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JPIC Office Blog
September 24, 2008
BY ANN PIASECKI
JPIC COORDINATOR
City of Wheaton promotes
Earth Summit with proclamation
WHEATON—During a
meeting of the Wheaton City Council, Mayor Michael Gresk
proclaimed the celebration of Earth Summit Week as Sept. 15-Sept.
22. Also, the DuPage County Board is anticipated to award a
proclamation in support of the Earth Summit at its Sept. 23
meeting.
Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF and Leader of the
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office of the Wheaton
Franciscans, accepted the proclamation. She stated that the focus of
the day would be issues related to climate change. The Earth Summit
promises to celebrate the variety of green endeavors already
underway in and around DuPage County, beginning with initiatives
undertaken by the City of Wheaton as well as ventures by the county
government to promote the idea of living green. New ideas and
innovative green living will be showcased, and models of fresh
environmentally friendly concepts will be featured, such as cooking
with solar.
The daylong event begins when the doors open at 8
a.m. and Provincial Directress Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, welcomes
the community. The event is slated to unfold at the Our Lady of the
Angels Motherhouse, which is situated in the lap of the restored
prairie.
A variety of presenters discussing both small
and large-scale aspects of water reclamation, conservation and
purification are expected to mark the day as unique. A collaborative
effort between the Wheaton Franciscans and the DuPage County
Environmental Commission has resulted in a line-up that should
attract municipal and other civic leaders around the region to hear
about fresh conservation efforts concerning the amount of water
drawn from Lake Michigan as it services millions of households in
the city proper and surrounding suburbs.
U.S. House clears way
for energy act
WHEATON—With a vote of
236 to 189, the U.S. House passed the Comprehensive American Energy
security and Consumer Protection Act. The bill includes substantial
clean energy investments, consumer protection, and a crackdown on
ethics violations in regard to royalties diverted from the American
taxpayer and puts an end to major subsidies to oil
corporations.
Sierra Club spokesperson
Athan Manuel noted in a statement that the bill, which still faces
scrutiny in the U.S. Senate, is not all encompassing. It is a
compromise measure because it allows for a significant expansion of
offshore drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts—up to an
additional 400 million acres. It would expand the availability of
oil by at least two billion barrels.
The crucial point in the
bill pertains to a crack down on payments diverted from the tax
roles by intermediary agencies.
However, it
establishes guidelines for strategic energy efficiency measures and
renewable reserves. As such, clean coal technologies and coal
technology tops the list of provisions aimed at acquiring
alternative fuel resources. The reliance on coal products is viewed
as a transition from a dependence on oil imports, according to the
bill’s sponsor Rep. Nick Rahall of W. Va.
Jack Darrin of the
Illinois chapter of the Sierra club noted that the proposed measure
to nurture coal mining strategies, if only to fill a temporary gap
in the creation of energy fuels, poses problems. The organization
has strongly opposed the process of mining coal by way of mountain
top removal.
Chicago announces plan
to reduce greenhouse gases
WHEATON—Chicago’s
Climate Action Plan was announced Sept. 18 at a press conference at
the Shedd Aquarium. The plan supports the standards of the 1997
Kyoto Protocol. Essentially, it calls for binding targets to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to three-fourths of 1990 levels by 2020 and
to one-fifth by 2050.
Mayor Richard M. Daley said
his plan to minimize the impact of climate change by committing to,
at first glance, to incremental changes, including energy efficient
buildings, improved modes of transportation, the installation of
green roofs and more. Chicago is one of 800 cities in the United
States that signed on to the U.S. Mayors Conference Agreement to
actively work to attain the standards set by the Kyoto Protocol.
Most major urban areas in the U.S. are undertaking similar
strategies.
Illinois House votes to
restore $221 million for special funds
WHEATON—Within the category
of special funds is medical assistance and environmental cleanup.
The Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Youth Drug Abuse
Prevention Fund and the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund would benefit
if the bill is approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Rod
Blagojevich.
The restoration proposal is intended to funnel
money back into the Department of Children and Family Services and
the Department of Human Services—375 staff members have received
layoff notices. The Department of Natural Resources and the Historic
Preservation Agency face various closures, including 11 state parks
and a dozen historic sites due to staff reductions. The funds were
sliced as part of a $1.4 billion cut by the governor from the fiscal
2009 budget.
Wall Street bailout
faces congressional scrutiny
WHEATON—The proposed $700
billion buy out of the imperiled mortgage industry has captured the
attention of social justice advocates nationwide. The Justice, Peace
and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Office of the Wheaton Franciscans
is currently weighing the matter against moral and ethical values
and standards.
Reflecting on the issue currently before
Congress, Sr. Sheila said the matter calls for a thorough study of
the details and long-range economic consequences. “It’s a matter to
be put before the Lord in prayer. We pray that Congress and the Bush
Administration put forth a plan intended to help build up the
country and to assist in the promotion of the common
good.”
Labyrinth Walk, a move in solidarity with victims of
domestic violence
WHEATON—On October
23, Amy Milligan, Director of Community
Advocacy Services, at Family Shelter
Service, Inc. in DuPage County, reflectively walks the
labyrinth for one of the family shelter clients. Family Shelter
serves victims of domestic violence. The candles in the background represent the over 700
police calls received in a month and the 12 persons who died from
domestic abuse last year.
Around 30 persons participated in
the walk sponsored by Family Shelter and the JPIC Office of the
Wheaton Franciscans. Many remarked that this was a very moving and
healing experience.
On the same day the staff at
Upendo Village in Naivasha, Kenya
had a talk on Domestic Violence and its impact on families and
society at large. They lit a candle to remember all those who have
died as a result of such violence and those who continue to nurse
deep wounds as survivors. Upendo Village serves persons living with
HIV/AIDS with a focus on women and children.
October is
Domestic Violence Awareness month. We were united in prayer for
peace to our families and peace for our world.
Act now to end global
poverty
WHEATON—While the U.S. House
unanimously voted to authorize the proposed Global Poverty Act, the
bill has yet to clear the U.S. Senate. SB 2433, which seeks to bring
clarity, coordination and accountability to established foreign
assistance programs. The ecumenical Bread for the World organization
supports the measure which currently needs Congressional approval
before it could be sent to the president to sign. It directs the
president to develop and implement a coordinated strategy of U.S.
aid, debt relief and trade policies to meet the goal of cutting by
half the number of people who live on less than $1 a day by 2015.
For more information, visit the Web site of Bread for the
World at http://www.bread.org/. Bread for the World
has dedicated Oct. 19, 2008, as a day of fasting so that social
justice advocates could join in solidarity with those who
realistically face starvation. Sr. Sheila added that fasting
participants are asked to refrain from negativity and debilitating
comments on that day and to promote, instead, ways to come
together in unity for those who are poor.
As always thank you for reading
our blog, for your prayerful support and for your part to make this
world a better place.
Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF
JPIC Leader
Wheaton Franciscans
Blog Archives
October, 2006
November, 2006
December, 2006
January, 2007 and the 2007 World Social Forum
February, 2007
March, 2007
April, 2007
May, 2007
June, 2007
July, 2007
August, 2007
September,
2007
October, 2007
December, 2007
January, 2008
Feb_Mar,
2008
April, 2008
May, 2008
June, 2008
July, 2008
August, 2008
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