March 2012

March 2012

Millennium Consumption Goals and Rio+20

The Millennium Consumption Goals (MCGs) is an idea that was proposed by Professor Munasinghe of Sri Lanka in January 2011 at the United Nations in New York. According to Professor Munasinghe, “MCGs could help make our development path more sustainable, by focusing on the 1.4 billion people in the richest 20 percentile of the world’s population. They consume over 80% of global output, or 60 times more than the poorest 20 percentile. Instead of viewing the rich as a problem, they should be persuaded to contribute to the solution.” The MCGs will complement the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) designed to help the world’s poor. The (MCGs) aim to provide consumption targets designed to motivate the world’s rich to consume more sustainably. They will make human consumption and production more sustainable in economic, environmental and social terms, thereby improving overall well-being, reducing the burden on natural resources, freeing up resources to alleviate poverty, and ensuring intra- and inter-generational equity.

The MCGs are still a work in progress. Suggested MCGs include the following:

1. Greenhouse gas emissions reduction
2. Energy use (conservation, fossil fuels, renewable energy, transport, buildings, etc.)
3. Water use (conservation, quality, re-use, etc.)
4. Land and biomass use
5. Ores and industrial minerals
6. Construction materials and minerals
7. Pollution and waste (air and water effluents, solid waste, toxic waste and chemicals, etc.)
8. Food and agriculture
9. Health and obesity (Diet, smoking, exercise, etc.)
10. Livelihoods and lifestyles (working hours, work conditions, etc.)
11. Economic-financial systems (progressive taxation, banking reform, measures of well-being, etc.)
12. Military expenditures

A summary of the proposal submitted to Rio+20 reads as follows: “Establish a set of Millennium Consumption Goals for the period 2012-2020 and for subsequent decades, complementing the Millennium Development Goals, and helping to ensure that the basic needs of the poor are met, preserve and strengthen earth’s natural resource base on which human society depends, and enhance global prosperity, while ensuring a good quality of life and well-being for everyone by 2020, improving intra- and inter-generational equity, and accelerating the shift to more sustainable consumption and production as an essential step towards the ultimate goal of sustainable development.”

Reflection and Action: During Lent choose one or two of the suggested MCGs listed above and evaluate yourself. What are you doing to reduce your use of water? What can you do to conserve energy? What are your eating habits? Is your lifestyle a healthy one? Take the time to discuss the MCGs with someone else or with a small group. Encourage each other to make even greater changes to reduce the use of natural resources and enhance quality of life.

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International Women's Day 2012

Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures is the theme for International Women's Day (March 8). The SCN 2008 directive of working to empower women to assume their rightful place in church and society is a challenging process. Inclusive of this process is the imperative to include girls. The global celebration focuses on the economic, political and social achievements of past, present and future girls and women. Women of the past have struggled hard to overcome inequalities in various areas. While disparities still remain in many parts of the world, it is imperative to ask, "what actions do I take wherever I live that liberate women and girls?"

Reflection and Action:

• A website of world-wide resources that includes resources for educators and activists is located here.
• Educate and empower women to change social systems: For example, Women Occupy plan to target Bank of America on March 8 as a symbol of women’s struggle for economic justice who are about half the population yet close to ¾ remain poor. Bank of America leads the banks in illegal foreclosure practices, faulty loans, tax evasion and exorbitant fees. More information is here.
• Research and share cultural stories of women from around the world: For example, what cultures exist in the many environments that make up my life? What have I learned from others? What else might I still wish to learn? UN Women has several articles related to women around the world located here OR here. Also the Commission on the Status of Women continues through March 9 with information and resources located here.
• In listening to Christian Scripture, we hear much about Jesus’ relationship with women and his “breaking of cultural barriers” in his time. Listen and reflect upon the role of women. Women participated in many tasks such as prophet, teacher, steward, widow and apostle among other titles. Among the many stories that relate to these women titles, pray with Romans 16:1-16; Luke 8:1-3; John 4:1-42; Luke 1: 41-56 and the Resurrection stories.
• Reflect upon the necessary skills for advocacy of the rightful place of women in society and church? Research and a listening heart? Courage? An understanding of the culture, context and relationship of issues? Creativity? Others? How does one integrate these into one’s life so as to be a successful advocate?
• Share stories of women empowerment with the Office of Global Ministries (jvenneman@scnazarethky.org) to be used on the Newsline and Facebook page.

