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Fr. Valentine Talang, OMI, Engages in Key UN Civil Society Events February 20th, 2025
Fr. Valentine Talang, OMI recently attended multiple civil society events at the United Nations, including:
- The 3rd Session of the Preparatory Committee for the upcoming 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, which takes place in Seville, Spain from June 30 to July 3, 2025.
- Visit the conference website: https://financing.desa.un.org/ffd4
- Visit the conference website: https://financing.desa.un.org/ffd4
- The 63rd Session of the Commission for Social Development. Attendees at the 63rd Session of the Commission for Social Development, came together under the Priority Theme Strengthening solidarity, social inclusion, and social cohesion to accelerate the delivery of the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- Visit the conference website: https://social.desa.un.org/csocd/63rd-session
Reflection on January’s Ecological Conversion Field Trip with OMI Novices February 10th, 2025
We visited a most unusual building to learn about about another aspect of ecological conversion; from throwaway construction to a life-sustaining built environment. The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center in East Alton, Illinois is LEED Gold certified, so it has demonstrated commitment to sustainable practices; for example, all the materials to build it were sourced within 500 miles and recycled materials were used throughout the construction including 100% recycled material in the rubber floor tiles, in the glass countertops, insulation made from recycled newspaper and paper, and 90% of construction-related waste was recycled.
Our tour guide Erica proved to be a marvelous educator, not only teaching about the building, but also helping us to understand the research and conservation outreach mission of the Center. In the picture above, Erica explained a project she created: kits for classrooms that contain tools and activities to teach youth about our living landscape. So, we learned about yet another aspect of ecological conversion: from treating landscape as static scenery to engaging with it as it changes and supports a range of wildlife, where plants and animals interact, functioning as a thriving ecosystem.
We continued our education on the green roof which grows native plants familiar to us on the bluff top at the Novitiate. In the photo Erica is explaining the roof’s construction which is made up of many layers and is handicap accessible! With its green roof, native landscaping and limestone walls, the building complements the surrounding environment, minimizing visual intrusion on the landscape.
In Laudato Si, Pope Francis encouraged “the construction and repair of buildings aimed at reducing their energy consumption and levels of pollution.” We were impressed with this example of green building as it shows one way to a sustainable future.
Looking Back: OMI JPIC 2024 Year in Review January 31st, 2025
Greenteam @Sacred Heart Church — Martin Luther King (MLK) Day of Service January 27th, 2025
Contributed by Fr. Jack Lau, OMI, Sacred Heart Church – Oakland, CA
Shareholders Call on United Healthcare Group to Issue a Report on the Public Health Costs of Delayed or Denied Access to Treatment January 14th, 2025
Image by Tung Nguyen from Pixabay
NEW YORK, NY, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2024 – Shareholders of UnitedHealth Group ($UNH) today announced that they had filed a proposal for the 2025 proxy requesting that the Board of Directors prepare a report on the public health-related costs and macroeconomic risks created by the company’s practices that limit or delay access to healthcare.
Specifically, shareholders recommend that the report evaluate how company practices impact access to healthcare and patient outcomes, including analyses of how often prior authorization requirements or denials of coverage lead to delay or abandonment of medical treatment, and serious adverse events for patients.
The proponents are institutional investors who have been engaging UNH and other companies in the healthcare sector for many years around questions of access and affordability. As investors with diversified holdings, they argue that while UNH’s policies may boost short-term revenue, its vertically integrated business model and escalating costs disempower patients, create long-term reputational and legal risks for the company and pose broader risks to the economy that, by extension, threaten investors’ total portfolios.
Said Timnit Ghermay of the Congregation des Soeurs des Saints Noms de Jesus et de Marie who led the filing of the proposal, “UNH has been in the media and legislative spotlight for some time given its market dominance, aggressive marketing of Medicare Advantage and questionable use of AI algorithms to deny care to patients. As the tragic murder of UNH’s Brian Thompson made evident, public outrage over the exorbitant costs and restricted access to healthcare has reached a dangerous level in our country. Our proposal suggests some introspection by UNH that will help the company and all its stakeholders thrive.”
As the 4th largest company in the U.S. owning not only insurers but also providers, the power and influence of UNH over the U.S. economy cannot be overstated. It is estimated that over 5 percent of U.S. gross domestic product flows through the company’s systems daily touching millions of Americans. This power, and the profits UNH generates, have attracted the scrutiny of legislators who are calling for the company to be split up and reformed. According to STAT, “Lawmakers and regulators have sharply criticized the company for excessive profiteering within its Medicare Advantage business. It is being sued for allegedly using an error-prone algorithm to systematically deny care to older Americans…It is facing a federal antitrust investigation and a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block its proposed acquisition of the home health provider Amedisys.”
