Latest OMI JPIC News
We Wish You a Blessed Thanksgiving! November 21st, 2018
Jubilee USA Network Hosts 2018 Council Meeting November 13th, 2018
On November 7 and 8 Jubilee USA held its Annual National Council Meeting to inform constituents about the crisis in Puerto Rico, responsible lending and borrowing practices in the developing world, especially in Somalia, and Africa’s new debt crisis.
Jubilee USA is a coalition of diverse organizations and international partners including faith communities who advocate for debt cancellation for the world’s most impoverished countries. They also promote fiscal responsible economic policies. Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate JPIC has long been a participating member of Jubilee USA. Staff recently attended the 2018 council meeting held at the Methodist building on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
The annual meeting events included a congressional briefing on November 7 focused on the theme; Lifting Vulnerable Communities: Ensuring Access to Medicines in Trade and Agreements and US Policy. Presenters at the Jubilee USA council meeting were representatives from American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Puerto Rico Coalition on the Debt and American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Panelists reminded attendees of the urgency of the Puerto Rico debt crisis and their recovery efforts, and the growing debt crisis in Somalia and other nations in Africa.
Engage with Jubilee USA by participating in Jubilee Weekend 2018. Join other Religious groups and partners in a weekend of reflection, prayers and actions to end extreme poverty and transform our global economic system.
- Sign up here and find resource for actions and prayers for Jubilee Weekend November 16 – 18, 2018: https://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee_weekend
Migrant Caravan: Answers to Your Most Pressing Questions November 2nd, 2018
by Lily Folkerts & Andrea Fernández Aponte
There’s a lot of fake news circulating about the caravan that started in Honduras earlier this month. And as opinions and actions fed by misinformation mount, we’re answering your most pressing questions with facts and information from human rights advocates who accompanied the caravan in Central America and who are monitoring the events from Mexico.
How did it start?
Contrary to what some are saying, the caravan is not a left-wing conspiracy to push for “open borders.” It is not a right-wing conspiracy to hurt Democrats in the November elections. It is is not about the United States. This is about life or death for these people.
CLICK HERE to read the full article.
Fr. Séamus Finn Speaks on Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) at Australian Mining Conference November 1st, 2018
The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) is Australia’s largest annual mining conference attended by over 6000 mining leaders, policy makers, investors, innovators and educators from over 90 countries. The event this year was held from October 30th to November 1st. The conference presentations centered on exploration, investment, policy, diversity, technology and the future of mining and collaboration.
Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, participated in multistakeholder conversations on responsible sustainable development that is inclusive and committed to the universal common good, within the People, Projects & Infrastructure track.
Bangladesh: Fr. Valentine Talang, OMI, Visits Chittagong Hill Tracts October 10th, 2018
Fr. Valentine Talang, OMI, recently paid a pastoral visit to a Tripura village in the Chittagong hill tracts at Bandarban district of Bangladesh that borders Myanmar and India.
Chittagong Hill Tracts has a long political history in Bangladesh. It covers 3 districts (Rangamati, Khakrachory and Bandarban) and most of these areas are mountainous. There are 13 indigenous tribes and Bengali people who live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Oblates are working in two parishes namely Lama and Alikodom, under Bandarban district. I am working at Alikodom parish as an assistant priest and a member of the JPIC team in the Bangladesh Delegation.
Click here to read about Fr. Valentine’s visit to Chittagong Hill Tracts earlier this year to celebrate Easter Mass.
Fr. Valentine with some children in Tripura village during pastoral visit
Fr. Valentine with villagers