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World Water Day

With an SCN corporate statement on the right to freshwater, we celebrate International World Water Day on March 22. The theme, Water and Food Security, continue to be challenges for women all around the world. Water is necessary for the survival of most species. Thus, human food needs water. According to the website Women and Water Rights, “By 2025, it is estimated that two thirds of the world’s population will live in areas facing moderate to severe water stress.”

Adding pressure to the water system are:

• Extractive industries such as hydraulic fracking, oil made from tar sands, etc
• Weather patterns
• World populations
• Consumption by the world’s top 20%
• Consumption of more meat products
• In addition to the quantity of water is the quality of water. A Kashmiri proverb states, “It is easy to throw anything into the river, but difficult to take it out again.” Included in quality is that of pollution through many means, preservation of ecosystems for natural filtration, and the proper treatment of wastewater.

Reflecting on the connections of water quantity and quality and how this impacts food security is certainly a challenge for our time. As natural resources continue to be extracted for commercial purposes or to the highest bidder, it is worth asking where Catholic Social Teaching fits into the global reality. Just who is it that owns this Earth we have received as gift from our Divine? What perceptions form this reality? Is ALL creation given equal say in decisions?

Clearly there is much work ahead for individuals, communities and nations to be food secure when water is part of the essence of that security. Many of the regions in our world that experience internal conflict are water and/or food related. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has a webpage devoted to the relationship between water and food security.

Reflection, Education and Action:

• Visit World Water Day website for downloads related to water consumption and food production located here AND here (scroll down). Calculate the water necessary for a simple meal where you live. How might this compare with what I know of others who eat differently around the world? What reflections do I take from this exercise? What commitments can I make to further reduce water consumption?
• Numerous local, national and international links for worldwide water resources are located here.
• Watch a three minute video on the negative implications of water and food security in developing countries.  For anyone who believes water and food security are human rights, what will the individual do?
• Recommended resources for teaching and learning about food security and water are available here.
• A 16 minute video entitled, When the Water Ends is located here.
• Watch for the 4th World Water Development Report. The report will “describe the major changes, uncertainties, and risks taking place in the world and their links to water resources. It will give account of the status and the trends related to water supplies, uses, management, institutions and financing; highlight regional hotspots, and address issues such as gender equality, water-related disasters, health and the role of ecosystems.”

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U.S. Congress and 2012 Legislation

Congress passed a bipartisan bill on spending before the date of expiration when it extended aid to the jobless and the payroll tax cut. After the past year, this is a rather amazing! So what can we expect of Congress in the year ahead? Well, it is election year and legislators are likely to keep their own voting to a minimal so as not to have it used in opposition to their remaining in office. Although there are spending bills to be passed, it is highly likely that passing legislation will be the rare action.

Bread for the World asks its members to expand the Circle of Protection in solidarity with those individuals most in need here in the U.S. and abroad during 2012. They say, "while we must work to reduce our deficit, our choices must not hurt those whom Jesus called the least among us." Included in this expansion are domestic nutrition programs and those programs that keep individuals from hunger abroad. With governments around the world working to reduce deficits, it is imperative that there be voices to protect programs for hungry and poor people. As U.S. citizen Tara Marks states to her legislator's aide, "it certainly appears as though the business community are surrounded by a circle of protection."

Reflection and Action:

• As Jesus is challenged throughout his journey to the Cross to live with less, what does it mean for individuals to surrender in living with less? Might the Millennium Consumption Goals listed above be a place to begin? How might individuals spiral deeper to greater action and less consumption?
• Individuals can take action to retain domestic nutrition assistance programs, poverty-focused foreign assistance, tax credits for low-income families and international food aid programs by contacting U.S. legislators. Useful guides are located here.

