July 2011 Action Alert

Environmental Choices with Heart

Earth continues to need our actions and prayers as a result of choices individuals and corporations make. Many of God’s species are being displaced as environmental refugees (i.e. think recently about the flooding around the world). As we grow in our understanding of The Universe Story and the interconnectedness of all life, it is imperative that we be alert to what Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching have to say with regard to God’s creation and how we are to care for Earth and all species. The following is a glimpse of that which can be used to pray in solidarity with Earth and all species as we listen to action calls from a variety of sources.

“We must never lose sight of how we have been created: from the earth and from the breath of God.” (On Social Concern (Solicitudo Rei Socialis), 29)

“The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, 48)

“For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield; but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the wild animals may eat. You shall do the same with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.” (Exodus 23:10-11)

“It is all too evident that large numbers of people in different countries and areas of our planet are experiencing increased hardship because of the negligence or refusal of others to exercise responsible stewardship over the environment. The goods of creation belong to humanity as a whole. Yet the pace of environmental exploitation is seriously endangering the supply of natural resources for the present generation and for generations to come. There is a need to…practice the solidarity we owe to those living in the poorer areas of our world and to future generations.” (2010 Peace Message, Pope Benedict)

“Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, loss of agricultural land, the pollution of rivers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of “environmental refugees,” people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it and often their possessions as well? Can we remain impassive in the face of actual and potential conflicts involving access to natural resources?” (2010 Peace Message, Pope Benedict)

“[First] one cannot use with impunity the different categories of beings, whether living or inanimate, animals, plants, the natural elements simply as one wishes, according to one's own economic needs.
[Second] natural resources are limited; some are not, as it is said, renewable. Using them as if they were inexhaustible, with absolute dominion, seriously endangers their availability not only for the present generation but above all for generations to come.
[Third] the direct or indirect result of industrialization is, the pollution of the environment, with serious consequences for the health of the population....
The dominion granted to humans by the Creator is not an absolute power, nor can one... dispose of things as one pleases.... When it comes to the natural world, we are subject not only to biological laws but also to moral ones, which cannot be violated with impunity.” (On Social Concern (Solicitudo Rei Socialis), 34)

Reflection/Action:

• What phrases from the quotes above capture my heart? What is stirring as a result?
• When reading/listening to Scripture and song, how attentive am I to references on...

                 nature
                 ecology
                 water
                 food security
                 food sovereignty
                 sustainable living
                 sustainable development

• What prayer rises as a result of these reflections on Scripture, Catholic Social Teaching and the reality of our world?
• When with nature, what erupts from my heart as the "Glory of God?"
• Where do environmental refugees exist within my country? How have I demonstrated compassion toward them?
• How have I educated others on these topics and/or these areas of concern? What resources do I have that might prove helpful?
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Rio+20 Conference in 2012

The Rio+20 Conference will take place in June 2012 and marks the 20thanniversary of the Earth Summit in Rio, thus the name. In 1992, assembled leaders in Rio signed the Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biodiversity. They also endorsed the Rio Declaration and the Forest Principles and adopted Agenda 21. The United Nations (UN) created the Commission on Sustainable Development to monitor and report on the implementation of these Earth Summit agreements.

The Commission on Sustainable Development held this past May has threatened the Rio+20 Conference due to the inability to come to agreement on critical issues, the disagreement over ‘green economy’ and the future governance of sustainable development. Much work needs to be completed before the Rio+20 either at events in Bonn this September or in Durban in December.

In preparation for Rio+20, much discussion has centered on the concept of a ‘green economy’ and the future governance that will facilitate the implementation of Rio+20 outcomes. The objective of Rio+20 is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development. As a result, Rio+20 will focus on two themes:

• The green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication
• The international structures necessary to promote sustainable development

Rio+20 presents a moment of opportunity in the wake of the past decades which have seen economic crises, social disparities (with one fifth of the population consuming 80% of the Earth’s resources), and environmental disasters including food scarcity, water shortage, loss of biodiversity and natural disasters. These three pillars for a sustainable economy and the current relationship between these signify the need for a new paradigm, one that views the systems as a whole and inter-related. Rather than seeing aspects of these three pillars outside of each other and unconnected, the new paradigm looks to view the economy and society as subsets of the planetary ecological system.

