not to mention volatile organic compounds such as benzene.
• Currently, the gas industry benefits from lax oversight and several exemptions from existing public health protections, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and parts of the Clean Water Act that apply to other fossil fuel extraction industries.
• The chemi­cal additives of fracking fluids are protected as an industry trade secret and no federal legis­lation requires their disclosure.
• Enormous amounts of water requirements for gas drill­ing and the unavoidable pollution due to chemical additives and underground contaminants, pose a serious threat to water resources.
• Smog pollution from drilling can extend hundreds of miles from the well site.
• In 1992, the EPA reported a well failure rate of 16.7%, meaning approximately one in every six abandoned wells will leak into the surrounding area.
• Soil pollution is found in some locations due to heavy metal use in fracking.
• Waste water from fracking cannot be taken to a public waste water treat­ment plant and then dumped into a river. In addition to salt, it contains heavy metals and some amount of naturally occurring radioactive materials, which are signatures of shale gas. Public waste water treatment plants are not equipped to remove those materials from the waste stream.

As of last month, it was reported that a Bluegrass Pipeline running through part of Kentucky has been proposed. It will carry natural gas liquids (NGL), by-products of hydraulic fracturing, from the Marcellus and Utica shale (PA and OH) regions to the Gulf region. According to a 2013 Kentucky Resource Council report, “NGL products (ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane and natural gasoline) are used as raw materials by the petrochemical industry, as feedstocks by refiners in the production of motor gasoline, and as fuel by industrial and residential users.” Although one never expects any harm, “accidental pipeline releases can result from a variety of causes, including natural disasters, excavation and other outside force damage, internal and external corrosion, mechanical failure, and operator error.”

According to the KY Resource Council report, with this pipeline, the following are potential consequences:

• Accidental releases can result in injuries or fatalities from fires or explosions caused by ignition of the released product, as well as from possible toxicity and asphyxiation effects.
• Hazardous liquids can spread over land and water, flowing downhill into valleys, ravines, and waterways.

The process of gas fracking has citizens and scientists concerned. Some scientists have called for a moratorium on gas fracking due to:

• Drinking water contamination threats – particularly of private wells near fracking operations, as well as municipal sources drawn from waterways impacted by uncon­ventional gas drilling directly and via inadequate fracking wastewater treatment prior to discharge into these waterways.
• Uncertainties about the extent of methane emissions and leakage from drilling operations, storage tanks and pipelines carrying gas.
• Threats to pristine lands from unconventional gas drilling.
• Questions about the migration of fracking wastewater injected underground.

As a result, global citizens must look beyond the “bridge” temptation when it comes to energy and instead focus on truly clean, renewable energy sources. In total, the common good of humanity, the environment, and the long-term economy must NOT suffer as a result of ecosystem disruption by extraction industries.

Reflections/Actions:

• What personal experiences do I/we have with regard to hydraulic fracturing and/or the proposed Bluegrass Pipeline?
• What Catholic principles with regard to stewardship are being violated? Who is bearing the risks where these processes take place? What thoughts exist with regard to food and water supplies as a result of these processes? What types of “demands” from citizens would make this safe to be practiced?
• An EPA study on Hydraulic Fracturing and Drinking Water Resources includes a U.S. map indicating shale gas areas and a photo on the hydraulic fracturing process. 
• A global anti-fracking movement exists with information on annual events.  
• The Global Anti-Fracking Movement: What it Wants, How it Operates and What’s Next is located here.      
• The University of Tennessee is set to lease forest for fracking. Read the article here. 
• Two DVD’s related to hydraulic fracking include Gasland I and Gasland II. On July 8 at 9 p.m. local time on HBO, Gasland II will debut on television. Gasland I is located in the SCN media center for checkout.
• It appears as though the DVD/movie FrackNation, in response to Gasland II has Koch industry ties. More information is here. 
• A series of articles was written on hydraulic fracking by Michael Ludwig.      
• To remain updated on hydraulic fracking, individuals may like Food and Water Watch facebook page.  Individuals may sign a petition to ban fracking at (http://bit.ly/BFPetition) or text “Frack” to 69866.
• Contact President Obama at 866.772.3843 telling him that fracking threatens our air, water, climate and communities and not to pursue policies that promote fracking and the export of natural gas.
• U.S. citizens are invited to send a message to members of Congress and are also invited to urge the Bureau of Land Management to revise its proposed rule for greater transparency of fracking chemicals, thus protecting our environment, water supplies and public health. 
• Individuals are invited to write a letter to the editor of the local paper expressing your concerns and questions on hydraulic fracking and/or the Bluegrass Pipeline in KY.
• KY residents are invited to download, sign and send a message to their legislators urging them to oppose the Bluegrass Pipeline by clicking here.  Feel free to edit.
• Talk with others, express concerns, raise questions.
• Pray to St Francis of Assisi for wisdom and courage. The St. Francis Pledge is located here.      

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Immigration Legislation Update

Nuns on the Bus finished their campaign in support of comprehensive immigration reform across the Southern United States and Senators agreed with the need for legislation by passing S. 744, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 by a 68-32 vote. The legislation includes a road to citizenship for the millions of undocumented and an overhaul of the family immigration system. The bill also creates stringent border enforcement and deportation measures and workplace enforcement by mandating that employers use an electronic employment eligibility verification system or E-Verify. House leadership has stated it will NOT vote on the Senate bill and will take up the issue after the July 4 recess.

Reflections/Actions:

• Watch and take the latest action for comprehensive immigration reform and watch the SCN Newsline for further action.
• As the House begins work on immigration, a manual for faith group education is located here.
• The U.S. Catholic Bishops’ guidelines for comprehensive immigration reform are here.
• NETWORK has a fact sheet on immigration and a site to urge Congress that immigration reform is needed now here.
• The Immigration Policy Center has released State-by-State Fact Sheets on Immigration.  
• The hidden reality of rape on the job for immigrant women is depicted here.