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Combat trafficking and slavery connected to Olympic events! June 15th, 2012
This summer, London will play host to an estimated 5 million visitors as the eyes of millions around the globe will be trained on the world’s top athletes at the 2012 Olympic Games. The Olympics are an opportunity for the citizens of the world to unite in celebration of the best of the human spirit: dedication and discipline, mutual understanding, fair play and solidarity
But they also expose a darker side of human nature: for international sporting events and the large audiences they draw are also potential venues for the exploitation of the world’s most vulnerable citizens via the deplorable practice of human trafficking and modern day slavery.
Please take action today! Sign the ICCR petition on Change.org asking the International Olympic Committee leadership “to take the necessary steps to address and eliminate human trafficking and modern slavery by adopting strong requirements for sponsors, suppliers and construction companies.”
The petition says, “We recommend creating clear guidelines for business partners covering the complete project life cycle of the Olympics, including:
- Adopt a policy prohibiting trafficking and slavery
- Conduct assessments of actual and potential human trafficking risks
- Integrate assessments into oversight and monitoring programs
- Train key staff on how to identify and eradicate various forms of trafficking
- Publicly report progress using the Global Reporting Initiative’s Event Organizing Sector Supplement
Relief for Young Undocumented Immigrants June 15th, 2012
The Missionary Oblates JPIC office joins other faith leaders in applauding the Obama Administration for its recent announcement to grant relief from deportation for undocumented youth brought to the United States as children, and who have been raised and educated in communities around the country.
This compassionate action will grant deferred action and offer a work permit to eligible, undocumented young people. The policy change will allow these young people to live in the United States without fear of detention and deportation and to get the education they need to better their lives and communities.
Read a summary from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Executive Order. (Download PDF)
The immigration announcement is built on the courage and dedication of DREAMers, religious organizations and community grassroots organizations from across the country that have been taking advocacy actions to demand relief from deportations for immigrant youth.
Thanks to everyone who advocated on behalf of undocumented young people who faced deportation through no fault of their own. This couldn’t have happened without you.
Explore Tax Justice in the Movie “We’re Not Broke” June 14th, 2012
The FACT Coalition (a campaign of the Tax justice Network USA) in raising questions about the real causes of the financial crisis. According to the movie We’re Not Broke, “conservative pundits and politicians continue to push a false narrative. America hasn’t gone broke, we’ve been robbed. Corporations have spent years dodging their responsibilities and not paying their fair share.”
Locate a screening of the film We’re Not Broke accompanied by an in-depth discussion of the real cause of our financial crisis on the website of The Fair Share Tour.
Oblates Donate to “Books to Prisons” Project June 14th, 2012
OMI JPIC staff George Ngolwe delivering books to Books to Prisons
Books from the OMI community in Washington were collected and delivered to the “Books to Prisons” project at Foundry Methodist Church by George Ngolwe, OMI JPIC staff person. For more information on the Books to Prisons project and how to contribute, please see the article on page 3 of the Fall/Winter 2011 JPIC Report available here on our website.
Missionary Oblates in Solidarity with Homeowners Facing Foreclosures June 14th, 2012
The Missionary Oblates have been working in solidarity with homeowners in Prince William County VA on the mortgage foreclosure issue. On June 3rd Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) gathered more than 400 people at the First Baptist Church in Manassas to negotiate commitments on foreclosures and community restoration from GE, Bank of America and Chase. The Oblates and other members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility were instrumental in advancing their agenda. Fr. Séamus P. Finn OMI addressed the assembly.
Watch the video:
At the June 3rd action, GE Capital’s General Counsel represented GE CEO Jeffry Immelt, with whom VOICE had met on May 14th. These meetings came about as a result of coordinated action by the interfaith advocacy organization and religious shareholders who gave the group leverage with the company.
The company committed to negotiate with VOICE on their $300-$500 million Reinvestment agenda and restated Mr. Immelt’s commitment to meet with VOICE again in August/early September.
According to VOICE organizers, “All this would not have been possible without the steadfast support of ICCR”. Father Seamus Finn, OMI pledged ICCR’s continuing support for VOICE’s $300-$500 million reinvestment campaign.
Top executives from Bank of America & JP Morgan also came to the June 3rd action. They committed to implementation accountability on the National Mortgage Settlement in a local place, Prince William County – the first time this is known to have been done in the country. They committed to:
- $60 Million in principal write down in PWCO
- 1,000 Loan Modifications in PWCO
- Negotiate and Sign Reinvestment Deal ($300-$500 Million VOICE proposal) at VOICE October 2012 Action during the heat of the elections.
Learn more about this unique and powerful campaign to help people crushed by the mortgage crisis. Read William Greider’s article in the Nation (published April 27, 2012): http://www.thenation.com/blog/167625/predator-ge-we-bring-bad-things-life
