Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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.

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