Comboni JPIC Network News: July 2016
Transcription
Comboni JPIC Network News: July 2016
July 2016 Comboni JPIC Network Newsletter Justice & peace-related news, actions and resources from the Comboni Missionaries, North American Province. Selected Global Topics Terror in Orlando: The U.S. "Gun Culture" Debate Reignites. On June 12, no one at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida expected to be in a lurid blood bath near closing time, instigated by a demented shooter and purported hater of the LGBTQ community. A U.S. citizen of Afghan ancestry, he also told 911 that he was outraged at the United States' war in Syria and Iraq, and pledged allegiance to the leader of ISIS. There is no indication, however, that this was part of a plot directed from outside the United States. His despicable act resulted in 49 deaths and 53 injuries, and his own demise at the hands of police. Statistics show that 87 people/day die in America from gun violence, and there are 88 guns per 100 people in the U.S.. Watch the informative clip, How the U.S. Compares to the Rest of the World on Gun Laws, here. President Obama spoke about this "15th major shooting of his presidency," and the "culture of violence," saying that one of the biggest challenges is this twisted kind of "propaganda and perversions of Islam that you see generated on the internet" that plant ideas in susceptible minds. Add to this the same old, same old; how easy it is for the mentally ill to purchase or obtain arms, especially the deadly assault weapon. Many citizens are left wondering why, if you are on a no-fly list, that wouldn't extend to the purchase of various weapons. There are still critical loopholes in the homeland security system. Read Orlando Shootings: Faith in the Face of Civic Trauma, here. Read how Pope Francis lashed out about the ease of access to arms, here. Refer to the "Take Action" section. The renewed debate over gun violence comes during the presidential election season which only adds fuel to the fire. Democratic members of the House of Representatives staged a sit-in prior to the 4th of July vacation, demanding action on the gun control issues. Read No Bill, No Break, here. A look further back in American history shows that Native American people were the victims of the worse mass shootings on record: 1863: Bear River, Idaho, the site of a dawn massacre of 250 Shoshone women, men, and children, a collective punishment for resisting. 1864: Sand Creek. Cheyenne and Arapaho. 28 men and 109 women and children. 1890: Wounded Knee, 150 Lakota women, men and children, and 51 wounded, some of whom died later. Learn more here. Additional Resources: When will the U.S. Learn from Australia? Stricter Gun Control Laws Save Lives, here; This is the Gun that Committed the Deadliest Shooting in American History, here; Physicians Demand End to 20-Year-Old Ban on Gun Violence Research, here; Controversial Billboard about Guns and Mental Illness, here. The Environment: Latin America's Battleground for Human Rights, the title of a recent Inter Press Service (IPS) article by Tharanga Yakupltiyage, shines the spotlight on the fact that in 2015, 185 people were killed defending the environment across 16 countries, up 59% from 2014, as according to a Global Witness report. Latin America is one of the most dangerous regions for activists, where over 50% of the 2015 killings occurred with the One deadly conflict was between the advocates highest number (50) in Brazil. The and ranchers over virgin forestland near Nova increased attacks can be attributed Ipixuna, Brazil. (Ivan Kashinsky) mainly to the high demand for natural resources "that has sparked conflicts between the residents in these remote, resource-rich areas and industries such as mining, logging and agribusiness." Read the article. Download a press release and Global Witness's report, On Dangerous Ground, here. The Comboni Missionaries and Comboni Sisters are present in places where activists are being arrested on false charges, or even killed, in Brazil, Peru and Ecuador, to name a few. In Brazil, Fr. Dario Bossi has been a leading activist for years now, opposing, with the people, the pollution caused by the Vale Company, an extremely powerful international mining company. He is deeply involved in the protection of a section of Maranhão which is adversely impacted by the Carajás Railroad. Together with other institutions, the Comboni Missionaries have formed the Justice on the Rails network. Get more backgrounding. Additional Resources: Why do Environmentalists Keep Getting Killed Around the World? (Smithsonian Magazine, 2014), here; 185 Killings Made 2015 Deadliest Year Ever for Environmentalists: Report, here; For Latin American environmentalists, death is a constant companion (The Washington Post) highlights the story of Honduran activist, Berta Cáceres Flores, who was murdered in March, here. To the Mexican Congress: What are you doing to find your 27,000+ Missing People? The Congress of Mexico is dragging its feet while its people keep disappearing. 