News Archives » agriculture
2021 Farm System Reform Act August 17th, 2021
OMI JPIC Joins Faith-based Coalition Urging Support of the Farm System Reform Act In a July 2021 letter, faith-based denominations and organizations from a broad range of religious traditions expressed their support for the Farm System Reform Act and joint desire to “care righteously and justly for all of God’s creation.” The Farm System Reform Act, introduced in 2020 by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), aims to remedy injustices throughout the U.S. Food System.
View the letter, a summary of the bill and list of signatories.
Midwestern Productivity at Risk from Unchecked Climate Change January 23rd, 2015
A newly released report by Risky Business finds that unchecked climate change will threaten Midwestern agricultural and industrial productivity. If you live in the Midwest, have family there, or simply eat any of the many agricultural products grown in the region, you will want to read the executive summary, if not the full version, of this report: http://riskybusiness.org/reports/midwest-report/executive-summary. The full report is available also at this link. The report emphasizes that it is still possible to take action to avoid the worst impacts.
Launched in October, 2013, the Risky Business Project focuses on quantifying and publicizing the economic risks from the impacts of a changing climate. It is backed by former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former US Treasury Secretary and Goldman Sachs executive, Hank Paulson, and Tom Steyer, a wealthy an American hedge fund manager, philanthropist, and environmentalist. They tasked the Rhodium Group, an economic research firm that specializes in analyzing disruptive global trends, with preparing an independent assessment of the economic risks posed by a changing climate in the U.S.
A Visit to Mongu, Zambia November 29th, 2011
Early November, JPIC Office colleague Kate Walsh, who works with the TRI-State Coalition for Responsible Investment (CRI) in New Jersey, visited Oblates working in Zambia. She writes about her reflection on the trip and experience in Zambia:
Two weeks ago, I traveled to Zambia to speak at conference co-sponsored by Catholic Relief Services and CAFOD on Extractives in Southern African. My task was to speak about ICCR’s work and run a session on Shareholder Advocacy. However, I had a few days to explore the region, visit, before the conference began.
That first weekend, I went to Mongu in the Western Region. This is the poorest region of the country. After a 7-hour bus ride from the capital, I arrived and went to visit the Diocese of Mongu Development Centre (DMDC).
Click here to read more »
Faith Groups Advocate Pro-Poor Agricultural Policies at USTR November 30th, 2009
Fourteen representatives of the InterFaith Working Group on Trade and Investment, including Séamus Finn, OMI – Director of the Oblate JPIC Office, called on the US Trade Representative to support measures to aid small farmers in developing countries. In a symbolic gesture, the faith groups delivered more than 100 bags of rice to emphasize the need for trade rules that would enable poor countries to protect their populations from sharp spikes in food prices. The IWG members met with USTR trade negotiators the day before Thanksgiving, within 72 hours of their leaving for a WTO Ministerial meeting in Geneva.
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NCRLC – A Great Resource on Rural Life Issues October 23rd, 2009
The National Catholic Rural Life Conference – NCRLC – offers resources on a range of issues related to rural life. Sign up for a weekly E-bulletin on their website/ This contains brief offerings on rural life programs, agriculture & food issues, and environmental justice concerns. A seasonal prayer or inspirational message is sometimes included.
NCRLC also has a faith-based campaign on stewardship of the earth and climate change. The website offers good resources on this issue and other environmental and food-related concerns.
