ACTIVE NONVIOLENCE AND PEACEMAKING |
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Myanmar's Civil Disobedience Movement Has Produced Many Inventive Ways of Protesting
After the Myanmar military grabbed power on February 1, a civil disobedience movement was launched which encouraged the public to stop going to work, boycott businesses owned by generals, and join anti-coup protests. Military authorities have banned public assemblies, so protesters have devised new ways of expressing opposition, such as blocking roads by "accidentally" dropping bags of onions and rice, or pausing to tie their shoelaces in crosswalks. MORE
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Two Decades After 9/11: The Footprint of US War Machine in 85 Countries
A new report details so-called "counterterrorism" operations by the U.S. military in 85 nations since 2018 as part of its "Global War on Terror." The report exposes the realities of this open-ended post-9/11 campaign which has seen over half a dozen countries attacked or invaded, hundreds of overseas military bases built, hundreds of thousands of lives lost, and trillions of dollars spent—with no end in sight. MORE
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TAKE ACTION: Tell the Biden Administration to Offer Sanctions Relief to Iran
Now is the time for the United States to salvage the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. With a new administration and a Catholic president in the White House, Pax Christi USA urges us to sign a petition urging President Biden to offer sanctions relief as a first step and a show of good faith to bring Iran back to the negotiating table. TAKE ACTION
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Enough Already: No New ICBMs
During his election campaign, President Biden said the United States “does not need new nuclear weapons” and promised to reduce our “reliance and excessive expenditure on nuclear weapons.” Arms Control Association Executive Director Daryl Kimball suggests that Biden can start by directing his team to put on hold the Pentagon’s plan to develop, test, and deploy a new fleet of 400 land-based, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). MORE
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TAKE ACTION: Ask President Biden to Increase Refugee Arrivals
President Biden has already committed to restoring the refugee resettlement program by increasing the number of refugee arrivals to the United States. Yet, refugees cannot arrive until an Executive Order calling for increased refugee admissions is signed. Jesuit Refugee Service invites us to urge President Biden to immediately increase the FY21 refugee admissions goal and restores regional allocations based on vulnerability. TAKE ACTION
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Reopening Shelters for Unaccompanied Minors Draws Criticisms
The White House is defending itself against criticisms for reopening shelters for unaccompanied migrant minors. The White House press secretary said tough choices must be made, as the other options are to send the children on a dangerous journey back to their country or send them to unvetted families. MORE
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Separated Migrant Families May Be Reunited in the United States
Migrant parents separated from their children at the U.S.-Mexico border during the Trump administration could be allowed to live in the United States after reunification. The government will explore ways for them to remain in the United States if they wish, said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. MORE
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A Clean Energy Milestone: Renewables Pulled Ahead of Coal in 2020
In a year of pandemic illness and chaotic politics, there also was a major milestone in the transition to clean energy: U.S. renewable energy sources for the first time generated more electricity than coal. Big gains in wind and solar power—and a steady showing for hydroelectric—helped to propel renewable energy to pass coal in 2020, according to new data from the Energy Information Administration. MORE
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This $9 Billion Plan Could Bring Conservation Corps to Life
Legislation to establish a 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps was unveiled last month. The act would put $40 billion toward creating jobs in U.S. forests and parks, reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires, and expanding access to all kinds of parks. It would also establish a “conservation corps” to put people to work planting trees and restoring public lands and waters, training them for environmentally-friendly careers. MORE
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Investors Managing $250 Billion in Assets Call on Big Banks to Stop Funding Mountain Valley Pipeline
Citing the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s negative social and environmental impacts as well as its financial risks, a coalition of investors managing nearly a quarter-trillion dollars last week sent a letter to some of the largest U.S. banks calling on them to end any and all funding for the fossil fuel project. MORE
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TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress: Law Enforcement Can’t Exploit Trafficking Victims
It should be a crime for law enforcement officers to have sex with people they encounter as part of a human trafficking investigation. Unfortunately, it’s not. And it happens. The Polaris Project urges us to tell our lawmakers to support the Closing the Law Enforcement Consent Loophole Act. This legislation makes it a crime for law enforcement to engage in a sexual act while acting under color of law. Most law enforcement officers would never do this, but clearly there is a need to create real accountability for some. TAKE ACTION
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Ex-USA Gymnastics Coach Found Dead After Being Charged With Human Trafficking and Sex Crimes
John Geddert, who coached the 2012 US Olympic women's gymnastics team, was found dead last week after being charged with 24 felonies in connection with the abuse of young gymnasts. The 63-year-old was facing charges that included human trafficking, criminal sexual conduct, and lying to a peace officer. The body of John Geddert was found after taking his own life on the day had been expected to turn himself in and be arraigned. MORE
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT |
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Cuomo Is Accused of Sexual Harassment by a 2nd Former Aide
A second former aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is accusing him of sexual harassment, saying that he asked her numerous inappropriate questions about her sex life. The aide, Charlotte Bennett, who was an executive assistant and health policy adviser in the Cuomo administration until she left in November, said the governor had harassed her late last spring, during the height of the state’s fight against the coronavirus. MORE
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Victim Advocates Say U.S. Military Gets An ‘F’ On Sexual Assault Prevention
For a decade, advocates have argued commanders should be removed from deciding the fate of those accused of sexual assault in the U.S. military. But military victim advocates now say they should be removed from the chain of command. PBS News Hour’s Nick Schifrin spoke to four military victim advocates about the widespread and longstanding problem of sexual assault in the military and possible solutions. MORE
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HUMAN RIGHTS AND INCOME INEQUALITY |
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8 Facts You Should Know About Racial Injustice in the Criminal Legal System
Racial discrimination and bias have been ingrained in the criminal legal and law enforcement system from its earliest days and continues to pervade every level of the system today. The Innocence Project outlines eight statistics which highlight the ways in which racial inequality persists in the criminal legal system today and contributes to wrongful conviction. MORE
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Warren Unveils Wealth Tax on 'Ultra-Millionaires' and Billionaires
Citing the explosive growth of inequality during the coronavirus crisis—which has followed more than four decades of upward redistribution and concentration of wealth at the top—Sen. Elizabeth Warren this week introduced a bill to tax a small portion of the wealth of the richest 100,000 households in the United States to help fund President Joe Biden's Build Back Better agenda. MORE
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Ramiro Gonzales is scheduled to be executed on April 20 by the state of Texas for the murder of Bridget Townsend. Please hold Ramiro, Bridget, their families, and the people of Texas in prayer. TAKE ACTION
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