Weekly Justice Highlights

Promoting Peace: This Thursday’s test of a Minuteman III is the second test in less than a week; the Air Force also fired a Minuteman missile from Vandenberg on February 25. Urge President Obama to cancel Thursday’s test on the anniversary of Castle Bravo and to take nuclear weapons off high-alert status in order to lower the possibilities of accidental or unauthorized missile launches. (Act by March 1)

Immigrants: The results of two pilot programs have been released that show of the 11682 pending removal cases in Baltimore and Denver, 16% were administratively closed. As this policy expands nationwide, individuals are invited to urge President Obama and Secretary Napolitano to expand its commitment to immigrants and address concerns that uphold the dignity and well-being of immigrants across the U.S.  Individuals can read more here.

Care of Earth: Send a message urging President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to finish the job and protect water and human health by stopping toxic coal ash leaks.

Care of Earth: Urge U.S. members of Congress to stop attacking mercury and carbon standards – to stop cutting off clean air. (Click on “Tell Congress Don’t Cut off our clean air”)

Call and urge U.S. Senators (1.202.224.3121, charges apply) to support an amendment that will stop construction of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline that would transport the world’s dirtiest oil across drinking water sources.

Sign a petition that reads, "President Obama, we shouldn't expedite any part of Keystone XL. Don't expedite the approval of the southern portion or cut any corners to force this disastrous project through."

Sign a petition urging Rob Walton (one of the heirs to the Walmart fortune) to meet with OUR Walmart (Organization United for Respect at Walmart – made of Walmart Associates) and implement their Declaration for respect. 

Urge Canadian Prime Minister Harper to stop the wolf killing in the area of tar sands mining.

The Photopic Sky Survey is a Web site with a 360-degree, interactive composite photograph of the entire night sky as seen from Earth. 

A video by the Aberdeen Sisters of the Presentation on the Stations of the Cross is located here.

Louisville: The Center for Interfaith Relations presents Kelty Concert Organist, David Briggs (internationally renowned artist and Organist Emeritus) on March 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Assumption (433 South 5th Street)

Weekly Justice Highlights

Challenging Unjust Governments: Syria’s crackdown on democracy protesters continues to produce stories of horror. Avaaz has been invited to sit at the table with key powers in the region to deliver a strong mandate for action to stop the bloodbath. Join in solidarity by signing the petition (Act as soon as possible)

Genetically Modified Sweet Corn: Urge Wal-Mart CEO Mike Duke to live up to their commitment of consumer safety and reject Monsanto’s untested and genetically-modified sweet corn before it is planted this spring.

Standing with those most vulnerable: Urge U.S. Senators to cut the debt by cutting the Pentagon budget. War is not the answer and neither is cutting programs that the most vulnerable population depends on.

Opposing Nuclear Weapons: Urge President Obama to reduce the threat of nuclear weapon use by accident, miscalculation or intent. This message will also go to U.S. Senators and Representatives.

Care of Earth: The Australian Government is holding a public consultation on one million square kms of ocean. Send a submission to the consultation to save the thousands of delicate species. (Act as soon as possible)

Bank of America is three times larger than Lehman Brothers who were the first to fall in the 2008 financial crisis. Urge financial regulators to break up Bank of America known also for many unfriendly practices.

Ethiopia is forcibly relocating 70,000 people from Gambella to make land available for foreign investment in agriculture--aggravating current hunger while laying the groundwork for future famine in Ethiopia, as people are losing their livelihoods and being moved to areas where they cannot readily feed themselves. Sign a petition to President Barack Obama and USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah to stop the support of large-scale agricultural investment and for-profit access to Ethiopia's fertile.

Urge Congress to act this month in favor of renewing the wind Production Tax Credit that provides America with jobs and a clean renewable economy. 

The Human Cost of Coal interactive maps located here.

The Franciscan Action Network has a webpage for Lent 2012.

Weekly Justice Highlights

Promoting Peace: Urge President Obama, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and New Gringrich not to attack Iran by signing a petition that states, "The U.S. can't afford a war of choice in Iran -- especially not one based on the same kind of sketchy intelligence and irresponsible saber rattling that led to the disastrous invasion of Iraq. We should pursue diplomatic initiatives and take a military attack off the table."

The February issue of Stop Trafficking Newsletter co-sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth is available here.

Challenging Unjust Structures: Urge the Securities and Exchange Commission to put an end to the closed door deals that enable oil companies to remove parts of legislation that keep them from revealing what they pay to developing countries.

