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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Invasion of Ukraine
Our LSAP Commitment
Plastics
World Wildlife Day
Forests
Water
Ecofeminism
Women's Day
Women Leaders
Status of Women
Racism
Farmworkers
Nuclear Remembrance Day
Canadian Peacebuilders
Right to Truth
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Dear Friend,
A concern in all of our ministries is the establishment of a just society. We work both to enable persons to reach the fullness of their potential and to create a global community where human dignity is respected, the environment is treasured, and spirituality is nourished.
Thank you for joining us in this effort. May the resources found in this e-newsletter support your efforts to promote peace and social justice in the SSND spirit of Shalom.
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Shalom North America Contacts
(Click here to download pdf version of newsletter.)
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Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is the largest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two. It is a deadly and destructive violation of international law. We echo the call by the UN Secretary-General and others calling for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the safety of all people as well as the environment that sustains life on the planet.
We hold in prayer all who are affected by the invasion. We lift up those who have been killed or injured, and we pray for a radical shift away from military engagement and back to the table of dialogue and negotiation.
As our world cries out for peace, let us—sisters, associates, colleagues, and friends—unite in this common Prayer for Peace. Remembering in particular the people of Ukraine and Eastern Europe, let us renew our commitment to Gospel Nonviolence and Just Peace and encircle our world with prayer, fasting, and action for peace and reconciliation.
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It's About Commitment
What does it mean to be a member of a Laudato Si' Congregation and to "live more simply, responsibly and sustainably?" It means commitment. When the SSND congregation composed the SSND Laudato Si’ Public Commitment Statement in May 2021, it was a call to each of us to take concrete steps to contribute to the healing of Earth and the restoration of dignity and rights of persons made poor by exploitation and the ecological crisis. The statement asks all of us to incorporate into our lives and lifestyles, the values and actions embedded within it. Reading the statement and filing it away will not allow any of us to become what the statement intends, namely, a person who commits to “living more simply, responsibly and sustainably.” The commitment we consciously make to these three values has to be mindfully embraced each day, lived through the moment-by-moment decisions we make. Read more.
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United Nations Environment Assembly
The UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) brings together representatives of the 193 Member States of the UN, businesses, civil society and other stakeholders to agree on policies that address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. The resumed Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly is currently taking place online and in Nairobi through March 2. The overall theme for UNEA-5 is “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”. Learn more, follow progress here.
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During the UNEA-5, the governments of Rwanda, Peru, and Japan are proposing a global plastics agreement with specific legally-binding provisions and obligations to prevent and remediate plastic pollution and its toxic impacts. Use our Voter Voice tool to urge the U.S. State Department to support the Peru, Rwanda, and Japan resolution.
The just released (2/28) UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report will certainly be a focus of discussion at UNEA-5. The report warns that the dangers of climate change are mounting so rapidly they could soon overwhelm our ability to adapt. Read more.
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World Wildlife Day (3/3)
World Wildlife Day calls on everyone to do their part in protecting the world’s wild animals and plants. The 2022 theme, “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration”, draws attention to the conservation status of those critically endangered species of wild fauna and flora, and
highlights the conservation efforts. This aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 12, 13, 14 and 15, and their wide-ranging commitments on alleviating poverty, ensuring sustainable use of resources, and on conserving life land. Over 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered, while close to 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable. Based on these estimates, it is suggested that over a million species are threatened with extinction. Learn more/take action.
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International Day of Forests (3/21)
“Can’t see the forest for the trees?” The integrity of each tree matters. It is the communities of trees, the forests, and all life within them are integral to the sustainability of our planet. The following video gives a great overview of the role of forests in our collective life on Earth and introduces this year's theme for the International Day of Forests.
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We invite you watch the following video about the value of forests to people and the earth. Consider using it and this reflection as part of your Lenten reflection on the incredible gift of forests as part of God’s vision for the earth.
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World Water Day (3/22)
This year's World Water Day puts a spotlight on groundwater. It is a vital resource that provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide, about 40% of water for irrigated agriculture, and about 33% of the water required for industries. It sustains ecosystems, maintains the basic flow of rivers, prevents land collapse, and seawater intrusion. Groundwater is an important part of the climate change adaptation process and is often a solution for people without access to safe water. Learn more. Download and use this beautiful reflection and prayer booklet on water and these inspirational quotes. Take time to learn about the SSND supported Global Partners:Running Water initiative.
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Are You an Ecofeminist?
Ecofeminism is a branch of feminism that looks at the connections between the oppression of women and the domination of nature. As such, ecofeminism looks not only at women, but also at other groups that are marginalized based on their ethnicity, race, sexuality, religion, and so on. It sees that the oppressive system that marginalizes these groups is the same one that is destroying the environment. Two examples of movements that have emerged from ecofeminism are the Chipko Andolan movement in India and the Green Belt Movement in Kenya. Learn more about applying an ecofeminsm lens to our awakening consciousness here.
