Justice Jottings         August 2010 

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Racial and Immigrant Justice
 
Parish Bulletin Inserts on Immigration - Many Faces in God's House

Reflective inserts for parish bulletins on the immigration issue are now available.  Using Scripture or statements of the US Bishops, the inserts are produced by Fr. Ken Hallahan and generously shared by the Racial Justice Commission of the Diocese of Camden NJ.

Stephen Colbert's New Job - A Farmworker!

Watch this video from the Colbert Report and then take action to support comprehensive immigration reform.

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Action for Advocates

Pakistan Needs Your Help!

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The flooding in Pakistan is beyond belief. Catholic Relief Services has been on the ground in Pakistan since 1954 and is now asking for all of us to give generously to help with the urgent and massive relief effort.  For stories and to donate, click here.

 
A Million Minutes for Peace - Sept. 21
Join people across the globe in praying for peace at noon on September 21, the United Nations International Day of Peace.

We Need a New START
A new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) calls for reducing the number of U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons, and includes methods to verify these reductions.  The treaty must now be ratified by the Senate by at least 67 votes.   Let your senators know that you support ratification of New START as a necessary step towards a world without nuclear weapons.

Millennium Development Goals - Obama Releases His Plan


In last month's Justice Jottings, we encouraged you to join the ONE Campaign to get the president to follow through on the US commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, eight ambitious targets aimed at reducing global poverty and disease by 2015. The Obama Administration recently unveiled the United States' plan for meeting the Millennium Development Goals.  Read about the plan. Thanks for your advocacy in this important area.

One org

Death Penalty                  

Kairos Conference: Discerning Justice & Taking Action on the Death Penalty


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Mark your calendars!  This conference will take place November 16-17, 2010, in Atlanta, Georgia. This unique event is sponsored by People of Faith against the Death Penalty (PFADP) and Sister Helen Prejean, acclaimed author of Dead Man Walking. Come learn and engage with religious leaders and others to energize faith communities in ending the death penalty. For more information, visit pfadp.org.

Ohio: Timeout for Death?
Earlier this month the Columbus (OH) Dispatch analyzed the clemency case of Kevin Keith, scheduled to be executed by Ohio in September, in the context of Ohio 's death penalty system.  The case has drawn national attention, with Keith making a strong claim for innocence.  (His August 11 clemency hearing lasted twelve hours, a record for Ohio , one of the states targeted by the Issue Team.)  The Dispatch article highlighted the growing support for a broad review of Ohio 's death penalty system.  Read more on the Issue Team's site.  
 
Texas: An Execution Based on Flawed Science?
The entire death penalty system in Texas (one of the states targeted by the Issue Team) has been called into question by an editorial in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  The editors are responding to the Texas Forensic Science Commission's preliminary finding that Cameron Willingham, executed in 2004 for setting a fire that killed his three daughters, may have been wrongly executed because it appears the fire was accidental.  Read more on the Issue Team's site.
Adele Social Justice Project
 
Indianapolis Immersion Weekend--Sept 17th-19th

Join other young adults (ages 22-40) in downtown Indy for a weekend experience to learn and share about ways to make a difference in your community while reflecting on local social justice topics through the lens of the Marianist charism.
Get more details and register for the immersion.

*Not technically a young adult or can't make it the whole weekend? We'd still love for you to join us Sunday Sept. 19th for lunch with the immersion participants as well as other lay Marianists in the region.   Lunch will be held at 1:30pm at St. Bernadette's retreat center.  Please RSVP to Sarah Luckhaupt if you'd like to come.


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MSJC at Lay Assembly in Hawaii 
 
In July, many of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative Steering Committee members met on beautiful Chaminade University's campus in Honolulu to participate in the Lay Marianist Continental Assembly.  But first, members had a two-day long meeting to discuss and reflect on the various MSJC teams, projects, challenges, successes and goals.  During the Assembly, several teams presented to the participants there, including the GLBT Initiative, Racial and Immigrant Justice, Adele Social Justice Project, and the Awakening the Dreamer teams. Thank you to these and many other inspiring individuals who make MSJC a true "collaborative"!

 
MSJC Steering Committee

MSJC Steering Committee, standing (L to R): Tara Poling, Mike Gillespie, Ted Gorczyca, Bill Farrell, SM, Cynthia Sias Kaderli, Ted Cassidy, SM, Brenda Fitzpatrick, Errol Christian, Myles McCabe, Al Prendergast; seated: Bob Donovan, SM, Beth Garascia, Leanne Jablonski, FMI, Jim Vogt, Grace Walle, FMI  

Ecology and the Environment
 

The Food and Climate Connection

Watch a short video that looks not only at how climate change has impacted food production but at how food impacts climate change. From farming to processing to packaging and shipping, our food system accounts for 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions. This film is aimed at empowering local people to take control of their food.
 
Global Warming Website

The Union of Concerned Scientists has an excellent website on global warming.  Lots of good information.

GLBT Initiative
 
Several members of our team attended the Marianist Lay Continental Assembly in HI and presented "A Place at the Marianist Table (PMT)," to several conference attendees and provided information and resources to interested folks about GLBT news/issues.  According to Beth Garascia, the presentations of PMT received a positive response and generated reflective conversations particularly about homosexuality and culture.  For more information/resources about GLBT issues, please check out our website: MSJC GLBT Initiative.

 

 
MSJC Director Jim Vogt and GLBT Initiative members Linda Zappacosta and Tony Garascia presenting PMT in Hawaii.

Global Economic Justice
 
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U.S. and British Unions Support Bangladeshi Workers

In a major act of international solidarity, both the 11 ½ million member AFL-CIO labor federation in the US and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Britain have released strong statements of solidarity in support of the Bangladeshi garment workers modest demand for a new minimum wage of 35 cents an hour.  The Global Economic Justice Team is also supporting this effort.  Read the AFL-CIO statement and the TUC statement, then send a letter to Wal-Mart in support of the minimum wage increase.

Support the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity (BCWS)


BCWS has had their NGO registration canceled by the Bangladeshi government which severely limits their activities.  In addition, the Bangladeshi government has continued to harass and intimidate BCWS staff in an effort to prevent them from organizing workers. Click here to take action.

Resources
 
Peace & Justice Calendar 2010-11

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This calendar from Education for Justice is an extensive listing of relevant justice and peace anniversaries and events from August 2010 through July 2011.  Visit the Education for Justice website and become a member to get resources that correspond to these dates.

Top 5 Myths about Social Security
If you're concerned about some of the recent attacks on the social security system, read these myths to get the real story.

Marianists International - What's Happening at the UN
Read the latest report from Bro. Steve O'Neil from the Marianist NGO at the UN.

Events
 
Life and Choice in the Abortion Debate

Princeton U. is sponsoring Open Hearts, Open Minds & Fair Minded Words - A Conference on Life & Choice in the Abortion Debate on Oct. 15-16 in Princeton NJ.  Cost is $75.  Get more information.

A Thought to Ponder

"Each time people stand up for an ideal, or act to improve the lot of others, or strike out against injustice, they send forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."  --Robert F. Kennedy



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Questions, comments, feedback or additions for Justice Jottings can be sent to Amy Elliott