U.S. citizens are invited to urge legislators to extend the unemployment benefits and reduced payroll tax.

Urge U.S. Senators to bring to the floor and pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S. 1925) that would expand services and protections to women in Indian tribal nations, to abused men and through grants to campuses. 

Urge U.S. Representatives to ELIMINATE the minimum rent for HUD-assisted housing and the Expansion of the Moving to Work aspects in the present Affordable Housing and Self-Sufficiency Improvement Act (H.R. 11) (This will keep many of the neediest low-income families from homelessness).

Urge Hershey’s to stop exploiting children to grow cocoa beans. 

February is national Black History Month, and individuals are invited to join in Prayer for the African-American and African Family.

The book, Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life by Henri Nouwen with Donald McNeill and Douglas Morrison contains six sessions on the study of compassion and is suited for Lent. Each session includes a facilitators guide, a brief worship resource and sometimes a hand-out.

The Environmental Outreach Committee of the Archdiocese of Washington offers a Lenten care for creation calendar

“Renewing the Face of the Earth: Lenten Reflections on Air” incorporates scientific and theological knowledge about creation, God's presence therein, and our call to care for it. A five-session resource, this free resource is available here.

Louisville: On February 23, Brudus (story of Palestinian nonviolent resistance, preview here) will be shown at 7 p.m. at 1741 Frankfort Avenue (one block east of Mellwood Ave. at the new co-op building). For more info contact Sonja at: sonrevolution@aol.com

Louisville: Join Catholics for Fairness in a peaceful pilgrimage will take place this Sunday at 4:45 p.m. Gather at George Garvin Brown Park (415 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd between 4 and 5 Streets) for prayer and a candlelight walk to the Cathedral of the Assumption (1/2 block walk) in support of a Statewide Anti-Discrimination Fairness Law. The group will stand silently in front of the Cathedral holding Catholics for Fairness signs and then collect the signs before the 5:30 liturgy celebrating with those at the Cathedral.

February 2012

Creating the Future We Want at Rio+20 or Earth Summit 2012

We will not achieve sustainable development without addressing inequality...Nor can we live with deterioriating ecosystems...We need fresh ideas and a renewed commitment by all countries to fairly share and protect the global commons. - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

What is Rio+20? — the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June. It is a historic opportunity to define pathways to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all.

Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where countries adopted Agenda 21 (Agenda 21 defines nine major groups: women; children and youth; indigenous peoples; NGOs; local authorities; workers and trade unions; business and industry; the scientific and technical community; and farmers), - a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection - the UN is again bringing together governments, international institutions and major groups to agree on a range of smart measures that can reduce poverty while promoting decent jobs, clean energy and a more sustainable and fair use of resources.

Why do we need Rio+20?

• The world now has 7 billion people — by 2050, there will be 9 billion.
• 1 out of every 5 people — 1.4 billion —currently lives on $1.25 a day or less.
• 1.5 billion people in the world do not have access to electricity. 2.5 billion do not have a toilet. And almost 1 billion go hungry every day.
• Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, and more than a third of all known species could go extinct if climate change continues unchecked.
• If we are to leave a liveable world to our children and grandchildren, the challenges of widespread poverty and environmental destruction need to be tackled now.
• We will incur far greater costs in the future — including more poverty and instability, and a degraded planet — if we fail to adequately address these critical challenges now.
• Rio+20 provides an opportunity to think globally, so that we can all act locally to secure our common future.

“Sustainable development is not an option! It is the only path that allows all of humanity to share a decent life on this, one planet. Rio+20 gives our generation the opportunity to choose this path.” - Sha Zukang, Secretary-General of the Rio+20 Conference

What issues will Rio+20 discuss?