The concept of ‘green economy’ can provide a current response to the crises of our time. These include the climate crisis, the food crisis and the economic crisis. While no universally acceptable definition of ‘green economy’ has been agreed upon at this time, the UN environment program and the World Resource Institute offer their own descriptions. Depending on one’s perspective of these three pillars, ‘green economy’ is viewed differently by different people and groups.

Reflection/Action:

• In what order of priority are the climate crisis, food crisis, and economic crisis given in my country?
• What actions by leaders in my country verify this priority?
• To ensure environmental sustainability as Millennium Development Goal (MDG) #7 states, in what order would the global community need to prioritize these three pillars?
• MDG #8 speaks of developing a global partnership for development. What else keeps nation states from promoting sustainable development?
• How does environmental sustainability relate to poverty eradication?
• How are these three pillars ordered in my own life and what evidence suggests this?
• What does this say with regard to my efforts at promoting sustainability?

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Forced Labor and Food Consumption

According to two articles recently, forced labor is real in the U.S. agriculture business. Maryam Al-Zoubi in Source of Missing Jobs in America Found: Forced Laborers speaks of how “Americans becoming unwittingly complicit supporters of labor trafficking.” In this same article, Ambassador CdeBaca testified at a Senate committee hearing that “eliminating broker fees from the guest worker visa process is one of the many steps the United States government can take to stop the enslavement of foreign workers in the United States.” The worker visas (H-2A and H-2B) do not offer protection from enslavement of workers who remain at a specified work site for the duration of their stay in the U.S. Kentucky is one of the main states receiving these workers.

In another article, Martori farms, the exclusive fresh fruit and vegetable supplier to Wal-Mart’s Supercenter and Neighborhood Market stores, uses women from the Perryville, AZ women’s prison unit to hoe weeds and thin plants. Currently, the women work in deplorable conditions (i.e. hot sun for 8 hours often running out of water; fields infested with spiders, bees and snakes; without medical attention for injuries; etc.). The women are not screened medically before being sent out. They only need to be able to stand to work in the fields.

Reflection/Action:

• How much of the food that comes to my table is nurtured and harvested by forced labor?
• How might I find out if forced labor is a part of the food that comes to my table?
• What options exist for making sure that forced labor is not used in that which comes to my table?
• Which option is realistic to take action on based on my current reality?
• How does this reality relate to food sovereignty?
• View the updated video, Look Beneath the Surface located here.
• The latest issue of Stop Trafficking, co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is located here

Care of Earth Resources

The Economics of Happiness describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. On the one hand, an unholy alliance of governments and big business continues to promote globalization and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, people all over the world are resisting those policies, demanding a re-regulation of trade and finance—and, far from the old institutions of power, they’re starting to forge a very different future. The 2011 film is directed by Helena Norberg-Hodge, Steven Gorelick and John Page.

Down To Earth Magazine published in India.  Website is located here. 


Food Security: A Faith-Based Study Guide on Poverty and Hunger is located here.


Water: An interactive global water stress map is located here.  Click on each country to see its water stress ranking, and its water consumption as a percentage of its renewable supply.

The Journey of the Universe book has been released and is now available. A collaboration of Brian Thomas Swimme, Mary Evelyn Tucker, and John Grim, the Journey of the Universe project also includes a film (available late July 2011) and an educational series (available October 12, 2011).

Weekly Justice Highlights

Human Trafficking: An 18-month FBI investigation discovered that Wyndham-owned hotels (Travelodge and Howard Johnson) were regularly used for child prostitution with the knowledge and even assistance of staff. Sign a petition urging Wyndham Hotel Group to sign an international child protection agreement for travel and tourism companies.  (International Action available by clicking on ‘outside US’)

Immigration: Calling for an end to deportations, the Let My People Stay Campaign recently created public awareness at St. Xavier University in Chicago. The campaign calls for an end to deportations of undocumented migrants. Action in solidarity can be taken here (scroll down on right side to take action).

Water: Urge US Senators to co-sponsor the FRAC Act to protect water from hydraulic fracking.