10 people/day were reported missing in the first four months of 2016 alone, and this has been building since 2006. Over 49% of the reported 27,000+ missing occurred during President Enrique Pena Nieto's administration, and unfortunately the actual number of disappearances is projected much higher. The Washington Office on Latin America commented that, to date, "Mexico lacks an appropriate legal framework for investigating disappearances. Their states and federal government have legal instruments to investigate cases, but have been ineffective at searching for and finding the disappeared, and at bringing justice and reparations to the victims. Learn more. Read about the "knowns and unknowns" surrounding the disappearance of 43 students, all training as teachers, in south-western Guerrero state (September 26, 2014), here, and The Case of Mexico's 43 Disappeared Students: The Group of Experts Report, here. Electronic Waste: Informal Economy Supports 1,000s in Ghana Slum: Melanie Lidman reports for Global Sisters Report on Ghana's infamous slum known as "Sodom and Gomorrah," (Old Fadama) near Accra, with its 100,000 residents and no schools. It overflows with refugees from the northern part of the country. They can afford a squirt of toothpaste but not the whole tube. The government does not support the slum in the least, refusing to build schools, or barely any permanent infrastructure. It considers Old Fadama an illegal slum where the residents have no rights to build and have been threatened by the government with eviction and some actual bulldozing last July. However, the slum has become famous for the "Agbogbloshie" electronic waste dump as social media sends its photos around the globe. Men and boys spend their days breaking apart the world's e-waste by hand and burning the parts down to salvageable metals. This has given the slums a "raison d'etre," as its people "transform a pile of electronic waste into a lively market supporting thousands of people." It is not without risk to the health and well-being of the salvagers, however. The Greenpeace study found that samples from the ground in the Agbogbloshie contained toxic metals, including lead, in quantities as much as 100 times above other areas of Accra. Phthalates and chlorinated dioxins are also present which are very harmful. Without any medical clinics in the slums, treatment for the children's skin diseases and asthma in the slum is not provided. "When you wipe the sweat off your body, it comes off black," relates Fr. Subhash Chittilappilly, an Indian Missionary of Charity priest and church employee in charge of the informal City of God school there. Read the Greenpeace study, here. Watch the short video clip about this "e-waste market," here, and read more, here. Violence in Wau (South Sudan): 10,000+ Engulf UNMISS Compound. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) military forces is assisting the 10,000+ displaced civilians who fled the violence in Wau town during the weekend of June 25-26. The fighting erupted there between unknown gunmen and the South Sudanese army (SPLA); UNMISS is currently trying to negotiate with the government to be able to protect the civilians still in the town. The conditions remain unbearable; the soldiers are angry because they continue to go unpaid. At least some of the humanitarian partners have been able to provide basic assistance. Learn more. Read Wau victims demand international probe into incident, here. Read Over 40 peopled killed in South Sudan's town of Wau, here. Read Apostolic Administrator Rocco Taban's brave words of condemnation, here. Additional Resources: South Sudan: IOM Wau Situation Report 1 (ReliefWeb, June 24, 2016), here; Gender Under Bombardment: Gender Disparities in SPLM/A-North Controlled Areas of Nuba Mountains, Southern Kordofan, from The Sudan Consortium, amplifies the voices of Nuba men and women while examining the gender specific realities of life amidst conflict. Read the report, here. A War Within: Perceptions of Truth, Justice, Reconciliation and Healing in Malakal POC by David K. Deng, Matthew F. Pritchard and Manasi Sharma. This interesting analysis points out the difference between the Dinka and the Nuer and the Shilluki. The Dinka having had a favored position in the current struggle. Read the report, here; Malakal: The City that Vanished in South Sudan (BBC, October 2015), here. Will Rio's Many Problems Impede the Olympics? As Opening Night (August 5) for the Summer Olympics draws closer in Rio de Janeiro, the motto "viva sua paixão" (live your passion) may excite the crowds, but will carry huge irony. As is the case with other large profile global events, human beings will be bought and sold during this time, as an influx of traffickers infiltrate the city. It will be impossible to halt all the violent crimes or hide the overwhelming poverty that plagues Rio, as well as the city's reputation of police brutality. The rise in gun violence, leading up to the Olympics, has already been spilling out from the favelas, the slums where drug syndicates reign. Observers predict these groups will use the Olympics as a chance to gain ground against Brazilian authorities. What's more, there is the Zika virus threat there (though a smaller risk in the "winter season") and President Dilma Rousseff's possible impeachment, which are making people question whether the games should be moved. There is a greater danger, however, of water-borne diseases because of the grossly polluted waters of Rio where events will take place. Read The Dark Side of Brazil's Olympic Dreams: The 2016 Olympic Host Battles Poverty, Violent Crime, and Police