Fr. Dave Schwinghamer MM joins MOGC staff
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns is happy to announce that Fr. Dave Schwinghamer, MM has joined our team.
Fr. Doug May’s reflections on Egypt
Doug May, MM, who has spent almost 20 of the last 31 years in Egypt, is currently the only U.S.-born Catholic priest there. This reflection is his personal opinion on recent events.
Zimbabwe: Church leaders issue pre-election statement
Zimbabwean church leaders release a statement in preparation for the July 31 elections.
Egypt: A call for unity, inclusivity
Following is an essay published July 11 by Cornelis Hulsman, editor-in-chief, Arab-West Report.
U.S. NGO statement of support for new Global Food Security Act
The MOGC and colleagues signed the following statement in support of the Global Food Security Act of 2013.
Resources from July-August 2013 NewsNotes
Resources published in the July-August 2013 NewsNotes.
Investors call for reforms in apparel supply chains
In light of a series of calamities in Bangladeshi apparel manufacturing plants that resulted in an overwhelming loss of life, over 200 institutional investors (including the Maryknoll Sisters and the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers), representing over $2 trillion in assets under management, issued a statement on May 16, calling on apparel industry leaders to implement systemic reforms that will ensure worker safety and welfare, and to adopt “zero tolerance” polices on global supply chain issues.
Immigration: Senate passes flawed bill
On June 27, the U.S. Senate passed S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.
Global network for right to food, nutrition
At the June 27-28 Vienna+20 High-Level Conference on Human Rights, the Global Network for the Right to Food and Nutrition (RTFN) was launched with the intent to hold governments accountable for the realization of one of the most violated human rights worldwide: the right to adequate food and nutrition.
Arms Trade Treaty: Hope for vulnerable peoples
On June 3 representatives of more than 60 countries signed the historic Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at the United Nations in New York.
Peace, human security key to post-2015 agenda
On May 30, the United Nations High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda presented its final report, “A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development.”
TTIP: NAFTA takes European holiday
Members of civil society from both regions are raising concerns around food and agricultural provisions in the proposed TTIP that could threaten the safety of our food, our farmers and our planet.
Syria: Encountering determined hope
Marie Dennis, co-president of Pax Christi International, wrote the following article based on a recent visit when she and others visited Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Recommendations for peace in Great Lakes Region
The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) joined other organizations in writing to Russ Feingold soon after his appointment as U.S. special envoy to the Great Lakes region in Africa.
Obama’s second African safari
President Barack Obama’s second safari (“travel” in Swahili) to Africa as head of state – scheduled June 27-July 2 – raises several interesting questions: Who will accompany him and his family to Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa? With whom will Obama meet while in Africa? What issues will be discussed in public and in private? These questions may be a guide to what to look for in the Obama visit.
North Korea: TB patients receive assistance
From April 18-May 4, Maryknoll Society Superior General Fr. Ed Dougherty and Maryknoll Fr. Jerry Hammond joined a small delegation that delivered medical supplies to people in North Korea who suffer from multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.
Latin America: Combatting investment tribunals
In response to the dramatically increasing number of lawsuits and claims in international tribunals by European and U.S. multinational companies, ministers and ambassadors from 12 Latin American countries met in Ecuador on April 22 at the “First Ministerial Conference of Latin American States affected by the interests of transnationals” in order to create mechanisms to better defend themselves.
Brazil: Rousseff avoids media-led coup
While it was progressive organizations like the Free Pass Movement (MPL) that organized the marches, this year, with complaints about public services, as the protests grew in size, conservative forces tried to take control of the marches to make them appear to be a generalized clamor against President Dilma Rousseff.