Weekly Justice Highlights

Challenging Unjust Systems:  Urge WalMart to join an independent fire safety inspection program to prevent tragedies such as the November 24 massive fire in a Bangladesh textile factory that killed 112 workers due to locked emergency exits.

Immigrants: Urge U.S. Representatives to OPPOSE the STEMS Job Act of 2012 (H.R. 6429) that would eliminate the diversity immigrant program in order to provide visas to immigrants with advanced degrees.  

Challenging Unjust Systems: Urge U.S. Senators to co-sponsor Senator Brown’s 21^st Century Trade Agreements Act (S.3347) that would place trade negotiations in the public eye, protect American jobs, and ban imports of food that doesn’t meet our safety standards.   Additionally, Senator Al Franken has drafted a letter to President Obama demanding that the TPP Free Trade Agreement include enforceable obligations to protect fundamental labor rights and safeguard against investment and service sector rules that provide incentives for offshoring.  Action urging Senators to sign Senator Franken’s TPP letter. (Currently the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement is being made in secret)

Help educate girls in Pakistan by watching this slide show.  

Urge U.S. Senators and Representatives to eliminate the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts to the wealthiest 2% in America, and fund social safety net programs that allow people who need them to live in dignity.

Urge U.S. Senators and Representatives to seriously consider extending Unemployment Insurance benefits to the two million Americans who are long-term unemployed and whose benefits expire December 31.  

Call (1.202.244.3121; charges apply) and urge U.S. Representatives to sign on to a bipartisan letter (Sponsored by Reps. Barbara Lee and Walter Jones) to the president calling for “an accelerated withdrawal to bring to an end the decade-long war as soon as can safely and responsibly be accomplished.

Sign a petition for incoming Senator Elizabeth Warren to oversee activities of the financial sector and serve on the Senate Banking Committee.

Urge U.S.Senators to honor the legacy of protecting the human rights of the disabled by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Urge President Obama NOT to accept corporate money for his inauguration.

Organizations Only: In the coming weeks, the School of America’s Watch will deliver a letter to Congress urging them to include the School of America in their mandatory budget cuts.  Organizations are invited to sign on to the SOA Watch Congressional letter by clicking here.  

KY Residents: On November 28, several Faith Leaders from throughout Kentucky  including representatives from Asbury Theological Seminary, the Kentucky Council or Churches and the Presbyterian Church will travel to Washington DC to meet with Senator Mitch McConnell’s senior staff around the Circle of Protection Campaign as congress debates the budget and  negotiates the fiscal cliff.  I invite all KY citizens to be in solidarity and prayer with those traveling to Washington by calling Senator McConnell’s DC office (1.800.826.3688 – ask for Senator McConnell’s office; NO charges apply).  After you have shared your name, share a message similar to: “Senator McConnell, As a Kentuckian , I urge you to work with your colleagues to develop a bipartisan plan to address our deficits AND clearly protects programs for hungry and poor people including SNAP, WIC, the EITC and poverty-focused international assistance.  Please form a Circle of Protection around the programs that serve poor and hungry people. Thank you.” (Act by end of November 30)