ACTIVE NONVIOLENCE AND PEACEMAKING |
|
Ukraine Shows We Must Reject the Possibility That War Can Be Just
The war in Ukraine is not more important than the other wars destroying human lives and the Earth, but this one is different. The perennial debate on just war criteria continues, but given the ongoing carnage and potentially catastrophic consequences, Pope Francis' assertion that "there is no such thing as a just war" rings true. Marie Dennis of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative explains. MORE
|
|
|
|
Appropriations Bill Passes and Includes Unarmed Civilian Protection
In great news from Washington D.C., the Appropriations Bills for 2022 have passed, once again with recognition of the importance of Unarmed Civilian Protection, and for funding that supports sustainable peace. It will provide funds for use of unarmed civilian protection organizations, strengthen the local non-violent peacekeeping capacity of communities currently experiencing or at risk of violent conflict, and assist United States-funded stabilization efforts. MORE
|
|
|
|
Five Ways to Support Courageous Nonviolent Resistance in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine is a human and ecological catastrophe, but there are still signs of hope. Government and civil society can take immediate action to break the dynamic of violence and build a more sustainable just peace in Ukraine. Eli McCarthy expounds in Waging Nonviolence. MORE
|
|
|
|
TAKE ACTION: Reject War and Nuclear Weapons
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, and other Nobel Peace Prize Laureates are asking citizens around the world to join a historic call to reject war and nuclear weapons. The Avaaz organization invites us to sign the petition to be delivered to the Russian Federation and NATO. TAKE ACTION
|
|
|
|
Is Nuclear Deterrence “Keeping the Peace”? Ask The Ukrainians.
For decades, American "international security experts" have explained that the nuclear-armed nations retain nuclear weapons "to keep the peace." But Russian President Vladimir Putin proved that this is a false narrative, launching a war and precipitating a humanitarian catastrophe. On March 14, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated: “The prospect of nuclear conflict, once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility.” MORE
|
|
|
|
Nuclear Fears in U.S. Amid Russia-Ukraine War
Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has left Americans on edge, according to a recent poll which found a majority of people in the U.S. are worried that the war has made the impending use of nuclear weapons more likely. Eighty-five percent of people surveyed said they were concerned that the U.S. could be drawn into the conflict, including 47% of people who said they were "extremely or very concerned" about this scenario. MORE
|
|
|
|
TAKE ACTION: Urge Protection of Black Immigrants and Asylum Seekers from Deportation and Family Separation
The targeting and prioritization of Black immigrants for expulsion and deportation is immoral and wrong. It is vital that the Biden administration follows through on its promise to defend Black immigrants. Church World Service asks us to call on Congress and the Biden administration to designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for African and Caribbean countries, halt deportations, and dismantle racism within the U.S. immigration system. TAKE ACTION
|
|
|
|
U.S. To Accept 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees
The United States will accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russian aggression, a U.S. official announced. Entry methods considered include the refugee admissions program, parole, and immigrant and non-immigrant visas. The official said the White House will not have to ask Congress to expand the current cap on annual refugees, which is set at 125,000 for fiscal year 2022. MORE
|
|
|
|
Congress Approves Funds for More Immigration Judges
For the past seven years, Congress has approved additional funds to hire more immigration judges. As of December 2021, there were only 576 immigration judges, and the case backlog is a record 1.7 million. Currently, there is enough money to sustain 634 immigration judges. MORE
|
|
|
|
500+ Academics Call for End to Climate Research Funded by Fossil Fuel Industry
Universities in the U.S. and U.K. faced a demand from over 500 leading climate experts and academics to reject any environmental or energy research funding from the fossil fuel industry. The letter states that "the fossil fuel industry has employed disinformation tactics…working to sow doubt about climate science, silence industry critics, and stall climate action." MORE
|
|
|
|
New SEC Rule Requires Companies to Disclose How They’re Approaching Climate Change
Climate change threatens the stability of financial markets and presents systemic risks to the U.S. economy. Right now, however, the hundreds of publicly-traded companies in the country are not required to disclose the various ways in which the consequences of a warming planet could threaten their bottom lines. The lack of climate-related disclosures leaves investors in the dark about the true risks on a company’s books. A new rule could change that. MORE
|
|
|
|
Researchers Find Microplastics in Human Blood
News research found microplastic pollution in human blood for the first time. Of the people scientists tested, 80 percent showed trace particles of microplastics. While the impact on one’s health, if they have microplastics in their bloodstream, is currently unknown, the research shows that particles of pollution can travel around the body. MORE
|
|
|
|
TAKE ACTION: Ask your Representative to Co-Sponsor the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act
Many fishermen and other laborers involved in the seafood supply chain are victims of labor trafficking and face violence and exploitation daily. US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking urge us to tell our Representatives to co-sponsor HR 3075 Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act to prevent human trafficking in fishing and seafood and protect human rights. TAKE ACTION
|
|
|
|
California Gets Closer to Ending Involuntary Servitude in Prisons
The 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery “except as a punishment for crime.” This clause has been the object of tireless campaigning across the country in recent years. This week, the movement gained momentum in California as a new bill that would ban involuntary servitude in all cases passed the state Assembly. MORE
|
|
|
|
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT |
|
Domestic Violence Report Illuminates Ongoing Impact of Pandemic, and Funding and Housing Needs
The National Network to End Domestic Violence has released the findings from its 16th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report. The report documents the number of people who sought domestic violence services in a single 24-hour period – in this case, September 9, 2021. On that day, local programs were unable to meet 9,444 requests for services—primarily requests for housing or emergency shelter—because they lacked sufficient resources. MORE
|
|
|
|
The Hidden Epidemic of Brain Injuries from Domestic Violence
While brain injuries among survivors of domestic violence have never been comprehensively tracked, data suggest that the rate might be significantly higher than those incurred by athletes or soldiers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in five women in the United States experiences severe intimate-partner violence over the course of their lifetimes, resulting in physical injuries, most commonly to the head, neck, and face. MORE
|
|
|
|
HUMAN RIGHTS AND INCOME INEQUALITY |
|
TAKE ACTION: Support the Big Oil Windfall Profits Act
Even as the price of gas per barrel is well below recent records, gas prices remain high. Meanwhile, top fracking executives are raking in billions. The Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax will stop price gouging at the pumps by forcing oil and gas companies to share their recording-breaking profits with consumers. Food & Water Watch urges us to tell Congress to support the Big Oil Windfall Profits Act. TAKE ACTION
|
|
|
|
EXPLAINER: How Would Billionaire Income Tax Work?
A “Billionaire Minimum Income Tax” is included in President Joe Biden’s fiscal year 2023 budget proposal — part of the administration’s effort to reduce the federal deficit over the next decade. The budget proposes that households worth more than $100 million pay at least 20% in taxes on both income and “unrealized gains”— the increase in an unsold investment’s value. Roughly 700 billionaires would be affected by the tax proposal which would raise $360 billion. MORE
|
|
|
|
Oscar Smith is scheduled to be executed on April 21 by the state of Tennessee for the murders of Judy Smith, Jason Burnett, and Chad Burnett. Please hold Oscar, Judy, Jason, Chad, their families, and the people of Tennessee in prayer. TAKE ACTION
Carl Buntion is scheduled to be executed on April 21 by the state of Texas for the murder of James Irby. Please hold Carl, James, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION
Melissa Lucio is scheduled to be executed on April 27 by the state of Texas for the murder of Mariah Alvarez. Please hold Melissa, Mariah, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