“All the issues that will be on the table in Rio – climate change, demographics, water, food, energy, global health, women’s empowerment – are intertwined. All the pillars that underpin the Rio process - stabilizing the global economy, safeguarding the environment, and ensuring social equity - are parts of a single agenda.” ~ UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

At Rio+20, countries will seek ways to:

• Make the transition to greener economies while focusing on poverty eradication.
• Protect our oceans from overfishing, the destruction of marine ecosystems and the adverse effects of climate change.
• Make our cities more livable and more efficient.
• Broaden the use of renewable energy sources that can significantly lower carbon emissions as well as indoor and outdoor pollution, while promoting economic growth.
• Better manage forests to provide a broad range of benefits — reducing deforestation by half through 2030 could avoid an estimated US $3.7 trillion in climate change damages from greenhouse gas emissions — and that’s not counting the value of jobs and income, biodiversity, clean water and medicines provided by forests.
• Improve the way we conserve and manage our water resources, in order to promote development and guard against desertification.

Does sustainable development work?

Over the last two decades, there have been many examples of successful sustainable development in fields such as energy, agriculture, urban planning, and production and consumption. Some of these include:

• In Kenya, innovative finance mechanisms have stimulated new investments in renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, small hydro, biogas and municipal waste energy, generating income and employment.
• In Brazil, a project under the Clean Development Mechanism was adopted in Sao Paulo to transform two of the city’s biggest waste dumpsites into sustainable landfills. From 2004 to September 2011, the landfills have avoided the release into the atmosphere of 352,000 tons of methane, which instead have been used to produce over one million megawatts of electricity.
• In Nepal, community forestry — led by local forest user groups — contributed to restoring forest resources after a steady decline in the 1990s.
• In Canada, EcoLogo — one of North America’s most respected environmental certification marks — has promoted thousands of products that meet rigorous environmental standards.

What will happen at Rio+20?

Thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other stakeholders will gather in Rio at the end of May and beginning of June 2012 for a strong push towards sustainable development. In parallel with and between the official events, there will be numerous side events, exhibitions, presentations, fairs and announcements by a wide range of partners.

The official discussions will focus on two main themes:

• How to build a green economy to achieve sustainable development and lift people out ofpoverty, including support for developing countries that will allow them to find a green path for development; and how to improve international coordination for sustainable development.
• Governments are expected to adopt clear and focused practical measures for implementing sustainable development based on the many examples of success we have seen over the last 20 years.

How can I participate or contribute?

It takes more than governments to build sustainable development — partnerships among people, community groups, organizations, businesses and academia are needed. Rio+20 is a major opportunity to form partnerships and to highlight work by all stakeholders.

• The official website provides a platform for civil society, business, academia and NGOs to share their preparatory activities for Rio+20.
• The United Nations has launched a campaign, “Rio+20: The Future We Want” or the website, Sustainable Future. The purpose is to engage the world community in a global conversation to share ideas about life in the future and positive imaging of the future.
• Most recently published in the Rio+20 process is the Zero Draft of the Outcome Document located here. Groups will work from this document as they move toward a final document.
• Individuals from the global community are invited to sign the social protection floor petition.  
• People's Sustainability Treaties is a website that is written from the grassroots perspective as an alternative to the Rio+20 work being done.
• Also check the website to sign up for a newsletter, follow Rio+20 on Twitter and Facebook, and read the blog by Conference Secretary-General Sha Zukang.

“Around the world, sustainable peace must be built on sustainable development. That is why I have said that the sustainable development agenda is the agenda for the 21st century.”
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (Above materials comes from the brochure, The Future We Want published by the United Nations)

Human Trafficking and Sporting Events

The U.S. 2012 Super Bowl will be played on February 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Many individuals and groups have been working to raise awareness on the issue of human trafficking which frequently occurs at large sporting events. According to the January 2012 issue of Stop Trafficking Newsletter, members of the Coalition for Corporate Responsibility in Indiana and Michigan are working together on an anti-trafficking initiative targeting 220 hotels in a 50 mile radius of Indianapolis. The initiative asks hotels if they have done any training with employees to look for signs of trafficking, if the hotel has a plan in place once trafficking is sighted, if hotel personnel are familiar with other groups working on trafficking in the area, and if the hotels would be willing to place basic information on human trafficking in their lobby and/or guest rooms. Follow-up is being made and information is being shared with the Interfaith Center Corporate Responsibility who lead discussions on trafficking issues with the public and through press releases.  

