News Archives » South America
Fall 2009 Issue of JPIC Report Available On-Line September 8th, 2009
The Fall 2009 issue of JPIC Report, the newsletter of the US Justice, Peace/Integrity of Creation Office of the Missionary Oblates is available on line. This issue features updates on Sri Lanka, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Oblate work on faith responsible investing and much more.
Read the Fall 2009 Issue (Download PDF)
Quito Declaration Expresses Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in Central and South America July 8th, 2009
Representatives of civil society organizations working with Indigenous Peoples in many central and south American countries, especially in areas affected by mining, met from July 3-5. They published the Quito Declaration, “Declaration for Social and Environmental Justice and for Peace in Indigenous America”.
Countries represented and organizations signing on to the Declaration are listed in the Declaration which is available only in Spanish.
Read the Declaration (Download PDF)
VIVAT to Promote Regional Networking in Latin America July 7th, 2009
VIVAT International will be holding a Workshop in Cochabamba, Bolivia from July 19th to the 24th for some of the eight Congregational members who work in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The workshop will inform participants about VIVAT: what VIVAT is, its purpose and goals, and its achievements at the United Nations.
The main aim of the workshop, however, will be to allow members of the different Congregations to get to know each other and to share information about their work. The hope is that participants will form networks for greater effectiveness and better results in their ministries locally, nationally, regionally and with the UN.
Report on Oblate International Congress on Ministry with Migrants Now Available July 6th, 2009
L to R: Maurizio Giorgianni (Italian OMI in Korea), Gen Oliveira (Brazilian OMI in Japan), Andrzej Jastrzebski (Polish OMI in the Oblate General Administration in Rome) and Daniel LeBlanc, Oblate representative at the United Nations.
The symposium, titled “Together on a Journey of Hope” was held in Mississauga, Ontario, from June 8-12, 2009. Oblates from North five continents gathered to learn, strategize and sensitize themselves on the challenges of migrants and immigrants in areas where Oblates are working. This was the first Oblate international symposium on migration.
Chevron Human Rights Resolution Supported by Oblates June 18th, 2009
Using a proxy from the Missionary Oblates, Michael Eisenscher of U.S. Labor Against the War addressed the Annual General Meeting of the Chevron Corporation on May about the company’s efforts to profit from Iraqi oil. The company profited, in particular, from a widely-opposed oil law that would give foreign corporations like Chevron almost complete control of Iraq’s oil industry, to the detriment of the rights of ordinary Iraqis.
Members of the True Cost of Chevron coalition presented their alternative annual report directly to Chevron management and CEO David O’Reilly (who disparagingly responded during the meeting that it “deserves the trash can”). Edited and painstakingly researched by Antonia Juhasz, with help from a coalition of over a dozen groups, “The True Cost of Chevron” highlights the tragic human consequences that are the flip side of the record profits Chevron collected in 2008. It can be downloaded for free at http://truecostofchevron.com/report.html
Chevron is finding itself increasingly in the spotlight over the harmful consequences of its operations, and shareholders are deeply concerned, as evidenced by the 28% support yet again this year for the resolution calling for a clear human rights policy. 28% is considered extremely good performance for a shareholder resolution of this type. Investors representing billions of dollars in Chevron stock have spoken up in support of greater social responsibility, and although the True Cost of Chevron’s coalition’s speakers inside the meeting were treated dismissively by CEO O’Reilly, Chevron is taking notice.
