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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE PRAYER: SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 September 12th, 2011
On September 21, 2011, people worldwide will host and attend International Day of Peace gatherings. JPIC/USG/UISG invites all of us to be part of this action for peace in a prayerful way. This prayer material was prepared to be used by your communities, houses, groups, parishes and dioceses. For copies of the prayer in 19 languages go to: http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/EN_21September
People of Faith Against the Death Penalty August 30th, 2011
Religious leaders are being invited to join the calling for clemency for Georgia’s Troy Davis. People of Faith Against the Death Penalty and Amnesty International are working with religious leaders to encourage others from all faith traditions to endorse a public letter urging the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute the death sentence of Troy Davis.
In March, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Troy Davis’s appeals and set the stage for him to possibly face a fourth execution date at any time. Only the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles can stop his execution now. More than 1,500 leaders from around the country have already endorsed the letter. These include leaders of many different faith traditions, including Catholic, Baptist and Methodist clergy and religious communities.
Religious leaders can read and sign the clemency letter for Georgia’s Davis Troy at www.troyletter.org
Faith Advocates for Jobs Can Help the Unemployed and Their Families August 23rd, 2011
The Faith Advocates for Jobs website is up and running: www.faithadvocatesforjobs.wordpress.com. Please check it out.
It contains all you need to know about FAJ and how you and your congregation can participate in their campaign to support the unemployed and the underemployed. Advocate for policies that will put people back to work and help transform our nation’s struggling economy! The unemployed and their families need you.
Celebrate Faith, Work and Justice on Labor Day! August 23rd, 2011
Labor Day 2011 is quickly approaching!
Interfaith Worker Justice and many congregations around the country are preparing for their annual Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/in the Minbar program. Since 1996, Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/in the Minbar has been an intentional way for religious communities to celebrate the sacred link between faith, work, and justice over Labor Day weekend.
For Labor Day 2011, IWJ is focusing on two specific areas of worker justice: unemployment and state campaigns to secure workers’ rights. Whether through legislation, the media, or personal stories, these issues have been on the minds of many people this year. Labor Day weekend is an important time to lift up these issues and connect them to IWJ’s Faith Advocates for Jobs and Keeping Faith with America’s Workers, two campaigns that target unemployment and state-based workers’ rights, respectively.
Visit IWJ’s website to:
For more information, contact Ted Smukler at 773-728-8400 x. 39 or e-mail tsmukler@iwj.org
Thanks to Interfaith Worker Justice for this information.
Bipartisan Bill on Human Rights Risks in Supply Chains August 16th, 2011
On August 1, 2011, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced the Business Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act (H.R. 2759). If enacted into law, the bill would require companies to disclose efforts to identify and address the risks of human trafficking, forced labor, slavery, and the worst forms of child labor in their supply chains. The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ), the Chairman of the US House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health.
H.R. 2759 would require companies to include such disclosures in their annual reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Disclosure would include policies to identify and eliminate risks of forced labor, slavery, human trafficking, and the worst forms of child labor within their supply chains. It would also require suppliers to certify that materials incorporated into the products comply with laws regarding the above issues in the country or countries in which they are doing business.
The disclosures would be available on the SEC and company websites. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services for further legislative consideration. Stay tuned to the JPIC website for updates on this important legislation.
