News Archives » North America
The Poor in Detroit Struggle to Cope with Water Shutoffs July 12th, 2011
As the world’s growing population hits up against an increasingly limited supply of fresh water, local communities are suffering. Poor residents of the city of Detroit are among those struggling to cope with water shutoffs. This reality continues despite passage of the UN Resolution declaring water as a human right last year.
Students at the University of Michigan have studied the growing water crisis in Detroit and peoples’ efforts to do something about it. Read their report. (Download PDF)
Bishops Speak Out on Migration Issues July 7th, 2011
In June, the Catholic Bishops from North America, Central America and the Caribbean met in Costa Rica to discuss migration in the region.
The bishops raised concerns about the increased violence against and kidnapping of migrants by organized crime, the increase in deportations between the United States and Mexico, the tragedy of human trafficking and growing economic inequality. The Bishops also urged continued support for the recovery of Haiti.
Please find attached the final statement of the bishops in English and Spanish – outlining priority concerns regarding the level of violence and kidnapping of migrants, threats against Church personnel working with them, the need to prioritize economic and development alternatives.
A full text of the joint statement in English can be found at: http://www.txcatholic.org/index.php/news/216-regional-bishops-issue-joint-statement-on-migration
A Spanish version is also available: http://www.usccb.org/mrs/regional-consultation-on-migration-2011-espanol.pdf
Action Alert: Torture is Never Permissible July 2nd, 2011
The National Religious Coalition Against Torture (NRCAT) of which Oblate JPIC is a member, is concerned about statements made in Congressional testimony by General David Petraeus regarding torture. On June 23, in a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on his nomination to be the Director of the CIA, General Petraeus suggested that the U.S. needed procedures for using “more than the normal [interrogation] techniques” during a ticking time bomb-like incident.
Yet, as NRCAT points out in an action alert, there are no situations — even a ticking time-bomb — in which torture is permissible, moral, or legal. General Petraeus has opened a door that he and President Obama need to close. Please write to President Obama and ask him to publicly reject General Petraeus’ June 23rd testimony on “more than normal” interrogation techniques.
People who support torture often refer to the hypothetical “ticking time bomb” to make their argument. Yet torture is always wrong and always illegal.
As people of faith, we know that, above all, our country must act morally. General Petraeus may have misstated his own position, but he and President Obama need to immediately reaffirm their unequivocal opposition to torture in all instances.
Take Action on Child Sex Trafficking in Wyndham Hotels July 1st, 2011
Thanks to Change.org for this Action Alert
From 2006 to 2011, Crips gang members in San Diego ran a child sex trafficking ring out of area hotels that destroyed the lives at least 16 girls.
An 18-month FBI investigation discovered that the gang was able to use two Wyndham-owned hotels (Travelodge and Howard Johnson) regularly for child prostitution with the knowledge and even assistance of staff.
After hearing about these cases, San Diego native Tim Rosner started a petition urging the Wyndham Hotel Group to sign an international child protection agreement for travel and tourism companies, which could have saved those 16 girls from sexual exploitation.
Staff at several Wyndham-owned motels have profited from sex trafficking, even though Wyndham has a child protection policy. The chain has failed at least 16 children — with more cases emerging.
Two major American hotel chains — Hilton Worldwide and Carlson Companies, an entity that includes Radisson Hotels and other chains — have already signed the international child protection policy, as have 945 other companies across 37 countries.
Click here to make sure Wyndham is next to sign the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children and call on the company to implement this stricter child protection policy in order to prevent future instances of child sex trafficking:
Thanks for taking action.
Faith-Based Investors Press Companies to Take Action on Human Trafficking June 30th, 2011
The Missionary Oblates joined members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) in an investor statement on Human Trafficking, an issue the group has been working on for many years.
The statement called on companies to develop human rights policies addressing the issues of human trafficking and modern day slavery and integrate these into corporate business plans. The group clearly articulated the business case for adopting such policies.
The statement also called for companies to report publicly on these measures and to work in collaboration with other stakeholders to eradicate these egregious human rights abuses.
