News Archives » Global
Global Fund calls on drug companies to “share without delay” AIDS drug patents with UNITAID Medicines Patent Pool November 15th, 2010
In an October 7, 2010 letter, the head of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, congratulated UNITAID for the announcement of an agreement between the U.S. National Institute for Health and the Medicines Patent Pool for the voluntary license of the NIH patents rights on an HIV-AID drug, Darunavir.
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US/Mexico Border Women Hold Hunger Strike in Front of the White House November 13th, 2010
Eleven women from El Paso and Ciudad Juarez are holding a hunger strike in front of the White House to raise awareness of the US-Mexico border issues. The November 8th to 17th hunger strike aims to develop public awareness about the lives of women and families affected by the violence, poverty and unemployment in Juarez and El Paso. The women are calling on federal decision-makers to look beyond short-sighted border security initiatives and instead, establish long-term strategies to support community-led development of the nation’s poorest region.
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Story of Electronics Video Now Available! November 10th, 2010
E-Waste in Indonesia
Annie Leonard, the creator of the popular Story of Stuff video series, has released a new, short film – on the electronics that we all use every day. “Planned obsolescence” – now called “shortening the replacement cycle” – takes a huge toll on the environment, one we can no longer sustain.
Industry analysts anticipate Americans spending more than $8.5 billion on consumer electronics this month alone. While this may seem good for the economy, making all these products exacts an enormous environmental and public health toll.
Mining the metals destroys the environment in communities from Congo to Indonesia – often fueling conflict along the way. Assembling the gadgets uses huge amounts of water and energy and exposes workers to a host of toxic chemicals. Then, once we decide to move to the next, newer, better model, we leave behind mountains of old electronics — what’s called e-waste. A recent UN report notes that global e-waste generation is growing by about 40 million tons a year.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Watch The Story of Electronics to find out why and how we need to adopt the mantra of “Make them Safe, Make them Last, and Take them Back.”
Mentoring Students in Social Justice Work November 1st, 2010
Fr. Daniel Renaud, omi is interested in developing a program for students to learn about social justice work by engaging with people at the grassroots or through issue advocacy. If you are an Oblate involved in social justice work, he would like to connect with you to discuss the possibility of a student coming to work with you for a period of time.
Father Renaud is Chaplain at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He has recently been named chair of the Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry Association. This association, mandated by the Conference of Canadian Bishops, supports campus ministry in promoting the mission of the Catholic Church.
Fr. Daniel Renaud has been the Chaplain at Saint Paul University since 2004. His email is: drenaud@ustpaul.ca The University website is www.ustpaul.ca
Fr. Renaud explains his idea in this interview with the Oblate US JPIC Office Watch the video:
End Violence Against Migrants at the US/Mexico Border October 29th, 2010
Last August, seventy two Central and South Americans migrants were brutally massacred after resisting their kidnappers’ extortion attempts and demands to work for them as smugglers. It was the worst mass killing in Mexico, and among the dead were teens and a pregnant woman. Religious groups and human rights organizations have always been concerned about violence against migrants at the border. Unfortunately, this news is not reported on enough by the news media.
The Obama Administration should engage Mexico on the prevention of migrant deaths. President Obama has the power to push for changes in U.S. policies that would prevent the exploitation and death of migrants, but concerned citizens need to call on him to act.
TAKE ACTION TODAY
The Oblate JPIC office, in collaboration with our coalition partners in the Border Working Group, is calling on you to take action to end violence against migrants:
Click here to ask President Obama to end violence against migrants at the U.S./Mexico border.
