October Action Alert

Education, Poverty and the International Day of the Girl Child 

October 11 marks the second International Day of the Girl Child that this year recognizes the need for fresh and creative perspectives to propel girls’ education forward with new technology, innovative partnerships, policies, resource utilization, community mobilization and the engagement of young people themselves.  A recent UNICEF report states that “the education of girls is the most powerful and effective way to address global poverty.” 

Girls are more vulnerable abuse, violence, disease, early marriage, and poverty when education is missing from the life of a girl.  Around the world, many girl children face extreme challenges in accessing education.  A recent UNICEF report estimates that about 150 million children have no access to primary education and about two-thirds of these are girls.  

Those marginalized in society are often the most vulnerable.  Girls are often the first to be pulled out of school when help is needed in the home or to support the family.  Girls can be sold by parents or family members who are unable to feed them into labor or sex trafficking.  Girls suffer higher mortality rates linked to gender-related norms such as infanticide or fetal sex selection.  And the majority of the out-of school children is most attributed to lack of funds for adequate schooling facilities, teenage pregnancy and gender inequality in family and society. 

The first millennium development goal speaks of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.  Yet, girls are expected to help maintain families by assuming childcare and home tasks or engage in labor not only missing education but also bearing the brunt of poverty.  Girls are often exploited in a variety of ways with regard to these realities.  Yet, when girls are involved in appropriate decision-making that influences them, their lives improve and so do the lives of their families.  The second millennium development goal of universal primary education for all children certainly puts the girl child on more equal “footing” with the boy child and decreases the chances that a girl child and her future family will live in poverty.  Therefore, nations must continue their work on prioritizing education for the girl child. 

Individuals, families and communities can reflect and consider the following in promoting education for the girl child:

• How “girl-friendly” are community schools with female teachers and curricula free of gender bias and stereotyping?
• What incentives exist to encourage families with girls to send their daughters to school?    
• What infrastructure and sanitation exists in the community to improve the girl child’s access to education?
• What resources suggest social spending and capacity building for girls?
• How is discrimination confronted and initiatives that promote the girl child implemented? 
• How engrained is gender violence in the community and what steps can be taken to change this?

Reflection/Action: 

• What obstacles are present where I live that prevent the girl child from being equal to the boy child? 
• What is the relationship between poverty and education in my country? my community? 
• “Where the effects of past discrimination persist, society has an obligation to take positive steps to overcome the legacy of injustice.  Judiciously administered affirmative action programs in education and employment can be important expressions of the drive for solidarity and participation that is at the heart of true justice.  Social harm calls for social relief.” (Economic Justice for All, #73)  What aspects of this statement call for awareness, education and action?
• Article 19,1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child speaks of “parties taking all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent, legal guardian or any person who has the care of the child.”  What prevents this from being a reality?
• Over 70% of those living in poverty are female around the world, what concrete action can I take to change this?
• More information on the International Day of the Girl Child is located here and here.      
• Watch the YouTube film The Clock is Ticking here and live the belief that girls are powerful agents for change in our world.     
• October 16 marks World Food Day and October 17 marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.  In what ways does food and poverty relate to the girl child?  How do these two oppressive systems ensnare the girl child?
• A prayer to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is located here.   

Global Frackdown

Global Frackdown on October 19 is a global day of action intended to send messages to elected or government officials in communities around the globe that citizens desire a future of clean, renewable energy, not dirty polluting fossil fuels.  The July 2013 Action Alert highlighted hydraulic fracturing and encouraged reflection on the global community’s care of creation.  Additionally, the feast of St. Francis (October 4) encourages us to continue to hold Earth’s concerns as our concerns.  The melting of glaciers all over the world indicates that all is not ideal for Earth and all that depends on glaciers.  

Pope Francis cautions humanity in his document, On Heaven and Earth: Pope Francis on Faith, Family and the Church in the Twenty-First Century, “There is a moment in which ‘humanity’ goes too far in this task (of subduing the Earth); and gets overly zealous and loses respect for nature.  The ecological problems arise like global warming, which are new forms of non-culture.” (page 5)

Events drawing attention to “Global Frackdown” and the “Feast of St. Francis” are encouraged and can include creative, locally relevant ideas such as clean-up days, less use of energy for the day, screening of films such as Gasland I or Gasland II, education of others, and advocating for clean energy among many others.  

Reflections/Actions: 

• Spend some time with the quote from Pope Francis or another quote from Catholic Social Teaching.  What challenges am I being called to as a result of reflection?
• A global anti-fracking movement exists with information on annual events located here.   
• A series of articles written on hydraulic fracking by Michael Ludwig is located here.  
• Urge global leaders to envision a cleaner energy future here.  
• Contact your local and national elected officials and express how fracking threatens air, water, climate and urge them to pursue policies that promote renewable energies. 
• Pray to St. Francis of Assisi for wisdom and courage.  The St. Francis Pledge and other resources to commemorate the day are located here. 
• Updates on the proposed Bluegrass Pipeline that is expected to run through portions of KY are located here.  

 U.S. Legislative Updates 

Immigration reform still awaits action in the House that includes a reasonable path toward citizenship, however, the atmosphere is one of "piecemeal" at the present moment and could likely prolong comprehensive immigration reform.  From September 9 to October 8 people of faith across the United States will be participating in FAST Action for Immigration Reform.  This will include prayer, advocacy and fasting with encouragement to get others involved in this action.  More information can be found here.  Additionally, all 50 state information is located here and here.  Individuals are invited to continue contacting their legislators at 1.202.224.3121, clicking here or at the Justice for Immigrants website.

SNAP:  The Senate included funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of the Farm Bill cutting $4.1 billion from the program and the House has now agreed to almost $40 billion in cuts to the program in separate legislation outside the Farm Bill.  Thus in less than two months, all SNAP recipients will see a reduction in their benefits when the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s temporary boost expires, leaving a family of three with $20-$25 less in benefits per month.      This fall, a committee will work on compromise legislation.  Individuals are  invited to contact U.S. legislators urging them to oppose any cuts to the SNAP program that harms those most vulnerable.  

FY 2014 and the Debt Limit:  In October 1, FY 2014 begins with regard to the U.S. budget.  Currently, the House and Senate are at an impasse with regard to this budget and the debt limit that is approaching in mid-October .  The House has currently passed a continuing resolution that includes defunding the Affordable Care Act.  House Republicans are talking about delay of the Affordable Care Act to an increase in the debt limit.  The Continuing Resolution (CR) extends spending on military, domestic and international appropriations at this year’s levels through December 15. 

The Senate and President Obama have both made clear that they will not accept defunding the health care law.  Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Barbara Mikulski prefers a CR that would last till mid-November, if set at current year funding.  The farther out the CR is set in terms of date, the more difficult it will be to negotiate an end to sequestration.  Upon action from the Senate, the House will need to decide if it insists on dismantling the Affordable Care Act through defunding or agree to a cleaner extension.  A cleaner extension would require more votes in the House that will prove difficult.  If Congress does not increase the federal borrowing authority by mid-October, the government will be unable to pay all its bills.  Thus, Republicans will have to seriously reflect voters reactions as a result of their actions.  Individuals are invited to urge U.S. legislators to support a continuing resolution that does not defund the Affordable Care Act and ends sequestration cuts.  A message can also be edited to House members on budget priorities by clicking here.