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Justice Jottings December 2007 |
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 Advent - How do we prepare for the coming of the Christ in our lives?
We invite you to consider making Advent a time of reflection, prayer and action. Here are a few ideas for you to consider.
- Pax Christi - A daily prayer for peace. They are asking people to pray for five minutes, one minute for each year of the war in Iraq, and pray that this year will be the last. The time they are asking people to pray is at 12:00pm EST (11am CST; 10am MST; 9am PST). For actual prayers and action ideas click here.
- People's Peace Initiative small group discussions. See the Alternatives to Violence section below for more information on PPI.
- Real Money offers an article entitled "Green Gifts for the Holidays." Buy green and get some ideas by clicking here.
- See Sweatshop Labor section for a guide for shopping with a conscience.
- Attend a Fair Trade Sale. Bergamo Center in Dayton is hosting one on Dec. 8. Click here for the flier. Find fair trade products by checking out these fair trade websites. Click here
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New On Our Website |
MSJC Justice Jottings/Website
Survey Highlights Did you know that 50% of survey responders always read Justice Jottings and are very satisfied with the website? To read more highlights click here.
Marianist Online Course To learn more about courses offered through the virtual learning community click here.
Tuna Man Retires A Mexican fisherman and Harvard MBA talk about the fishing business and where it can take the Mexican. Read this thought provoking reflection by clicking here.
Our website is interactive. We'd like to hear from you! Just get a password and you can enter into current discussions with other MSJC members or start a new discussion. NOTE - if you are using the AOL browser, you can view the website but may not be able to enter any of the discussions with that browser.
Visit us at www.msjc.net..... |
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| Everyday Justice - Personal stories of those living out social justice day by day
December's reflection comes from Bro. Bill Farrell SM in Guatemala City.
"When I tried to figure out what I "do" for justice in my everyday life I was stymied. I couldn't find any particular thing that I did on a regular basis to try to bring about a more just world order. I simply try to do good and if there is something that I perceive to be wrong I try to right it."
To read the entire reflection click here. At the end of each reflection there is space for you to add a comment. Post your comment today! Signing in is not necessary. |
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 Alternatives to Violence
A People's Peace Initiative
We invite you and your community to participate in the People's Peace Initiative. Consider using this small group discussion resource during Advent. It is a good way to focus on peace in preparation for Christmas. Get involved today! For more information click here.
People's Peace Initiative Reminder
You may recall that we are collecting reports from the sessions. Please be sure to send reports by Dec 31, 2007 to: 523 East Southern Ave. Covington, KY 41015. You can also fax your report (859-291-4742) or email to: apsjustice@hotmail.com. |
 Anti-Racism
Bill Moyers Journal - Focus on Racism
Bill Moyers interviews James Cone, famous theologian of Black American Experience. They focus their discussion on the cross and the lynching tree. To watch the interview video or read the transcript click here.
New Signers to the Pledge to Eliminate Racism
The Cure of Ars Marianist Community in St. Louis is the latest community to sign on to the Pledge to Eliminate Racism. Want to sign the Pledge? Click here for Pledge information. | |
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Is there a de facto moratorium?
In Jan. the Supreme Court will be hearing a case from Kentucky regarding the constitutionality of the nation's most widely used lethal injection procedure. No executions are expected to take place until this case is decided.
The atmosphere surrounding this de facto moratorium was discussed in a recent Newsweek article ( "Injection of Reflection," Newsweek, Nov. 10, 2007) that asks a cautionary question for abolistionists: will the Supreme Court simply end up improving the lethal injection procedure?
The Supreme Court has already received a number of briefs in support of the inmates from Kentucky. The briefs, submitted by law schools, policy institutes opposed to the death penalty, and many others, are available here.
Read more about these developments on the Death Penalty Issue Team webpage by clicking here.
The Law Nun: Sr. Grace Walle
A feature story was done on our own Sr. Grace Walle in the Texas Young Lawyers Association newsletter. To read the story click here. |
 Ecology & Environment
Peaceful Earth Works - A Call for Submissions
The Marianist Environmental Education Center (MEEC) invites you to explore the relationship between peace and the environment by visual artists, writers and musicians of all ages. For more information click here. |
 Sweatshop Labor
Which Companies have been Naughty and Nice?
SweatFree Communities, Sweatshop Watch, and the International Labor Rights Forum have created a Shop with a Conscience guide for holiday shopping. To use it click here. They have also inducted 12 companies into the Sweatshop Hall of Shame. To read about these companies and to take action to hold these companies accountable for human rights and worker rights violations click here. |
 Adele Social Justice Project
Christmas Gifts for ASJP
For all ASJP Alumni and other interested parties, please consider a Christmas gift to AJSP of your time, talent or treasure to keep Adele's hard work going! ASJP would like to plan two ASJP weekends a year in different cities and they would love your support to keep the project successful! Remember how much you enjoyed your ASJP weekend? Let's share that with others! To make a doantion please contact Co-chairs Steve Hemphill & Beth Jamieson at fredehemphill@yahoo.com and jamiesonek@yahoo.com |
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Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America
The ONE Campaign has a petition asking all presidential candidates to go on the record and explain where they stand on extreme poverty and global disease. Sign the On the Record petition by clicking here.
Want to make a financial contribution to MSJC? Click here for ways to give to specific MSJC projects. |
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Save a Tree! Cancel Catalogs
Eliminate unwanted catalogs you receive. Simplify your life and save natural resources. To cancel catalogs click here. |
 Events
24 Hour Fast for Justice - Shut Down Guantanamo: Dec. 5
Join in the fast and vigil outside the Supreme Court from 9am-4pm on Dec. 5. If you can't come to DC, consider joining the fast in solidarity. The Supreme Court will hear the two consolidated cases testing the legal rights of Guantanamo Bay detainees on Dec. 5, at 10 a.m. For more information click here.
Immersion Trips
The Marianist Office of Peace and Justice is sponsoring 4 kinds of immersion trips. If you are interested in participating in any of the immersions, please contact Myles McCabe or Ruth Hinde or at 314-533-1207. For more information please click here. |
| Resources- Know any good ones? Share them with us.
Focus on International Marianist Efforts - Bangladesh
As a result of our recent survey, we are introducing information on global Marianists. This month Bro. Gene Frank offers an overview of a Marianist initiative in Bangladesh - the Institute of Integrated Rural Development (IIRD). To read about IIRD, its social impact and its empowerment of the poor click here.
Marianist International News
The Marianist Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) at the United Nations has issued some recent news - click here.
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| A Thought to Ponder
Dollar value of sales of organic cotton in the United States in 2001 = 86 million
Dollar value of sales of organic cotton in the United States in 2005 = 275 million
Projected dollar value of sales of organic cotton in the United States by the end of 2008 = 2.6 billion
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