Care of Earth: The Economics of Happiness describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. On the one hand, an unholy alliance of governments and big business continues to promote globalization and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, people all over the world are resisting those policies, demanding a re-regulation of trade and finance—and, far from the old institutions of power, they’re starting to forge a very different future. The 2011 film is directed by Helena Norberg-Hodge, Steven Gorelick and John Page.

An Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit was captured when he was 19 by Palestinian groups. His parents have proof their son was alive in October 2009 and this Saturday marks the fifth year since Gilad was first held in secret detention. Urge Palestinian leaders to show proof that Gilad is alive and being treated well.

An interactive global water stress map is available.  Click on each country to see its water stress ranking, and its water consumption as a percentage of its renewable supply.

Urge U.S. federal legislators to oppose the Columbian Free Trade Agreement by calling 202.224.3121.  Afro-Columbian trade unionists recently visited Washington to share with members of Congress their struggles to better working and living conditions.

The US Bishops send a gentle reminder to fast on first Fridays and to eat meals that cost only as much as is allotted for a family of your size by the USDA Modified Thrifty Food Plan. This plan is used as the basis for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly called food stamps). The “cutting back” that is likely to remain “in budget” is considered a form of fasting.

A Faith-Based Study Guide on Poverty and Hunger is located here.

Weekly Justice Highlights

Good news: The Senate voted to end ethanol subsidies this past week. Individuals are invited to tell Secretary Tom Vilsack to support this position at the G20.

Immigrants: E-Verify allows employers to electronically verify workers’ employment eligibility with government data bases that can be with error. Urge federal legislators to block expansion of E-Verify that does not include comprehensive immigration reform (see directions at top of page).

Call (202.456.111 (charges apply)) or email Vice President Biden urging him to find ways to increase revenue as negotiations continue with regard to the deficit. Encourage him to invest in public works that create jobs that reduce the number on safety-net programs and reduce unemployment benefits. Thus revenue will increase as the newly employed pay income, Medicare and payroll taxes.

Urge Governor Jerry Brown to sign The Fair Treatment of Farm Workers Act (SB 104) that makes it easy for farm workers to have a union and allows farm workers to enforce the laws themselves (look for SB 104 on web page).

Call President Obama to impose serious consequences on the Government of Sudan, freeze assets of its leaders and their businesses, and expand war crimes investigations by calling 1.800.GENOCIDE (no charge)

Urge President Obama and Congress to stand for human rights and apologize for the terrible mistreatment that Maher Arar suffered in Syria.

Movement for a constitutional amendment is growing to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC. Sign a petition for an amendment (left side of screen).

Sign an open letter to the National Park Service and the Environmental Protection Agency asking to restore Blair Mountain’s status on the National Register of Historic Places and protect it from destruction by mountaintop removal coal mining.

Call and urge federal legislators (202.224.3121, charges apply) to reject Medicaid cuts in any form. Cuts to this program shift costs to states and transfer the burden to people with disabilities and seniors who are some of the most at risk in our society.

Call President Obama (202.456.1111, charges apply) urging him to ensure that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture issues and enforces the new Packers and Stockyards livestock fairness rule now. The rule would enable family farmers and ranchers to information they need to make sound business decisions and obtain fair prices to keep families operating.

What does it mean to have collective bargaining rights? When workers are not at the table, much can go wrong as this video illustrates.

Congressman Yarmuth and Louisville: This week, the Courier Journal spoke about budget cuts to Kentucky’s only trout hatchery at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery near Jamestown. Contact Congressman Yarmuth at 582.5129 or 933.5863 (local numbers from constituents) to oppose this proposed budget cut because it hurts the economy of Kentucky.

April 2011 to June 2011

Empowering Women: Charges were dropped for Saudi Arabian woman, Manal al-Sharif who was arrested for driving a car where it is illegal to do so. Hillary Clinton and Catharine Ashton (Europe’s top ambassador) both spoke out forcefully in favor of giving women the right to drive.

Challenging Unjust Governments: India’s government signed a written submission to all of Anna Hazare’s demands after she declared a fast unto death until the government agreed to let civil society draft a powerful new anti-corruption law.

Human Trafficking: Hilton Hotels have signed a code of conduct on the rape trade and employees will be trained to spot and prevent the horror of sex slavery of women and girls.

