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Fr. Seamus Finn Explains Faith-Consistent Investing on Local Radio Station July 3rd, 2011
Pictured from left to right: Mr. Warren E Powell, Host-“Let’s Get It On”; Mr. Thomas Kent, Director Vietnam Veterans of America -DC Chp.958; Mr. Gale Thames-Co-Host, “Let’s Get It On”; Rev. Seamus Finn, Director OMI JPIC Ministry Missionary Oblates; Mr. James M. McGee, Pres. NAPFE; Mr. Leonard Pitts, USO Advocate; Mr. Selvon Waldron, LGIO reporter. Seated Mr. Paul Tennassee, LGIO GloLocal Specialist. Mr. Leonard Pitts completed a walking trek, over 500 miles, from Clinton, SC to Washington, DC in support of the USO. Rev. Seamus Finn, was a guest speaking on Corporate Responsibility.
Seamus Finn, OMI appeared on Thursday evening on the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE) public interest radio program “Let’s Get It On” hosted by Warren Powell and Gale Thames. Fr. Seamus spoke about the work of faith-based investors in promoting corporate social responsibility.
You can listen to the program by going to the NAPFE website and click on the button “Click here to listen now”. The program segment that features the Fr. Seamus starts at minute 11 and runs for about ten minutes.
This program features information on Postal, Federal Employees, and Veterans. Subjects are Health tips, Labor Relations, Global Affairs, Latest Developments, and any others topics of interest. Each week there are special guests and informational professionals.
A New Country is Born! July 2nd, 2011
This month we join Catholic Relief Services in their leading the efforts for peace and development in the newly formed nation of the Republic of South Sudan. Learn more at: Catholic Relief Services
On July 9, 2011 Southern Sudan will become the world’s newest nation—The Republic of South Sudan. This result came about after a referendum for independence that, despite all predictions, was peaceful, orderly and uncontested.
Click here to read more »
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.
Sharif Jamil, Bangladeshi Environmentalist: Video Interview June 30th, 2011
“Saving the Indigenous people’s environment in Bangladesh” is a story which highlights the collaborative work of the Missionary Oblates in Bangladesh with one of the country’s environmental leaders in responding to the efforts of indigenous peoples in Bangladesh to preserve their traditional lifestyle and culture.
Sharif Jamil is a Bangladeshi environmental activist who works closely with the Oblate JPIC Coordinator in Bangladesh, Fr. Joseph Gomes, OMI. Sharif is National Coordinator of APRA (Adibasi Poribesh Roskhya Andolon or Save Indigenous Environment Movement), Joint Secretary of BAPA (Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon or Bangladesh Environment Movement), and the Buriganga Riverkeeper. BAPA is the largest national environmental movement in Bangladesh.
Sharif, Fr. Joseph and others have been working with the Garo and Khasi communities to prevent illegal logging in their forests, on which they depend for their survival.