Brutality, here. Note: After the Rio government declared a state of financial emergency recently, the government has announced it will give $850 million to help meet the deadlines for the new infrastructure of the Olympics, and also pay for security. Read more. Additional Resources: (1) Olympic Games Website, here; (2) Drop in Zika cases and Dry Winter Months Point to almost Virus-free Games, Organizers and Health Officials Say, here; (3) Will the Olympics Go On: Three Major Concerns in Rio Addressed, here; (4) Brazil Besieged by Problems that Threaten Olympic Games, here; (5) Olympic Games: Is Rio Ready? here; (6) Brazil's Olympics Overshadowed by Sex Exploitation, here. Eye on Election 2016. Democracy can only work if we all do our part. Please become an informed voter and vote your conscience. For candidate statements and positions, visit 2016 Presidential Election: The Candidates and Where they Stand on the Issues, here. Download Faith, Values and the 2016 Election: Toward A Politics of the Golden Rule: Reflection Guide and Resources, here. The Civilize It: Dignity Beyond the Debate campaign promotes civility, clarity and compassion this "Election Season." Join the movement and take the pledge, here. Additional Resources: Survey finds gloomy electorate, divided and worried (National Catholic Reporter), here A Revolution of Tenderness: A 2016 Election Pope Francis Voter Guide, here; U.S. Elections 2016 (The Guardian), here; and (New York Times), here; Trump vs. Clinton, Beyond the Cage Match (Wall Street Journal), here. Disclaimer! Any information about political candidates presented on the referenced websites in this section was compiled by several organizations that seem to be reliable. The links are offered as a public service and we do not take responsibility for the accuracy of the contents or necessarily agree with any assessments given whether explicit or implied. Focus On: The Global Goals for Sustainable Development (2015-2030) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Investments in infrastructure such as transport, irrigation, energy and information and communication technology are crucial to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities in many countries. Learn more here, and from "the sustainable development knowledge platform," here. Goal #9 is one of 17 Global Goals that make up the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. An integrated approach and shared vision are crucial for progress across the multiple, ambitious goals. Read all the Goal 9 targets, here. Its sub-heading is "to build a resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation." Keep abreast of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development that will take place at the United Nations (July 11-20, 2016) following the work done on all the strategies since last September. Click here. To learn more, read Sustainable Development Goals for Whom?, here, and SDGs, an Instrument to Tackle Corporate Power, here. Request Sustainable Development Goals: a critical point of view, available as a PowerPoint in English and French from Africa Europe Faith & Justice Network (AEFJN), from [email protected]. Join Global Goals' Facebook page, here; download the Global Goals app, here; and the SDG Guide for Stakeholders, here. Take Action (1) Ban Assault Weapons Now. Orlando. Sandy Hook. Aurora. San Bernardino. These horrific shootings have the "military style assault weapons, or other powerful rapid fire weapons with large ammunition clips, whether semi-automatic or fully automatic." in common. The killers used them to murder at least 50 people in Orlando, 26 people in Sandy Hook, 12 people in Aurora, and 14 people in San Bernardino. Sign the petition to take action. Urge Congress to do its job, and Pass Gun Violence Prevention Legislation. A July 4th Recess Letter Drop is in the works. To get started, read the Advocacy Toolkit, here. Keep calling on Congress to "Keep Our Communities Safe," (Americans for Responsible Solutions), here. (2) Declare an immediate moratorium on deportations. In 2014, President Obama took executive action to protect the nearly 5 million children, young adults, and their parents who continue to live under the constant fear of deportation. On June 23, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) failed immigrant families. leaving the legal questions about the president's immigration authority unanswered. The Court was split 4 to 4 and that permitted a lower court ruling to stand. The fight therefore continues to keep families together. Read Supreme Court's Split Decision on DAPA, Extended DACA Lawsuit Fails to Protect Millions of Undocumented Parents, Youth, here. Tell President Obama: Stop Deportations Now. Text "LISTEN" to 69866 to participate in a National Community Call on July 6 at 8 pm ET. U.N. News and Other Events Learn about U.N. Observance Days in July, here. Watch U.N. Web-TV, here. Get daily press releases, here. You can subscribe to the U.N. Journal and other U.N. documents, here. International Year of Pulses 2016: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is helping to implement this "year," with the goal "of heightening public awareness about the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition." Pulses are annual leguminous crops yielding between one and 12 grains or seeds of variable