Shalom News North America
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An instrument of hope, formation, and action
concerning priority matters of social justice.
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Ecological Spirituality
COP 26
Pesticides in the Pantry
Slavery
Child Labor
Human Rights
Migrants
Refugees
Immigration
Las Posadas
Violence Against Women
El Salvador Churchwomen
Gun Violence
Virtual Pilgrimages
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Dear Friend,
"The Triune God impels us into the heart of the world to be women of peace, hope and love." - Love Gives Everything
Thank you for accompanying us on this journey! May the resources found in this e-newsletter support your efforts to reflect peace, hope, and love during these challenging times. We pray you enjoy a most blessed Advent and Christmas time, and that we all enjoy a healthy and more peace-filled new year.
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Shalom North America Contacts
(Click here for a pdf version of this newsletter.)
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Laudato Si' Goal 6 - Ecological Spirituality
We are joined with all creatures in a “splendid universal communion.” Goal Six reminds us to “find God in all things” and to connect the dots between all things. Paragraph 220 of Laudato Si’ calls us to ecological conversion, beginning with “gratitude and gratuitousness, a recognition that the world is God’s loving gift, and that we are called quietly to imitate his generosity in self-sacrifice and good works….It also entails a loving awareness that we are not disconnected from the rest of creatures, but joined in a splendid universal communion. As believers, we do not look at the world from without but from within, conscious of the bonds with which God has linked us to all beings.” Such bonds connect us in ways that give us hope.
Take time during this month to be aware of the sights and sounds and smells and tastes of this splendid universal communion. Ecological conversion begins with such awareness, and ongoing awareness takes us deeper into the mystery of the Incarnation. Emmanuel, God with us. For more resources on Goal Six click here. Consider this simple Advent resource.
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COP 26 - UN Conference on Climate Change
The recently completed UN Climate Conference (COP 26) brought hopeful progress on many fronts, securing a global consensus aimed at limiting coal and fossil fuel emissions, encouraging countries to strengthen their plans as soon as next year, and committing greater funds to help poorer and developing nations. It also brought large multilateral commitments to dramatically reduce methane pollution and end deforestation, as well as smaller but important pledges by countries to end financing for fossil fuel development abroad and phase out new gas-powered car sales. Read more. Follow these links to explore Canadian and U.S. government COP 26 commitments.
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Pesticides in the Pantry
Pesticide-intensive agriculture has become the default for how food is grown in the United States. Over one billion pounds of conventional pesticides are used in the U.S. each year. This widespread use causes widespread exposure. Farmworkers face the most acute exposures when applying pesticides. Communities near farms can be exposed due to pesticide drift. Pesticide exposure also affects consumers. Pesticide residues have been found in drinking water, soil, rainwater, and a wide range of food products, making human exposure to these chemicals almost unavoidable. As You Sow recently released its second edition of Pesticides in the Pantry: Transparency & Risk in Food Supply Chains, a report which reviews the risks of farm systems dependent on high levels of toxic pesticides, provides benchmarks for improved management practices and transparency, and ranks food manufacturers on their actions to reduce the growing risk of pesticide use. Learn more, read the full report.
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International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (12/2)
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), more than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery. One in four victims of modern slavery are children. The chocolate industry is notorious for its use of children in their supply chain. A Washington Post investigation of the use of child labor in the cocoa industry found that representatives of some of the biggest and best-known brands could not guarantee that any of their chocolate was produced without child labor. One reason is that 20 years after pledging to eradicate the practice, chocolate companies still could not identify the farms from which all their cocoa is sourced, let alone whether child labor was used in producing it. What can you do? Sign this petition demanding action be taken and choose slave free/Fair Trade chocolate when making purchases.
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Addressing Child Labor - Pope Francis
Extreme poverty, the lack of employment that can support a family, and desperation are the major drivers of exploitative child labor, Pope Francis said at a recent conference on eradicating child labor. "If we want to stamp out the scourge of child labor, we must work together to eradicate poverty (and) to correct the distortions in the current economic system, which concentrates wealth in the hands of a few," he said. The problem of child labor has nothing to do with age-appropriate chores and work that helps the family or their community and is carried out in their free time, the pope said. Child labor is exploiting a child within a system of production in today's globalized economy for the earnings and profits of others, he said. "It is the denial of a child's rights to health, education, sound development, including the possibility to play and dream....It is a violation of human dignity." Read more, take action.
