JPIC Office Blog August 3, 2007 Dear Friends, Peace and all good! There is much advocacy activity these past few weeks. In some respects these updates will be changing in the near future. Congress began a month long recess on Aug. 3. We have adapted a new format that enables you to choose specific topics of interest or read the blog in its entirety. Ann, Piasecki, JPIC coordinator, has maintained an in-depth approach to the issues for which we have been advocating and tracking these past two weeks. Please take time to read the individual stories below. Sister Sheila Kinsey, JPIC Leader Franciscan Federation
unanimously passes resolution MINNEAPOLIS--The Franciscan Federation Conference had about 500 enthusiastic participants who gathered July 9-12 in Minneapolis, Minn., to celebrate A Franciscan Dynamic: Right Relationship with the theme Care for the Earth, Care for Each Other. The evening began with honoring the immigrant heritage and contributions of the Mung people in the area. The Mung people helped the U.S. during the time of the Vietnam War. Full Story.
Wheaton Franciscan
Covenant Member Receives Award at Franciscan Federation
Religious Leaders meet with U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam On July 6, I joined the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America in a meeting with U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam to discuss issues related to purposeful travel to Cuba, human rights in Colombia and the suspension of WHINSEC/SOA. In the aftermath of the meeting, the group agreed that Rep. Roskam had actively engaged in the topics presented by the group and listened to our concerns. I presented the concerns on human rights in Colombia. We were grateful that he did vote for this legislation. To follow-up on specific federal measures made as a result of the meeting see RELATED STORY…CHURCH AND STATE PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS IN COLOMBIA and click here to view group to photo. Statement on Poverty:
Faith Issues to be considered by candidates for public
office The members of the Franciscan Federation join together in a declaration that aims to rally a serious commitment from government leaders and citizens to support an all out effort to defeat poverty in America and around the globe. There are about 24,000 people who die every day from hunger or hunger related causes. Three-fourths of the deaths are children under the age of five, according to current statistics revealed on TheHungerSite.com. Full Story. Prayer for a peaceful and productive resolution to the strife and war in Iraq Dear God, we find solace in the fact that you refuse to abandon humanity in crisis. As we consider the marathon sessions among congressmen on Capitol Hill, debating the extent of U.S. military involvement in Iraq, we ask your guidance as members of the Franciscan Federation, in our efforts to encourage a commitment from our nation’s political leaders. Bless our efforts to continue to strive for a peaceful and productive solution to the strife and war in Iraq. Help us our leaders to address a three-fold goal: to assist Iraq in establishing a stable democratic government and a viable economy, and putting an end to U.S. occupation there. During this season of consternation over the situation in Iraq, particularly the deployment of United State’s troops and the innocent victims of violence and terrorism in this war-ravaged nation, we the members of the Franciscan Federation call on Congress and citizens alike to pray for God’s love and guidance in initiating the steps toward a peaceful and productive resolution. Amen. For world peace prayers visit: http://www.souledout.org/newworldreligion/worldprayers/peaceprayers.html Church and State promote human rights in Colombia WHEATON-A delegation of like-minded humanitarians, including Franciscan Sister Sheila Kinsey, and representatives from Schools of America Watch and the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America were successful in gaining the backing of Wheaton’s congressional representative, Republican Peter Roskam, who voted in favor of a statement recognizing the dire circumstances of refugees in Colombia. Full Story. Franciscan resolution goes to the heart of BP Oil dilemma WHEATON—The July 13 Franciscan Federation resolution to respect and care for water, one of the earth’s most precious resources, comes on the heels of a controversy over BP Oil Corp.’s plan to dump per day an additional 1,584 pounds of ammonia and 4,925 pounds of sludge into Lake Michigan. The Franciscan Federation declares a prayerful and an action-oriented response, placing precedence on corporate responsibility in regard to the environment. Full Story UN lights a torch under China over relations with Sudan WHEATON—With a history of 20th century human rights problems as high as the Himalayans and every bit as chilly as Cold War diplomacy between the United States and Russia, the People’s Republic of China is being forced to prove that it can scale the heights of a more ethical 21st century-style global leadership. From a diplomatic point of view, the pressure is on for China to turn up the heat on Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, pushing him to remove the obstacles that diminish relief efforts by UN crisis organizations and other nonprofit faith groups attempting to provide food and medical assistance to 2.5 million displaced refugees within Sudan. Full Story. A healthy farm bill feeds into trends, lifestyle choices and the environment WHEATON-The 21st century version of the proposed farm bill has shifted away from its mostly rural roots and broadened its reach in urban and suburban America. Those living on the fringes as well as the upper class share a stake in the outcome of the 2007 farm bill. Full Story. Kind-Flake reform fails to attract sufficient support; hope remains in the Senate WHEATON--FAIRNESS IN FARM: Reforms introduced by U.S. Reps. Ron Kind, D-Wis., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., in the proposed “Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment” failed to stir up the pot in the U.S. House; the bill failed July 26 by a vote of 117-309. Introduced on the floor only days before the schedule month-long Congressional recess in August, Kind and Flake together with a bipartisan crop of co-sponsors--including Paul Ryan, R-Wis, Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Dave Reichert, R-Wash., Rush Holt, D-N.J.., Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Jim Moran, D-Va.--were determined to move the debate toward authentic restructuring. Full Story.U.S. Ambassador reports on public health in Africa WHEATON--Since the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was authorized in May 2003, the AIDS crisis on the African continent has been downgraded from a pandemic to an epidemic, according to vocabulary U.S. officials used to assess the effectiveness of a coordinated public health venture. In a July 26 telephone conference on the current state of HIV/AIDS in Africa, a report was shared by U.S. Ambassador Jimmy Kolker, deputy coordinator and director of multilateral diplomacy, and Dr. Shannon Hader, senior scientific advisor for the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (USGAC), with the International Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) community. Full Story.Compromise marks health care benefits for children WHEATON—The proposed State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was reauthorized in the U.S. House on Aug. 1 under the title, Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act (CHAMP). However, on Aug. 2 the U.S. Senate approved its own version, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), designating an additional $35 billion, for a total of $60 billion over five years. The Senate bill would extend affordable health care benefits enough to cover 3.2 million uninsured children, including 2.7 million new enrollees, according to information provided by the Congressional Budget Office to an Aug. 3 story in the New York Times. Full Story.Spirit of environmental consideration blows around the world WHEATON-The hype over the July 7-8 concert series called Live Earth and staged in a variety of arenas around the world was successful in capturing the attention of millions of music enthusiasts on the issue of global warming. Full Story.Thanks for all you do to make the world a better place. Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF
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