TAKE ACTION: Support the Yemen War Powers Resolution

Since 2015, the Saudi-led war and blockade in Yemen has pushed millions to the brink of famine and helped cause one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Over 16 million people are food insecure, and malnutrition rates for women and children are higher in Yemen than almost anywhere else in the world.  The Yemen War Powers Resolution would finally end U.S. complicity in the Saudi-led war. Churches for Middle East Peace urges us to tell Congress to pass the Yemen War Powers Resolution. MORE

Rome Conference on Nonviolence

Catholic Church leaders and local change makers from nearly 30 countries gathered in Rome last month to reflect on Pope Francis’ work for nonviolent change throughout his 10-year papacy; to share their own experience of nonviolent change in the face of acute violence and injustice; and to explore next steps in advancing the spirituality, way of life, strategies, and universal ethic of nonviolence in the Church and the world. MORE

'What Are We Doing Wrong?': US Police Killed Record Number of People in 2022

Nearly three years after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked worldwide protests demanding far-reaching reforms to stop law enforcement agents from perpetrating violence against the communities they're meant to protect, new data shows 2022 was the deadliest year on record for people who had police encounters in the United States. At least 1,176 people were killed by police officers last year. MORE

Triple Threat: Russia, Iran, and North Korea Trade Arms to Get Around Sanctions

Recent reports of Russian procurement of military equipment from Iran and North Korea, come as no surprise to many. As Russia faces ever-tightening restrictions on its economy and military procurement, Moscow will likely continue leveraging trade opportunities that Tehran and Pyongyang present, relying on well-established methods of illicit trade and sanction evasion. MORE

Cold War Estimates of Deaths in Nuclear Conflict

Apprehension about Russia’s war against Ukraine has produced speculation about the possibility of limited Russian nuclear strikes against targets in that country. Especially worrisome is the danger of a local conflict escalating quickly to involve other countries. Experts project that a large-scale nuclear war could 5 billion deaths in addition to the losses produced by climactic impacts.  MORE

Canada and the U.S. Both Face Labor Shortages. One Country Is Increasing Immigration.

In as little as a decade, there will be one retiree for every two workers in Canada. To address the looming labor shortage, Canada’s government announced a new goal in November to accept 1.45 million immigrants by 2025, with 60 percent trained in health care and other urgently needed job skills. Meanwhile, in the U.S., similar immigration legislation has stalled due to a partisan impasse. MORE

After Border Visit, Faith Groups Urge President Biden to Prioritize Migrants’ Needs and Halt Asylum Ban Plans

Faith communities are frustrated with the Biden administration’s latest announced border policies and an enforcement-focused visit to the US-Mexico border in El Paso this past weekend.  The brief visit came just days after the president announced a new set of border policies that will expand asylum-blocking Title 42; provide parole for a limited number of Haitians, Cubans, and Nicaraguans; while also expanding expedited removals. The announcement also included an asylum ban rule that would greatly impede the ability of migrants to seek asylum. MORE

ICE Makes Paying Bond Extremely Difficult. This Lawsuit Wants to Change That.

One might think that posting bond in the immigration system is a straightforward process. Immigration authorities set bond. A person pays the bond amount, and the incarcerated person is released. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. The process for posting bond is unclear across the board, resulting in confusion among those attempting to make bond payments and causing people to remain in detention longer than necessary.  MORE

TAKE ACTION: Protect the Western Arctic

The Willow Project is a disastrous Western Arctic drilling plan that could generate as much carbon as 66 coal plants emit in a year, jeopardize the health and traditional practices of nearby Alaska Native communities, and devastate local wildlife like polar bears, migratory birds, and caribou. Thanks to a lawsuit, the project is on hold for now, but the Bureau of Land Management is still moving towards allowing drilling. Earth Justice urges us to call on Secretary of the Interior Haaland to stop the project. TAKE ACTION