size, shape and color within a pod, used for both food and feed. Find out more. July 2, 2016: International Day of Cooperatives: Co-operatives: The power to act for a sustainable future is the first Saturday of July dedicated to increasing awareness about the cooperative business model and promoting the movement's successes and ideals of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace. Check out the International Co-operative Alliance website for information about the international summit in Quebec, here. Click for U.N. page; In Spanish; In French. July 11, 2016: World Population Day is a day to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. It seeks to raise awareness of global population issues with hunger, disease, warfare, welfare and human rights as key themes. Click here for U.N. page; In Spanish; In French. July 15, 2016: World Youth Skills Day is the day to recognize that achieving better socio-economic conditions for today's youth is a means of addressing the challenges of unemployment and under employment. Skills rule the world! Download the poster, here. Click for the U.N. page; In Spanish; In French. July 18, 2016: Nelson Mandela International Day asks that we join the call put out by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to devote 67 minutes of time to helping others, as a way to mark this great man's life. For 67 years, Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa. Click here for the U.N. page; in Spanish; In French. July 30, 2016: World Day against Trafficking in Persons. With regard to this day, U.N. SecretaryGeneral Moon said: "Every country must join together to overcome this transnational threat by supporting and protecting victims while pursuing and prosecuting the criminals. On the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, let us resolve to act as one in the name of justice and dignity for all." Click here for the U.N. day; In Spanish; In French. August 5-21, 2016: Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Learn more, here, and here. (See related article above.) August 9-14, 2016: World Social Forum 2016: Another World is Needed. Together it is Possible coming to Montreal, Quebec, Canada will gather 10,000s of people from groups in civil society, organizations and social movements who want to build "a sustainable and inclusive world, where every person and every people has its place and can make its voice heard." The Comboni Missionaries and the Comboni Missionary Sisters are sending an international team of 17 persons and has registered six workshops to present with other members of the Comboni Network. For more information, click here. For the 13 sub-themes and their descriptions, go here. Pope Francis opened the global Jubilee Year, the Holy Year of Mercy on December 8 to run through November 20, 2016. Be mindful of the "spiritual works" as well as the corporal. Learn more, here. Read America's article, here. Resources Custody + Creation, a visually moving documentary by NET TV, follows up on Pope Francis's call for all of us to take up our role as caretakers or "Guardians of Creation." The video follows scientists, theologians, and the passionate people behind local causes, as they present viable solutions for taking on the issues of pollution, energy, and what Pope Francis has described as a "disposable culture." There is a moral obligation to take care of the environment for all people. Watch it here. Frackopoly: The Battle for the Future of Energy and the Environment, by Wenonah Hauter, a leading public interest advocate and the author of Foodopoly, critiques fracking, including an anatomy of the industry and how we can stop its dangerous, widespread practices. It examines "the powerful interests that have supported fracking, including leading environmental groups, and offers a thorough debunking of its supposed economic benefits." The book shares a wealth of new data and will be of great interest to those seeking to protect the environment and ensure a healthy and sustainable future for all Americans. Also available as an e-book. Learn more, here. Global Ties U.S.: What is New Diplomacy? is an interesting panel discussion of three experts, moderated by Akram Elias, a member of the Global Ties U.S. Advisory Council, featured as part of the Global Ties U.S. 2015 National Meeting. It explores the need for a "new public diplomacy" in today's high-tech world, led by the U.S., and what taking "foreign policy outdoors" will require. It is key to identify the networks of citizens within NGOs, the impact of different types of exchange programs, and to also understand the overall limitations. It is the fostering of ongoing conversations, crowdsourcing of solutions, and investing in frontline activities with talented people, our greatest resource. Watch this YouTube, and also a video about Global Ties U.S., here. Listen to Dr. Oscar Arias, former president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who was a keynote speaker, here. Visit the Global Ties U.S. website. The Swedish Arms Trade and Risk Assessments: Does a Feminist Foreign Policy Make a Difference?, a publication by Rebecca Gerome and Reaching Critical Will of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, is based on a case study associated with this group's report on "preventing gender-based violence through arms