Actions:

• Pray this prayer to end human trafficking:

Creator of us all, our words cannot express what our minds can barely comprehend and our hearts feel when we hear of children and adults deceived and transported to unknown places for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor because of human greed.
Our hearts are saddened and our spirits angry that their dignity and rights are being transgressed through threats, deception and force. We cry out against the degrading practice of trafficking and seek ways for it to end.
Strengthen the fragile-spirited and broken-hearted. Make real your promises to fill these our sisters and brothers with a love that is tender and good and send the exploiters away empty-handed. Give us the wisdom and courage to stand in solidarity with them, that together we will find ways to the freedom that is your gift to all of us. Amen. (From January 2012 Stop Trafficking Newsletter, Gen Cassani, SSND) 

• Take a quiz to determine your “slavery footprint.”
• Join the Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) and encourage hotels to take action to fight the commercial exploitation of children. For instructions and sample letter, click here.
• Become familiar with U.S. companies that have signed The Code.
• Encourage corporations to implement The Luxor Protocol - ethical principles for human trafficking.

The Environment and the Economic Crisis

For many years the prosperity of a country has been based on its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The GDP measures the monetary value of all goods and services that are produced within a nation during a given period and sold to consumers, governments, investors or are exported. In a nutshell this means that the GDP represents the part of the population’s well-being that comes from the consumption of goods and services. In order for the GDP of a country to grow, the people must consume more and more. There are multiple criticisms of the use of the GDP as an indicator of a country’s prosperity. For example, if a country engages in war or suffers from natural disasters monetary transactions will increase, thus leading to a higher GDP. If a small portion of a population spends extravagantly, but many do not have the resources to spend, the GDP may show growth, but at the cost of great inequality. According to Richard Heinberg, “Calculating a nation’s overall health according to its GDP makes about as much sense as evaluating the quality of a piece of music solely by counting the number of notes it contains”.

The GDP takes into account a single bottom line – economic growth. This means that no externalities such as the cost of natural resources, just wages, etc. are taken into account. Many economists, as well as specialists in other fields, are now advocating for the triple bottom line – social, environmental and economic growth (consider Rio+20). A planet with finite resources cannot sustain perpetual growth. This realization, however, implies a total rethinking of the nature of growth and prosperity, as well as a restructuring of the current global financial architecture. Naomi Klein asserts that “the current economic model is based on the faulty premise that nature is limitless, that there will always be more of what is needed, and that if something runs out it can be seamlessly replaced by another resource that can be endlessly extracted.” Environmental economist Tim Jackson makes the choice very clear: “Trash the system or crash the planet.”

The current economic system is no longer viable. It has led to extreme wealth for some countries and individuals at the expense of populations of the least developed countries and some populations of industrialized countries.

The question to ask and reflect upon is “How can people work, individually and collectively, to challenge the current all-pervasive consumer society which is destructive of both people and the planet in such a way that it truly leads to building God’s kin-dom on earth?

United States and the 112th Congress

As the 112thCongress begins its Second Session, the following are issues that we, as faithful citizens, must be watchful of and contact our legislators so that they do as we wish them to do. The first three items were extended this past December and will expire the end of February, so they are likely to be a priority for legislators.  

• Extend Unemployment Insurance benefits for the long term unemployed.
• Extend the Payroll Tax cuts for working people.
• Maintain and increase funding for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
• Fiscal Year 2013 budget funding for the federal government- President Obama usually sends his budget plan to Congress in early February.
• Amidst these priorities and other pieces of legislation will be the November 2012 elections and the actions or lack thereof of federal legislators.

Action:
Be watchful of legislation and alerts related to these. The SCN Family website under the Global Ministries Tab contains updates on legislation.

Contact federal legislators or Congress at 202.224.3121 and President Obama at 202.456.1111 to share your name, address, and views about legislation. (These numbers are not toll free and include a charge)

Weekly Justice Highlights

Urgent, Act Today: Urge Darigold who oversees Ruby Ridge dairy to stop abusing workers by clicking here.

Care of Earth: Urge Indian Minister Pawar to manage India’s precious marine eco-system sustainably and protect the livelihood of millions who depend on them.

Death Penalty: Urge Governor John Kasich (Ohio) to issue an immediate moratorium on all executions until the Ohio Supreme Court’s Joint Task Force completes its thorough review of Ohio’s death penalty system.