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Human Rights Day (12/10)
Catholic Social Teaching begins with the premise that all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God and due dignity because of their creation. Not because they “earn” dignity, but because they are made in the image and likeness of God. No exceptions. In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly codified what human dignity includes by passing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Celebrate what this means, especially for women and girls! Learn more.
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International Migrants Day (12/18)
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Global Compact on Refugees - 2021 Report
A new report released by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), shows how far the international community has come since it called for the development of a new international framework to share responsibility for refugee situations – the Global Compact on Refugees. “The picture that has emerged is mixed. We see that countries with the fewest resources continue to bear the most responsibility for both new and protracted refugee situations. At the same time, we are seeing some good indications of progress by states, the private sector, civil society, and development banks in helping to try and bridge the gap,” said Gillian Triggs, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection. Learn more, read the full report.
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Build Back Better and Immigration
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Build Back Better Act, which provides a social spending plan, establishes new human service programs, and modifies provisions regarding several matters of human dignity, including immigration. If also passed by the Senate, the legislation would make an estimated 7+ million undocumented persons eligible for parole, temporarily protecting recipients from deportation and making them eligible for work authorization, international travel, and other benefits. It also provides for the recapture of unused visas and includes supplemental funding of $2.8 billion for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to adjudicate immigration benefits and reduce case processing backlogs. Learn more.
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Las Posadas
From December 16-24 consider joining the Posadas for a daily virtual experience of music, prayer, reflection, and action as we journey with the Holy Family and migrants around the world. Each day, you'll receive a short video with a Posadas song, prayer, migrant story, and an opportunity for action to end Title 42. Learn about the reality on the U.S.-Mexico border and root causes of migration, engage in interactive activities, and more! Thank you to our friends with the Kino Border Initiative and the Ignatian Solidarity Network for arranging this opportunity. Learn more/sign-up to participate.
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16 Days of Activism
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicked off on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. This year’s theme is “Orange the world: End violence against women now!” Consider these 9 ways to get involved and use SSND’s Voter Voice tool to encourage the U.S. Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. For those in Canada, consider attending a vigil on December 6 to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Learn more.
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Remembering the Churchwomen of El Salvador (12/2)
We remember Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel, and lay missionary Jean Donovan on the 41st anniversary of their murder. Their work of accompaniment, walking with those who are poor and marginalized, put them at odds with the powerful military regime of El Salvador and cost them their lives. May their memory be a blessing and a challenge to live life intentionally for others, especially the most vulnerable.
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National Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence (12/8)
Gun violence continues to plague our nation and steal members of our communities - 900,000 Americans have been killed or injured by guns since the Sandy Hook shooting tragedy. Join our friends at Franciscan Action Network and partners with the Newtown Action Alliance who will once again be honoring all victims of gun violence with a virtual vigil on December 8th at 7pm on Facebook. Learn more. Sign up here to cross-post the vigil on your Facebook page. The Sandy Hook Anniversary Letter urges Congress to embrace the Denver Accord and pass a strong package of comprehensive gun safety measures to reduce all forms of gun violence in our nation. Organizations can sign-on to the letter here. Individuals can use our SSND Voter Voice tool to encourage Congress to take action.
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Virtual Pilgrimage Opportunity |
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Rivers of Hope Pilgrimages
The Rivers of Hope Pilgrimages involve four virtual tours of rivers to learn from those who live and minister in the area. Each river journey will focus on a social justice concern: Dec 7, Rio Grande (Immigration); Jan 11, Mississippi (Climate Change); Feb 8, Missouri (Human Trafficking); March 21, Hudson (Economy, Education, and Racism). For more information and registration, click here. For a PDF flyer to share click here.
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The SSND Shalom Network witnesses to the Gospel with audacity and hope as we collaborate to build just relationships and respond to the urgent needs of our times. |
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Shalom News North America is an e-publication of the Shalom North America Contacts (SNAC) of the School Sisters of Notre Dame - Arlene Flaherty, Ethel Howley, Mary Carter Waren, Rose Mary Sander, and Tim Dewane. Your comments, suggestions, and feedback are always welcomed. Email us at tdewane@ssndcp.org.
Please only print this e-publication if necessary.
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