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Help Stop Human Trafficking in Hotels January 10th, 2011
Trafficking of people – especially women and children – is a huge problem around the world, including the Unites States. A campaign is underway with hotels to raise awareness and stimulate action on this issue.
While the Oblates have taken action as shareholders with hotels and other parts of the travel industry, it is now possible for individuals to take action.
Please consider using this letter which you can copy and take to any hotel where you stay. It expresses concern about human trafficking, especially that of children for sex and asks that the hotel be aware and active on this issue. Please note that there is a space at the bottom of the letter for you to fill in your contact information so the Hotel Manager can send a response.
Download Sample Letter to Hotel
Thank you for taking action on this important issue!
These Come From Trees! January 10th, 2011
Do you want to save trees – and money – at the same time? Check out the blog “These Come From Trees” – which describes itself as “An experiment in environmentalism, viral marketing, and user interface design with the goal of reducing consumer waste paper!
The group sells inexpensive, but durable stickers that look like this:
A single “These Come From Trees” sticker can save roughly a tree’s worth of paper, each year!
The project has indeed gone viral, with stickers appearing everywhere from the Denver airport to Seton Hall University. Schools can order them for free, and the project has developed a simple lesson plan which guides students through calculations of paper and money saved.
People often accidentally over-consume paper products, without intending to do so. A friendly reminder at the right time can help us to pause and consider how much of that item – whether a paper towel, napkin, or photocopy – we really need. The stickers wind up reducing consumption by as much as 30%, and at no cost to the user!
Order your “These Come from Trees” stickers today!
Community Organizing Booklets Available January 7th, 2011
Engaged in community organizing? Looking for some good resources? Interested in learning more? Check out a new series of small booklets on community organizing from ACTA Publishing in Chicago.
Titles include:
Reflecting with Scripture on Community Organizing; author Jeff Krehbiel explores four key passages from the Bible and how they might inform community organizing. There are directions in the back of the book for using the reflections for group discussion.
Rebuilding Our Institutions; by author Ernie Cortes. This booklet contains his analysis of the need for mediating institutions if democracy is to flourish.
Action Creates Public Life by Ed Chambers, argues that it is by taking action that we define who we are as adults. Chambers’ previous booklets, The Power of Relational Action and The Body Trumps the Brain are also available.
Effective Organizing for Congregational Renewal by Mike Gecan offers advice and case studies on how to use the tools of community organizing inside congregations of all faiths and denominations.
ACTA Publishing is a lay-owned religious-oriented press which publishes “a wide variety of materials for those attempting to live out the Christian faith in their daily lives, on their jobs, with their families, and in their communities.” The new booklets focus on CO especially as practiced by the Industrial Areas Foundation.
Booklets retail for $5.95 each, with discounts available for multiple copies.
The Press also offers other books of interest to people active in the life of their communities. Order the booklets and learn more at www.actapublications.com. Go to the Community Organizing part of the site to find the list of booklets listed above. If you need further assistance, please contact the OMI JPIC Office by calling or emailing Mary O’Herron or Christina Herman.
Eco-Tip: Green Lunches January 7th, 2011
Take a “no garbage” lunch to work or school. That’s exactly what it sounds like – a lunch that leaves you with no or very little garbage to throw away when you are finished. Save your brown paper bag and re-use it. Carry a reusable container. If you cut your sandwich into four pieces, it can fit inside a container. Buy snacks in large packages instead of small individual ones and pour them in small containers. This a lot less expensive than buying pre-packaged snack bags. Pick snacks that are healthier and have their own natural wrapping such as bananas, apples, oranges, etc. And finally carry your milk or juice in small thermos or buy drinks that come in recyclable containers.
This information is also available in Spanish on our website.
January 11, 2011 – Human Trafficking Awareness Day January 5th, 2011
In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day, here are some websites to check out:
- Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center
- Stop Trafficking Newsletter
- End Child Prostitution and Trafficking
Google The Dark Side of Chocolate to find several websites that show how children in Africa suffer in the production of the chocolate we enjoy so much.