Urge the Congressional conference committee and your legislators to fully renew unemployment insurance for 2012 with no cuts and no barriers to benefits.

Urge Wal-Mart to treat warehouse workers with respect and adopt a Responsible Contractor Policy.

Thank President Obama who rejected the permit for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline (1700 miles of pipeline to carry tar-sands oil from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico).

Edit and send a message to members of the U.S. Congress about President Obama’s State of the Union speech.  

On the weekend of February 10-12, Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) invites clergy and lay leaders to participate in a National Preach-In on Global Warming. More information and resources are located here.

NETWORK is among several groups beginning to focus on the 2012 U.S. elections. For information on a new collaborative project entitled, Election 2012: Catholics Vote for the Common Good, click here.

KY: The Smoke-Free Kentucky campaign is now in full swing! Rep. Susan Westrom introduced House Bill 289 that will make all workplaces in Kentucky smoke-free. Now is the time for your legislators to hear from you. Even if you have contacted them before, please take just a minute to call your House Representative.  Call 1-800-372-7181 (toll free) and ask your legislator to vote for House Bill 289 to protect the rights of all Kentuckians to breathe smoke-free air at work or inside public places, like restaurants and bars.

KY: Individuals are invited to join in “I Love the Mountains Day” at the KY State Capitol in Frankfort on February 14. Among the groups taking a bus is Kentucky Interfaith Light and Power. KIPL buses will leave at 11 a.m. from Louisville and return at approximately 3 p.m. Anyone wishing to attend can either contact Joetta Venneman (502.348.1557) or sign up for a spot on the KIPL buses here.

Louisville: A Memorial Service honoring Louisville’s Homicide Victims of 2011 will take place at Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral (421 South Second Street in Louisville) on Sunday, January 29 at 3 p.m.

Weekly Justice Highlights

Good News: Thank Delaware Governor Jack Markell who has granted clemency to Robert Gattis by commuting his death sentence to life without the possibility of parole.

Empowering Women: The National Farm Worker Ministry Youth and Young Adult network is sponsoring a soccer game on January 21st to raise funds for a farmworker women’s organization called AMA (English Translation – to love). For more information and/or to pledge or sponsor a young women or man farmworker who will be playing, click here. "AMA is an organization of farm worker women who are fighting to improve the safety, well being, and health of their community. They offer workshops, cultural programs, and provide assistance and referrals for low-income families in Volusia County."

This week marks the 3rd anniversary of President Obama’s executive order calling for the closure of the Guantanamo prison. National Religious Campaign Against Torture is joining with other groups in promoting a petition to the President, urging him to keep that promise. Individuals are invited to sign the petition located here.

Christi Cheramie was 16, a minor, in 1994, yet Louisiana sentenced the 16-year-old to a sentence of life without parole while the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits life without parole for offenses committed under the age of 18. Urge Louisiana governor and the state Board of Pardons to grant clemency to Christi.

Individuals are invited to urge world leaders to attend the Rio+20 in June 2012 in Brazil.

The United Nations has launched a campaign, “Rio+20: The Future We Want”.  The purpose is to engage the world community in a global conversation in preparation for the Rio +20 Conference in June 2012. The campaign invites us to share ideas about life in the future and positive imaging of the future.

On the weekend of February 10-12, Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) invites clergy and lay leaders to participate in a National Preach-In on Global Warming. More information and resources are located here.

Louisville: On the national anniversary of the Supreme Court decision declaring Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, individuals are invited to join in a rally with signs and voices for a constitutional amendment to end “Corporate Personhood” on Friday, January 20 at 1 p.m. at the Gene Snyder U.S. Courthouse (corner of 6th and Broadway) for a nation-wide day of action at over 80 federal courthouses. Contact Keith Rouda (402.387.3088, keith@rouda.com) for more information.

KY: Individuals are invited to join in “I Love the Mountains Day” at the KY State Capitol in Frankfort on February 14. Among the groups taking a bus is Kentucky Interfaith Light and Power. KIPL buses will leave at 11 a.m. from Louisville and return at approximately 3 p.m. Anyone wishing to attend can either contact Joetta Venneman, PBVM (502.348.1557) or reserve a seat on the KIPL buses here.