control." The paper reflects on Sweden's arms trade in light of its "feminist foreign policy" goal and the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty's legally-binding provision on preventing genderbased violence. Read it here. The Trade Update 2016: Transfers and Transparency, from Small Arms Survey, features the latest figures on the world's main exporters and importers of small arms and light weapons, highlights significant recent changes in the trade, and presents the Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer 2016. This scores key exporters from the most to the least transparent. Download it here. A Guide to the U.N. Small Arms Process: 2016, by Sarah Parker with Marcus Wilson, aims to inform policy-makers who are new to small arms on the international agenda. While it's not meant to serve as a policy tool or as an exhaustive review of the small arms process, this concise manual includes: definitions and terminology; a brief history of the small arms process; summaries of key issues, instruments, and measures; and an overview of the roles of various institutions. Download it here. Also, read the Small Arms Conference Report and outcomes from the June meeting at the U.N., here. War is a Lie, an updated and expanded handbook by David Swanson has been called "a terrific tool for recognizing and resisting war lies before it's too late." It is a thorough "refutation of every major argument used to justify wars," drawing on evidence from numerous past wars, with a focus on those that have been most widely defended as just and good. This book outlines lessons from America's most recent wars, what can be done to end war-making, and an epilogue that analyzes new trends in war lying and in resistance to it. Read more, and order here. JPIC Combonline "Like" the Comboni Missionaries North American Province's Facebook page, here; and the Comboni Missionary Sisters USA's Facebook page, here. To learn more, watch the video, Celebrating St. Daniel Comboni, here, and also download the digital book, A Man for Africa, here. JPIC Worldwide (1) Congratulations to Fr. Alex Zanotelli, mccj who received the "Trentino of the Year 2016" award on June 18 at the Buonconsiglio Castle in Trento, Italy. This recognition was given to him for his lifetime of peace and justice work by the cultural group and the historical magazine, Uomo Città Territorio. Fr. Alex has fought alongside those with the least, defended the weakest, helped the immigrants and migrants, and advocated for water justice and creation. During his acceptance speech, Fr. Alex dedicated the prestigious award to the water committees and opponents of the Tav, the high-speed train in the Brennero region. Learn more. (2) Comboni Missionary Sister Gabriella Bottani is the coordinator of Talitha Kum, the International Union of Superior Generals (UISG)'s anti-trafficking effort based in Rome. It is an international network of consecrated men and women in 70 countries that facilitates collaboration and the exchange of information. Request the latest newsletter, ARISE, from [email protected]. Learn more, here. North American Province: The JPIC Office has supported and/or signed on to the following this month, to name a few: An Alternative or "Shadow" Report" prepared by ECPAT-USA and other organizations that work together to end child prostitution, child pornography, and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. On June 30, this report was sent to the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child as part of the review of the U.S. on its compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Note: The U.S. did not sign the Convention, but did sign on to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; Email to Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey, in support of the Green Climate Fund; Letter to Toledo, Ohio Judge against the death penalty on behalf of the appeal of inmate Gregory Esparza. The 11th Annual Mission-Walk in Honor of Fr. Bill Jansen, mccj. On June 18, the annual Mission Walk, that raises funds for the Daniel Comboni Clinic serving Mixco, Guatemala and surrounding areas, took place in Winton Woods Park, Cincinnati, Ohio. Fr. Bill, the founder of the clinic, died March 7; he would have celebrated 50 years as a Comboni priest in May. Fr. Louie Gasparini, mccj (pictured), in the same class as Fr. Bill, gave the opening prayer after a brief video about the clinic and his friend. After that, the enthusiastic group walked the two-mile loop around the lake and returned to the starting gate for fellowship and refreshments. Cindy Browne participated and highly recommends it to everyone next year! 1318 Nagel Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45255 · phone 513.474.4997; fax 513.474.0382 www.combonimissionaries.org - [email protected] Comboni JPIC Network (CJN) Newsletter provides access to information on global issues from Church and Mission-related sources. Our focus is on Justice and Peace issues, and on how the U.S. policies affect the Third World countries. Please share your suggestions and ideas with us - we're only a phone call or email away! Stay Connected Comboni Missionaries, 1318 Nagel Road, Cincinnati, OH 45255 SafeUnsubscribe™ Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by [email protected] in collaboration with Try it free today