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International Women's Day (3/8)
The theme for 2022 is #BreakTheBias. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. This year's International Women's Day campaign reminds us that we can break the bias in our communities, in our places of work, and in our schools. Learn more. Read about Canadian government investments supporting women and gender equality in Canada. Download our SSND International Solidarity Reflection.
Addressing the issue of violence toward women is an ongoing issue that must receive priority attention. Click here to learn about gender violence and femicide here in North America. Use our Voter Voice tool to urge the U.S. Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women's Act in the United States.
In addition to women’s safety, women’s health is certainly another important area for focus. As early as today, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on Women’s Health Protection Act (HR 3755), a bill that prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services. Please read the U.S. Bishops' Conference response to the bill here.
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Women are Climate Change-Makers
Women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership results in more effective climate action. Take this quiz to learn more about women and climate change.
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Celebrating Women Leaders in Canada and the U.S.
As the Governor General of Canada, Mary May Simon holds the highest political position in Canada. An Inuit/Metis, born in Kangiqsualujjuaq, northern Quebec, Mary led the way to form Canada’s vast, self-governing Nunavut Territory in 2000. RoseAnne Archibald is the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations in Canada. She is responsible for improved relations with the federal and provincial governments, the establishment of a Council of Elected Women Chiefs and so much more. Kamala Harris is the first female Vice President in the history of the United States. Kamala's work has focused on immigration, criminal justice reform, and other issues. Did you know Kamala attended middle school and high school in Montreal Canada? Click here to learn more about these three impressive leaders.
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Commission on the Status of Women (3/14-25)
Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) will take place in a hybrid format. The public is invited to follow the official sessions virtually through the live UN webcast. (Registration is not required.) The priority theme for CSW66 is Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programs.
The outcome of the Commission’s consideration of the priority theme will take the form of agreed conclusions to be negotiated by all Member States. Click here to view the pre-session draft. Click here to learn about SSND at the UN.
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International Day for the Elimination of Racism (3/21)
In 2016, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) affirmed a resolution committing the conference to examine the root causes of injustice, particularly racism, and our own complicity as congregations, and to work to effect systemic change. LCWR pledged to use prayer, education, advocacy, and their collective voice in collaboration with others to establish justice which reflects God’s abundant love and desire that all may have life. Read more. Follow these links to learn about SSND's efforts in the Atlantic-Midwest and Central Pacific provinces to work ever more proactively on dismantling racism. Are you looking for a way to integrate Lent with your desire to help dismantle racism? Choose a resource for reflection from this list, or consider registering for the workshop “White Supremacy and American Christianity” sponsored by NETWORK on April 9. Download this prayer resource.
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National Farmworker Awareness Week
National Farmworker Awareness Week (NFAW) occurs March 25-31. It provides an opportunity for farm worker supporters across the country to honor farm workers' important contributions and to raise awareness about the issues they face. This year’s theme will be Todos Unidos: Farmworker Communities & Activism Past and Present and will include different actions each day. Follow these links to learn about issues farmworkers are facing in the U.S. and Canada and the National Farmworkers Ministry website for a list of the current campaigns they are working on that you could support.
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Nuclear Remembrance Day (2/28)
Nuclear Remembrance Day (also known as Bikini Day) is the anniversary of the Bravo nuclear weapons test that took place at Bikini Atoll on March 1, 1954 (Feb 28 in the USA/Europe). This was possibly the most destructive of the 67 nuclear explosive tests undertaken by the United States in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. The explosion was about 1000 times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It spread massive amounts of radiation across the Marshall Islands, throughout the Pacific and globally. This has had catastrophic, trans-generational impacts on the environment and the health of Marshallese people, which has not been adequately addressed by the United States government. Actions to secure appropriate reparations are continuing. LCWR recently joined 24 Washington DC-based interfaith partners in calling on the President to move us closer to a world free from the existential threat of nuclear war. Let your voice be heard.
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Support for Canadian Peacebuilders
The Canadian government made an important promise in 2021. In their 2021 Throne Speech, the government promised to increase Canada’s foreign assistance budget each year, and invest in sustainable, equitable, and feminist development that benefits the world’s most vulnerable and promotes gender equality. For years, KAIROS has joined hundreds of civil society organizations and countless Canadians in urging the government to increase its overseas development assistance to match the international standard of 0.7 percent of national wealth. That is less than one penny for every dollar. It’s a smart investment, and integral to global recovery. Learn more/let your voice be heard.
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Right to Truth Day (3/24)
The right to the truth is often invoked in the context of gross violations of human rights and grave breaches of humanitarian law. The relatives of victims of summary executions, enforced disappearances, missing persons, abducted children, and torture need to know what happened to them. The right to the truth implies knowing the full and complete truth as to the events that transpired, their specific circumstances, and who participated in them, including knowing the circumstances in which the violations took place, as well as the reasons for them. The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is observed on March 24 in tribute to the memory of Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero, who was murdered March 24, 1980. Learn more.
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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, Barb Paleczny, Ethel Howley, Mary Carter Waren, 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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