News Archives » North America
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.
Environmental Health Activists at Oblate Parish in Pacoima Take Action August 19th, 2011
Members of the Oblate parish of Mary Immaculate in San Fernando, California and interested residents of the area were given a tour of the All America Asphalt Company last week. The San Fernando residents were concerned by noxious odors in the area surrounding the plant and wanted to determine if there were air quality issues that could affect the health of the community. This brief report is from the members of the parish environmental group who organized the plant tour:
“We want to thank all the people who attended the tour to the All America Asphalt Company. This was an important step on our efforts for a better quality of air in our communities. We were able to understand how the company processes the asphalt and were confirmed that there will be an inspection by an industrial hygienist paid by the owner of the asphalt plant. One of the following steps is to wait for the report from the industrial hygienist.”
Restore Faith in the Markets August 17th, 2011
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.
Oblate Community Supported Garden Shown at its Best in Local Magazine! August 15th, 2011
The Summer 2011 issue of Home Style Magazine, a publication of The Telegraph in Alton, Illinois, has run a very nice article on the LaVista Community Supported Farm supported by the Oblates. The Editor’s Note, titled “Garden Fresh,” is accompanied by sumptuous photos of the CSA’s bounty.
