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Oblate working in Brazil with Street Children interviewed on NPR May 1st, 2013
Street crime by children in Brazil has been in the headlines, due to a recent spate of violence. Fr. John Drexel, OMI was heard talking earlier today on the NPR program “All Things Considered” about his work with street children in Sao Paolo. The program which he founded some 40 years ago is designed to give street kids a more stable and nurturing environment, but he says things have changed in recent years. Many of the kids coming into the program now have already been exposed to criminal behavior, and the use of crack cocaine on the streets is a real problem. Fr. Drexel says the answer is not for the government to increase the penalties for young offenders, but rather to provide desperately needed housing, healthcare and education.
Missionary Oblates Join Other Institutional Investors in Calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform May 1st, 2013
Missionary Oblates joined more than 70 institutional investors in a letter calling on Congress to take immediate action and pass common-sense immigration reform. The organizations consist of investors representing $890.5 billion in assets on behalf of major pension funds, non-profit organizations and socially conscious and faith-based investors.
The investors’ letter says, “We believe comprehensive reform must be developed and implemented consistent with the human rights of all concerned, must value the integrity of families and must prevent immigrant workers be they temporary or permanent from being subjected to second-class employment standards.”
Read the letter (Download PDF)
Learn about Oblate JPIC Work in Zambia! April 30th, 2013
Fr. Chibesa Chishimba, OMI recently visited the JPIC office in Washington DC where he talked about JPIC work in Lukulu, Zambia. Fr. Chibesa is the priest in charge of Sancta Maria Catholic Church in Lukulu. In this video interview, he talks about their work to support children into schools, promote tree planting and advocate for better public services.
Lives Destroyed, Dreams Crushed and Cheap Clothes April 29th, 2013
The collapse of a large eight-story garment factory in Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka a few days ago has resulted in numerous images, stories and reports. The loss of more that 300 lives, most of them young parents, alongside the countless number that have suffered serious injuries, has resulted in immeasurable pain, suffering and anger.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the spotlight has been directed on the garment industry in Bangladesh.
Read Fr. Finn’s latest blog on Huffington Post…
Dupont, eBay Asked to Report on Lobbying Expenditures and Activities April 25th, 2013
ICCR shareholders, led by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, filed shareholder proposals at DuPont and eBay, asking that they report on their comprehensive lobbying activities, policies, and oversight mechanisms. The vote garnered 34% at Dupont and 24% at eBay, higher than usual figures.
In 2012, activist investors, coordinated by the Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and Walden Asset Management in Boston, fostered a campaign calling for disclosure on lobbying activities and policies. Resolutions were submitted at 40 companies, 20 of which came to a vote, averaging 24% shareholder support. This 2013 shareholder proposal is the first time that a shareholder resolution on lobbying activities and policies has been filed at DuPont. The proposal at eBay was apparently irregular, but Management allowed a vote on it.
The proposals were non-binding and requested of the company that it annually report on its lobbying-related activities, policies, and oversight mechanisms. The Dupont proposal called on the company to report on:
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