Care of Earth: In April the Senate defeated a series of pro-polluter amendments that would have gutted the Clean Air Act and to varying degrees block the Environmental Protection Agency from protecting Americans from dangerous air pollution.

Care of Earth: U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the protection of more than 1 million acres of public lands bordering Grand Canyon National Park from new mining claims and mineral exploration for the next 20 years.

Protecting Human Species: The U.S. House passed a ban prohibiting the patent of a human organism. The Senate version already passed did not contain the ban. A conference committee will reconcile the bills and alerts will be sent if more action is needed.

Confronting Unjust Systems: The U.S. FY 2011 budget passed in mid-April preserves nearly all funding for key programs fighting poverty in the developing world.

Confronting Unjust Systems: In May, the U.S. Senate rejected both Ryan’s Budget bill and Senator Toomey’s budget bill that would hurt low- and moderate- income people, cost millions of jobs, threaten the U.S. fragile economic recovery and leave millions without vital medical coverage.

Confronting Unjust Systems: In May, U.S. tobacco giant, Reynolds acknowledged that it had a responsibility to work with farmworkers to address human rights in their supply chain. It is important to continue the pressure for further action.

Challenging Unjust Governments: The U.S. Senate voted to end subsidies for corn ethanol in June.

Single Payer Healthcare: The U.S. state of Vermont became the first state to enact universal health care for all when Governor Peter Shumlin signed into law H. 202, “An act relating to a single-payer and unified health system.

Promoting Fair Trade: A New York rally entitled, “Raise the Bar, Hershey” had so many people show up to promote fair trade from Hershey that the space for the rally needed to be expanded. This rally included students learning about social justice in their classrooms.

Weekly Justice Highlights

Food Security: The House of Representatives will debate and vote this week on H.R. 2112 – Agriculture Appropriations for 2012. Urge Representatives to speak out against the provisions which would reduce access to food for members of our communities who are living in poverty – particularly children and the elderly.

Empowering Women: This Friday, June 17, women in Saudi Arabia will risk arrest by driving their own car. Help women win the right to go wherever they choose by urging key Saudi and U.S. decision makers

Other Potential Actions:
The situation in Southern Sudan continues to grow worse.  Prayer for the Republic of South Sudan: God of Mercies, we thank you for your great love for us. We ask you to guide our leaders in the process of nation building. Grant them wisdom, compassion and fortitude. Loving God, give us courage to reject ethnic resentment as well as ethnic conflicts. Amen.

Urge federal legislators to stop Free Trade Agreements that prioritizes corporations ahead of people.  

H.J Res 1, the proposed balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, is currently waiting for markup in the House Judiciary Committee. It is expected to pass the committee this week. Urge Representatives to oppose any balanced budget amendments that come to the floor.

The Jobs, Opportunity, Benefits and Services (“JOBS”) Act (HR 1745 and S. 904), sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), would divert the $31 billion in federal funds authorized for Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Extended Benefits (EB) payments to what they’ve called “better uses,” like tax cuts for corporations. Take action to prevent this.

Urge Senators to support the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S. 847) that would require new chemicals to be tested for safety before reaching the market and require the EPA to identify chemicals known to be toxic to enforce their removal from products on the market.

The 9th Annual Youth Assembly at the UN will take place at UN Headquarters, August 3-5. This conference will bring together 600 youth leaders (16-24 yrs. old) from around the world and involve them in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. More information is available here.

The Last Mountain is a documentary focusing on the devastating effects of mountaintop coal removal in West Virginia’s Coal River Valley that demonstrates we are all connected to the ecological damage caused by the generation of electricity. With strong support from Bobby Kennedy Jr. and grassroots organizations, awareness is rising in the battle over Appalachian mountaintop mining. It was the official selection of the 2011 Sundance film festival with more information located here. The following are on the website: June 24 – June 30 in BOSTON at Kendall Square Cinema and at West Newton Cinema; July 22 – July 28 in PITTSBURGH with place TBA

Louisville: The Louisville Sustainable Living Fair will take place on June 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. on Rastetter Street (between Payne Street and Frankfort Ave). This is free and open to the community.

SCN Systemic Change "Herstory" /Video

Office of Global Ministries Presentation February 2011 from Sisters of Charity of Nazareth on Vimeo.