Weekly Justice Highlights

Care of Earth: Individuals from the international community are invited to sign a petition to the Guatemalan Government urging them to protect the health, safety, livelihoods, and rights of local communities by suspending mining operations at the Marlin Mine. Action can be taken here.

In solidarity with Women and Children: An NGO Committee for Social Development at the United Nations is mounting a signature campaign in four languages in support of the Social Protection Floor Initiative. The signatures from the international community will be used as an advocacy tool at national level and at the UN during the Commission on Social Development in 2012, the Commission on the Status of Women 2012 and the International Labor Organization event in June 2012. To read the petition and sign it, click here.

In the spirit of St. Vincent, U.S. citizens are asked to urge Senators to maintain the levels of life-saving poverty-focused international assistance for FY 2012 as passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee and to oppose any amendments that would cut poverty-focused international assistance.

Tell Alabama Governor Bentley how the immigration law he recently signed criminalizes the compassion mandated by religious beliefs.

Despite the U.S. Supreme Court granting Mr. Skinner the right to sue for access to DNA testing, the state of Texas has continued to pursue his execution, with the sentencing judge signing a new death warrant for November 9, 2011.  In the name of justice, please allow the evidence to be tested before it is too late.  Take action here   

Call and urge U.S. Senators and Representatives (Congress 202.224.3121; not toll free) to support at least $60 million for HUD Housing counseling in the final budget discussions.

Twelve members of the House and Senate are now deciding how to handle our federal budget deficit (known as the Super Committee). They need to hear from American voters by November 14, that we want
• No more cuts to social safety net programs, including Medicaid, SNAP and unemployment insurance
• Increased revenue to close the wealth gap and decrease the deficit
• Cuts in unnecessary military spending
For a list of those on the Super Committee, click here. (Be patient until it shows itself)

Urge U.S. Senators to oppose the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011 and any effort to delay federal coal ash regulations. This is about protecting our waters.

Urge Senators to pass HR 2867; reauthorizing the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom before November 18.

U.S. citizens are invited to challenge Mike Duke, CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. to pay its fair share of health care for all its employees.

Louisville: Journey of the Universe will be screened on November 6 at the IMAX Theatre (727 West Main Street) at 5 p.m.; November 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Louisville Collegiate School (2427 Glenmary Avenue) and at Bellarmine University (2001 Newburg Rd) at 4 p.m. with discussion to follow. Contact Kathleen Lyons at Kathleen@interfaithrelations.org for more information.

The National Farm Worker Ministry has a well-done 2-minute video on farm workers.