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Senate Foreign Relations South Asia Subcommittee holds Hearing on Sri Lanka February 25th, 2009
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee room was standing room only on Tuesday afternoon for a Hearing called by the South Asia Subcommittee on “The Present Situation in Sri Lanka.” Senator Bob Casey (Dem-PA) chaired the Hearing.
The Honorable Jeffrey J. Lunstead, former U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Anna Neistat, Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch, and Mr. Bob Dietz, Asia Program Coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists presented testimony. Highlighted were the humanitarian crisis in the north (Vanni), problems associated with government camps established to intern civilians fleeing the fighting, and the increasingly brutal attacks against journalists. The need for a durable political solution to address the legitimate grievances of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka was also emphasized.
Testimony:
The Honorable Jeffrey J. Lunstead
Former U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka
Dr. Anna Neistat
Senior Researcher
Human Rights Watch
Mr. Bob Dietz
Asia Program Coordinator
Committee to Protect Journalists
“Philippines: Mining or Food?” – Report launched in London February 23rd, 2009
“Focus on rice production and not on mining” says new report on mining in the Philippines
L to R: Right Hon Clare Short; Clive Wicks; Robert Goodland; Bishop John Arnold auxiliary in the Catholic Diocese of Westminster; Anglican Bishop Michael Doe General Secretary of Anglicans in World Mission
Church opposition in the Philippines to destructive mining on its islands was supported by Church leaders in Britain on 9 February at the launch of a new report at Westminster titled, Philippines: Mining or Food? It was commissioned by the UK-based Working Group on Mining in the Philippines, which is chaired by Clare Short MP and involves Columban Faith and Justice, the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility, and Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links. The Oblate JPIC Office is preparing a US launch in the coming weeks.
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Global Aids Fund faced with Critical Shortage February 20th, 2009
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, a public-private partnership set up in 2001, is running out of funds. This shortage will negatively affect the upcoming round of grants. The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the largest multilateral response to the three diseases. The Global Fund receives money from government, businesses and individuals to support large-scale prevention, treatment and care programs targeted at the three diseases. Since it was started, the fund has committed $14.9 billion in 140 countries with the largest percentage of money going to Sub Saharan Africa, hard-hit by HIV-AIDS.
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“Catholic Mobilizing Network” to End the Death Penalty Launched February 20th, 2009
In an effort to engage more people in the fight to end the use of the Death Penalty, a new initiative, Catholic Mobilizing Network was launched on January 25th in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This mobilizing network will collaborate with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and other national groups to abolish the death penalty. Its goal is to inform and activate U.S. Catholics about why capital punishment should be ended.
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UN Assembly President Calls for Action to Bring the Marginalized into the Mainstream February 17th, 2009
Miguel D’Escoto, President of the UN General Assembly, stressed the need to recognize the rights of the marginalized and boost their inclusion in local and global financial structures, during the launch in New York of the first-ever World Day of Social Justice set for February 20.
A Prayer for Social Justice Day has been written by the USG/UISG Secretariat Commission for Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation in Rome.
The Prayer is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German.
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