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Oblates and their People Caught in the Crossfire in Sri Lanka – Take Action Now! January 28th, 2009
An estimated 250,000 Tamil civilians are trapped in a small (250 sq mile) area of jungle in northeast Sri Lanka as the government military battles the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE). Six Oblates, who along with their people have moved for several months to avoid the fighting, are now trapped on the front lines.
An immediate cease fire, followed by the establishment of a corridor of safety must be established to enable the trapped population to escape to safety zones removed from the fighting.
Emails to Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa and others are urgently needed. Please take action today – click here to use the suggested letter to the President in our recent Action Alert.
Immigration Videos Reveal Harsh Treatment of Detainees January 27th, 2009
“Since the time Thomas Jefferson spoke of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, America has tried to uphold human rights. But today, our immigration laws deny basic due process and human rights to people who live in the US.”
Thus begin two important immigration videos that reveal the reality many immigrants face in the US today.
Juana Villegas from Mexico was nine months pregnant when she was stopped for careless driving, for which she was later found innocent.
Click here to read more »
Tell Russell Athletic: Stop Threats of Violence Against Honduran Workers! January 26th, 2009
Russell Athletic, a major supplier of athletic apparel to US colleges and universities, is closing down the second of the only two unionized factories in its supply chain in Honduras. The other unionized factory was shuttered last March.
The closures come after a long struggle by workers to unionize the factories, with support from student and labor activists in the US. Russell is NOT closing any of its non-unionized factories in Honduras. The company is clearly ignoring the code of conduct written into its contracts with universities.
Click here to read more »
Faith Groups call for Changes on the US-Mexico Border in a letter to incoming DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano January 24th, 2009
The Missionary Oblates JPIC office has joined the ecumenical faith community in a letter addressed to incoming Secretary for the U.S Department of Homeland Security, Honorable Janet Napolitano calling for immediate changes in border security that address the environmental and humanitarian crisis there.
Blood Diamonds & Congo Beat January 23rd, 2009
Fr. Camille Piche, OMI – International JPIC Coordinator for the Oblates – recently returned from several weeks in DR Congo. Fr. Camille saw the conflict over Congo’s vast mineral wealth up close in a visit to Goma in the war-torn east. He reports on the conflict and reflects on the role of the church. Churches provide both basic services and vital moral support to the people. (Download PDF of Fr. Piche’s report)
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