Military Spending Surges, Creating New Boom for Arms Makers

The prospect of growing military threats from both China and Russia is driving bipartisan support for a surge in Pentagon spending, setting up another potential boom for weapons makers that is likely to extend beyond the war in Ukraine. Congress is on track to give final approval to a national military budget for the current fiscal year that is expected to reach approximately $858 billion — or $45 billion above what President Biden had requested. MORE

Pope’s World Day of Peace Message, "No One Can Be Saved Alone"

The Vatican released Pope Francis's 2023 World Day of Peace message. Francis focuses on the lesson that "we all need one another." He explains, "For it is together, in fraternity and solidarity, that we build peace, ensure justice and emerge from the greatest disasters….Only the peace that comes from a fraternal and disinterested love can help us overcome personal, societal, and global crises."  MORE

The City That Kicked Cops Out of Schools

Des Moines Public Schools replaced armed police with staff trained in restorative practices after student activism and public outcry led the Des Moines police to cancel their in-school contract.  Here’s what happens when a school rethinks punishment. MORE

Iran Enriching ‘Worrying Quantities’ of Uranium, In Further Blow for Nuclear Deal

The International Atomic Energy Agency estimates that Iran has over eighteen times more enriched uranium than is allowed under the 2015 nuclear deal. UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said that the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that Iran intends to install new centrifuges at one of its fuel enrichment plants, and plans to produce more uranium enriched up to 60 percent, at another. MORE

Risky Returns: Fewer Long-Term Investments in Nuclear Weapons Producers, New Report Finds

Fewer long-term investments were made in the companies behind the nuclear weapons industry, according to a new report from Don’t Bank on the Bomb. The report found a $45.9 billion drop in long-term investments in 2022, including loans and underwriting. The report “Risky Returns” provides an overview of investments in 24 companies heavily involved in the production of nuclear weapons for the arsenals of China, France, India, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States in 2022.  MORE

Title 42 To Remain in Place for Now as Chief Justice John Roberts Temporarily Freezes Order Meant to End It

Chief Justice John Roberts ordered that a border rule that was set to expire this week must remain in place until the Supreme Court considers an appeal by several U.S. states. The Biden administration has attempted to end the policy, known as Title 42, which allows for the immediate expulsion of migrants at the southern U.S. border on pandemic-related grounds. MORE

Why the Immigration Debate Is Only Going to Get More Tense

Congress is working to fund the government this week so lawmakers can head home for the holiday — but expect Washington to be consumed by immigration when lawmakers return in January. Republicans have pledged to investigate the Biden administration’s record policing the southern border and to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas once they take control of the House.  MORE

TAKE ACTION: Support a Global Plastics Treaty

The Biden Administration just announced support of a Global Plastics Treaty that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics. This is encouraging news, but only the first step. The U.S. must support a legally binding global instrument on plastic pollution covering measures along the entire life cycle of plastics, including extraction, production, transport, use, disposal, and remediation. Greenpeace urges us to tell the Biden administration to support a bold and binding treaty. TAKE ACTION

Nations Secure a Historic Biodiversity Deal on Final Day of COP15

The nations of the world secured a historic deal on behalf of nature on the final day of the United Nations biodiversity summit this week, charting a path for the next eight years to undo decades of ecosystem destruction and species diminishment. A key part of the global pact aims to halt and reverse the rapid loss of biodiversity by 2030, and in that span, set aside 30% of the world's lands, oceans, and waters for ecological conservation. MORE

California’s Two Largest Cities Ban Plastic Foam

In a major victory against plastic pollution, city council members in Los Angeles and San Diego voted this month to ban the distribution of expanded polystyrene, the foamy plastic that’s used in disposable coffee cups and takeout food containers. Starting next April, large companies in California’s two most populous cities will be prohibited from giving out or selling dishes, cups, and other products made from plastic foam. MORE

How Modern Slavery Survives Across the World

The eyes of the world were on Qatar this month, as athletes from across the globe competed in the FIFA World Cup. For many, however, the focus has been not on the competitors themselves, but on the workers who built the competition’s stadiums. Many critics have gone as far as to say the treatment of the migrant workers who built Qatar’s stadiums is an example of modern slavery.  MORE

Dutch Prime Minister Apologizes for the Netherlands’ Role in the Slave Trade

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologized this week for the Netherlands’ “slavery past,” which he said continues to have “negative effects.” Rutte’s comments were part of the Dutch government’s wider acknowledgment of the country’s colonial past. “For centuries under Dutch state authority, human dignity was violated in the most horrific way possible,” Rutte said during a speech in The Hague. MORE

When Fishing Boats Go Dark at Sea, They’re Often Committing Crimes

The high seas are the modern world’s Wild West – a vast expanse of water far from oversight and authority, where outlaws engage in illegal activities like unauthorized fishing and human trafficking. Surveillance there is aided by location transponders, called the Automatic Identification System, or AIS, which works like the Find My iPhone app. Just as thieves can turn off phone location tracking, ships can disable their AIS transponders, effectively hiding their activities from oversight. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Urge Passage of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) is at the heart of our nation’s response to domestic violence, ensuring more than 1,500 local domestic violence shelters and programs can provide emergency shelter, crisis counseling, legal assistance, and other life-saving services to more than 1.3 million victims and their children every year. The National Network to End Domestic Violence asks us to tell our Senators to pass the bipartisan FVPSA Improvement Act in this Congress. TAKE ACTION

700,000 Photos, Years of Alleged Sex Assault by RN

A class action lawsuit outlines years of alleged sexual assault that was recorded and photographed on the phone of a registered nurse at a Colorado hospital. Christopher Lambros, 61, allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted, and/or took lewd photos and videos of patients for at least 10 years while he was an RN, primarily in the Intensive Care Unit. During the investigation, approximately 700,000 cellphone photos and 65,000 hours of cellphone video were uncovered from Lambros’ cell phone related to his sexual assault of patients. MORE

TAKE ACTION: Advocate for the Passage of Critical Criminal Justice and Police Reform Bills

The Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law Act (EQUAL Act) will reduce bias in federal drug sentencing laws that have historically led to unequal outcomes across racial groups. Additionally, the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act will provide law enforcement training in de-escalation and crisis response techniques to safely respond to calls from individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. Catholic Charities USA asks us to tell Congress to enact these important bills. TAKE ACTION

Biden Unveils Plan to Reduce Homelessness 25% by 2025

The Biden administration this week released a plan that seeks to eventually eradicate homelessness in the United States, starting with a 25% reduction in the number of people suffering from a lack of reliable access to safe housing over the next two years. "My plan offers a roadmap for not only getting people into housing but also ensuring that they have access to the support, services, and income that allow them to thrive," President Biden said in a statement. MORE

Amber McLaughlin is scheduled to be executed on January 3, 2023, by the state of Missouri for the murder of Beverly Guenther.  Please hold Amber, Beverly, their families, and the people of Missouri in prayer. TAKE ACTION

Robert Fratta is scheduled to be executed on January 10, 2023, by the state of Texas for the murder of Farah Fratta. Please hold Robert, Farah, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION

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