California Approves Blueprint to Become Carbon Neutral by 2045

California regulators last month unanimously greenlighted a blueprint to cut planet-heating emissions by 85% and get the state to carbon neutrality by 2045. The California Air Resources Board approved the plan, which it called an "unprecedented" sector-by-sector roadmap to "guide the world's fourth-largest economy away from its current dependence on petroleum and fossil gas to clean and renewable energy resources and zero-emission vehicles." MORE

Global Pollinator Losses Causing 500,000 Early Deaths a Year

The global loss of pollinators is already causing about 500,000 early deaths a year by reducing the supply of healthy foods, a study has estimated. Three-quarters of crops require pollination but the populations of many insects are in sharp decline. The inadequate pollination that results has caused a 3%-5% loss of fruit, vegetable, and nut production. The lower consumption of these foods means about 1% of all deaths can now be attributed to pollinator loss. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Protect U.S. Youth from Human Trafficking

Congress has the power to help prevent child labor and sex trafficking by passing a law like the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act to provide services and support at that crucial moment to intervene before a child is trafficked and to help them escape exploitative situations. Freedom United invites us to sign a petition to Congress to pass this important legislation to protect youth and prevent trafficking. TAKE ACTION

Language Matters: 5 Ways Your Words Impact Trafficking Survivors

Word choices are powerful. This is particularly important to keep in mind in the work of reducing and preventing human trafficking and supporting survivors. The way in which human trafficking is described or discussed can – often despite the very best intentions – feel triggering to survivors who are working to heal. Even worse, the language we use could prevent victims from recognizing that they’re in a trafficking situation in the first place, which ultimately prevents them from reaching out for help. MORE

Know the Story Not the Signs

For years, the anti-trafficking field focused on the public’s role of noticing and reporting “signs” that a person is in a trafficking situation. As our understanding of the crime has evolved, we now know that without context, these “signs” often aren’t meaningful ways to spot trafficking. Instead of looking for “signs,” people can help by listening to true survivor stories to understand how trafficking really happens. MORE

Healing from Sexual Abuse by a Family Member

Healing looks different for survivors of sexual abuse by a family member. Everyone starts their journey in their own way and survivors need to remember to do everything on their own terms, in their own time, and in a way that feels right for them. Learning to approach healing with small steps and decisions can help make this process feel more attainable. Throughout the healing process, gentleness and compassion are key. MORE

Climate Change Puts More Women at Risk for Domestic Violence

For many women around the world, the threat of violence could become more common as climate change makes extreme weather events more intense and frequent. Scientists have long warned that climate change disproportionately impacts the world’s poorest and most vulnerable. Now the U.N. has identified a link between climate change and violence, citing the growing evidence that extreme weather events are driving domestic violence. MORE

The Grassroots Fight for Housing Justice in Baltimore

Tired of waiting for the city to address housing justice, Baltimore’s constellation of grassroots activists and institutions are charging forward to keep residents in their homes and increase the availability of affordable housing. Other efforts, working in tandem to strive for justice in housing, include housing associations, the city’s affordable housing trust fund, a blight-fighting social justice group, and an equitable development company that restores abandoned homes to increase affordable housing stock. MORE

Another ‘Radical’ Change to the Voting Rights Act Could Reach the Supreme Court

A case that could further shrink the scope of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) is before a federal appeals court this week, with the appellate panel considering whether private entities – and not just the US Justice Department – can bring lawsuits under a key provision of the law. If those seeking a narrowing of the VRA are successful, it would significantly diminish the use of the law to challenge ballot regulations and redistricting maps that are said to be racially discriminatory. MORE

Scott Eizember is scheduled to be executed on January 12, 2023, by the state of Oklahoma for the murders of A.J. Cantrell and Patsy Cantrell. Please hold Scott, A.J., Patsy, their families, and the people of Oklahoma in prayer. TAKE ACTION 

Wesley Ruiz is scheduled to be executed on February 1 by the state of Texas for the murder of Mark Nix. Please hold Wesley, Mark, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION