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The Debt ‘Trial of the Century’ – Vulture Hedge Funds v. Argentina February 26th, 2013
US Government Files Brief Supporting Argentina Faith Community to Vigil Outside Court Proceeding on Wednesday
On February 27th, two holdout vulture funds, including Paul Singer’s NML Capital, are in a New York Federal court verses Argentina. The Financial Times has dubbed the proceeding the “‘the trial of the century’ in sovereign debt restructuring.” The US Government filed a friend-of-the-court brief noting a ruling against Argentina could make it much harder for countries in financial recovery or countries facing economic stresses to access credit and debt swaps.
The faith community and other groups, organized by Jubilee USA, will vigil out of concern for poor people affected by vulture funds during the proceeding outside the Federal 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Wednesday, February 27th starting at 1:00 PM in New York City. Vigils will also take place in London and Buenos Aires.
“If these vulture hedge funds win, it will mean they will more aggressively target poor countries in fragile financial recovery. If we win, it will mean that it will be harder for vulture funds to target the monies that develop social infrastructure in many poor countries,” said Eric LeCompte, Jubilee USA Network Executive Director. The US Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is an organizational member of Jubilee USA, and has supported debt relief work for several decades.
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Prayer Resources for International Women’s Day: March 8 February 20th, 2013
A promise is a promise:
Time for action to end violence against women
Prayer/Reflection Resources are available to help commemorate International Women’s Day. (Download PDF)
OMI UN Update – February and March 2013 February 20th, 2013
The United Nations Commission on Social Development recently concluded its 10 day session in a call to give the poorest and most vulnerable populations the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty
According to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s latest report on promoting people’s empowerment, nearly 80% of the world’s population is without adequate access to social protection, leaving those feeling powerless to improve their position. The report also states that while more than 600 million people have overcome poverty since 1990, 1 billion people are still struggling to reach that goal by 2015. Globally 200 million people were unemployed at the end of 2011, an increase of 27 million jobless persons since 2007 and 621 million young people are neither in employment, school or training nor looking for work.
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USCCB Launches New Campaign Against Human Trafficking February 20th, 2013
The USCCB Coalition of Catholic Organizations against Human Trafficking is developing a new initiative called The Amistad Movement. The campaign, which is being developed during 2013, will work on both prevention and helping people after they have been trafficked to reintegrate into supportive communities.
The Amistad Movement
If you are interested in partnering with USCCB to roll out any aspect of The Amistad Movement, or to contribute to the content development, please be in touch with the Anti-Trafficking Unit in the Migration and Refugee Services Department of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Email: MRSTraff@usccb.org
Lenten Resources on Immigration February 12th, 2013
As we begin our Lenten journey of prayer, reflection and fasting, we hope these Lenten resources related to immigrants will be useful. Suggestions for Homilists: The Lenten Season and Lenten Resolutions on Behalf of Immigrants can be found on the USCCB Justice for Immigrants website. These offer materials that the Oblate community and parishes, and other supporters of immigrants, may use in advocating for and educating others on comprehensive immigration reform.
2013 is a very important year to push for the passing of immigration reform and it is absolutely critical that your Senators and Representatives hear from you.
Additionally, you can send a Justice for Immigrants e-post card to Congress by clicking on this link: www.capwiz.com/justiceforimmigrants/issues/alert/?alertid=62312721&type=CO
