Resources from July-August 2013 NewsNotes
Resources published in the July-August 2013 NewsNotes.
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Economic justice
From Cambodia to El Salvador, Bangladesh to Tanzania, Maryknoll missioners accompany people and communities affected by poverty and extreme poverty.
Based on our belief that each person is both sacred and social, created in God’s image, and destined to share in the goods of the Earth as part of a community of justice and mercy, we hear the cry of the poor and we are called to respond. From the time of the Old Testament to today, we recognize poverty as a common result of unjust oppression of those forced to live on the margins, prohibited from participating in society. We listen to our suffering brothers and sisters and we hear echoes of God’s frequent warnings to the Israelites in the Book of Exodus, of their duty to care for those who are poor, powerless, and excluded by society.
Embracing this duty, we advocate for social and economic change, to eliminate the roots causes of poverty found in unjust economic structures. We promote the globalization of solidarity, the enhancement of inclusive human security, and development that is rooted in social justice and ecological sustainability.
Maryknoll Leadership Statement: Trading in justice: The local impact of global economic decisions
WEBINAR: U.S. Trade Policy – Putting People and Planet First
PRAYER: Virtual Good Friday Way of the Cross for Economic and Ecological Justice
POLICY BRIEF: End the Pandemic Through Global Vaccine Access
SPECIAL PROGRAM: Integral Ecology Program
NEWSLETTER: Encounters Where Faith, Economy, Ecology Meet
PRESS STATEMENT: Faith communities call for a new trade model
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.
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.
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.
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.
Faith-based principles on actions of extractive industries
The following principles are promoted by the Extractive Industries Working Group, a coalition of faith, human rights, and environmental organizations concerned about the negative impact of extractive industries on the human and natural world.
Trade as if people and earth matter: A working document on alternatives
This 20-page document was prepared by the Interfaith Working Group on Trade and Investment.
Webinar: Wall Street Speculation Tax
This webinar will explain the proposed financial transaction tax and how to support it.
Labor: Follow principles on business, human rights
In most of the world, May 1 is the day to celebrate workers. This year’s commemoration included memorials for the at least 1,127* people who were killed in the terrible collapse on April 24 of a factory in Bangladesh, a disaster that could have been avoided had the building’s owners not shirked their responsibility to provide a safe environment for workers. *Death toll updated from printed version.
From fear of austerity to faith in God’s abundance
The following article was written by Jenn Svetlik, who worked for several months with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Marianne Comfort with the Sisters of Mercy; and Eli McCarthy with the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. A very similar version was published on the Faith-Economy-Ecology-Transformation blog in early April.
Trans-Pacific Partnership concerns
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) made headlines again in March as Japan was welcomed into the trade negotiations, despite protests from Japanese rice farmers concerned the treaty could undermine their livelihoods.
Food aid: Local purchase timelier, less costly
The following article was written by Jennifer Svetlik, who worked with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (MOGC) for several months this spring.
UN: Remembering transatlantic slave trade
On March 25, the international day of remembrance of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, the United Nations organized a series of events that reminded the world of the slave trade that raged for 400 years and claimed the lives of millions of people.
New deal for engagement in fragile states
The following article is written by Marie Dennis.
Urge Congress to support HR 1554, the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act
The following alert is circulated by Jubilee USA.