Weekly Justice Highlights

Empowering Girls:  Article 475 in Morocco's penal code allows a rapist to avoid prosecution and a long prison sentence by marrying his victim even if she is a minor.  16 year-old Amina Filali, raped, beaten and forced to wed her rapist, killed herself.  She saw it as her only escape. Individuals are invited to honor Amina's memory by urging the Moroccan Parliament to repeal this law.  (International action is available.)

In the Spirit of St. Vincent: U.S. citizens are invited to contact Senators (1.877.267.2485, NO charges) urging them to pass unemployment insurance extension without conditions AND reject the Ayotte and Coats amendments that would harm vulnerable children and working families.  Emails can be sent here.   

During Human Trafficking Awareness Month in the U.S., join U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) and take action on three important anti-trafficking bills that are currently moving through Congress at this site. (look to right of page in blue box)  

Promoting Peace:  Calls are urgently needed to U.S. Senators (1.855.68- NO-WAR, NO charges) urging them to publicly support President Obama's diplomacy with Iran and oppose the Menendez sanctions legislation (S. 1881) that would undermine negotiations. 

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade (TPP) Agreement is headed for Fast Track unless individuals raise voice in opposition.  If passed, it would give global corporations, including the tobacco industry, more power to strip public health and environmental safeguards. Additionally, fast tracking would allow free trade agreements to circumvent ordinary Congressional review, amendment and debate procedures.  Urge U.S. Representatives to oppose Fast Track legislation of the TPP by calling 1.855.686.6927 (NO charges) or 1.202.224.3121 (Charges apply) or by clicking here.    

Help protect families, farms and food by urging Congress and the Food Drug Administration to ensure Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) labeling on all food by clicking here.  

Urge President Obama to close Guantanamo, a symbol of torture and indefinite detention.   

The 50th Anniversary of the U.S. efforts to alleviate Poverty has brought forth many helpful reports and analyses.  The Coalition on Human Needs has compiled them in a new webpage that will continue to be updated. The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Pushes Back from the Brink is available for download.  

Kentucky:  Currently, there are about 243,842 people in Kentucky who are disenfranchised from civic engagement and voting because of a prior felony conviction.  Kentucky is one of only four states that disenfranchises folks permanently. The only recourse currently is the returning citizen to apply for a partial pardon from the Governor. Urge KY legislators (1.800.372.7181, NO charges) to restore voting rights to former felons.  

Weekly Justice Highlights

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the war on poverty in America.  Resources and current information are located here.   Attempts to alleviate Poverty haven’t failed; our economy has failed. Today, a report is being released entitled, “The War on Poverty: Then and Now,” which details the enormous impact that our safety net has made in lifting millions of people out of poverty, the ways in which our country has changed over the past 50 years, and principles to cut poverty moving forward.   

National Migration Week in the United States is from January 5-11.  Resources including a prayer card can be found here.  Action urging comprehensive immigration reform can be taken here.   

Human Trafficking:  January is human trafficking awareness month and the Stop Trafficking newsletter co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is located here.        

In the Spirit of St. Vincent:  While unemployed workers and their families gained support in the U.S. Senate, individuals are invited to contact U.S. Representatives (1.800.826.3688, NO charges) urging them to renew federal unemployment insurance and make it retroactive to undo the harm inflicted on 1.3 million jobless long-term jobless workers.  Action can also be taken by email here.    

Challenging Unjust Structures: Urge U.S. legislators to support legislation for responsible lending and borrowing at the IMF that would benefit the world's poorest and most vulnerable.     

Immigration resource:  A video, titled "Apple Forecast: Immigration Reform," is available with testimonies of two women impatient for change.  The video is meant to be a conversation tool to better understand the crisis that current policies have created for everyone by the stories of this small farmer and her valued workers.    

Weekly Justice Highlights

National Migration Week in the United States is from January 5-11.  Resources including a prayer card can be found here.      

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is January 11 in the United States.  What will you do to make yourself more aware and create greater awareness among those with whom you minister with?  The Polaris Project has released a landmark report that analyzes human trafficking information titled, Human Trafficking Trends in the United States.  This is the most extensive data sets of human trafficking in the U.S.  With regard to advocacy, individuals are invited to examine the January issue of Stop Trafficking that will soon be available as well as resources for the month.  

In the Spirit of St. Vincent, we continue to seek out those in need around us.  U.S. citizens are invited to urge Senators and Representatives urging them to renew federal unemployment insurance and make it retroactive to undo the harm inflicted on 1.3 million jobless long-term jobless workers as soon as they return to session.

Challenging Unjust Structures: Urge U.S. legislators to support legislation for responsible lending and borrowing at the IMF that would benefit the world's poorest and most vulnerable.  

Promoting Peace: Urge the United Nations Security Council to bring world leaders to the table to develop real plans to eliminate all Weapons of Mass Destruction. (International action is available)

Care of Earth:  The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office has updated their climate resources for teachers.   "Links to other climate sites" is on the UU-UNO Climate Portal page. 

Urge President Obama, Members of Congress and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman to stop the secret trade deal that would eliminate the ability of countries around the world to label Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  

Immigration resource:  A video, titled "Apple Forecast: Immigration Reform," is available with testimonies of two women impatient for change.  The video is meant to be a conversation tool to better understand the crisis that current policies have created for everyone by the stories of this small farmer and her valued workers.  The video is located here.    

Prayers are needed for the ongoing situation in Syria and all in the Middle East.  Currently, orders from extremist groups who do not like the presence of non-Muslims in their emirate make it difficult for Christians to be in Northern Syria.