News Archives » Economic Justice
January 11, 2012 — Human Trafficking Awareness Day January 5th, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the U.S., thanks to passage of a resolution by the Senate on June 22, 2007 making January 11th a day of awareness and vigilance for the countless victims of Human Trafficking around the world.
Human Trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, and forceful detention of people either from one country to another, or within countries. Threats, force and/or deception are typical. Those being exploited are either unpaid, or given a very small payment for their work, prostitution or other sexual exploitation, and are not free to leave these abusive situations. Each year, there are between 600,000 and 800,000 people trafficked across borders throughout the world. There are many more trafficked within countries as well. The United States is not immune to this problem; Many are trafficked within U.S. borders, as well as into the U.S. from outside.
Human Trafficking is rapidly growing, despite the efforts of many to control it. Wherever there is poverty, war, flood, famine, or any kind of upheaval, unscrupulous people prey on the vulnerable. Women and children are especially affected, but many men are as well.
Many of us are unaware of the number of slaves (yes, slaves) we use to maintain our lifestyles. Go to www.slaveryfootprint.org for a series of questions that will show how many slaves it takes to maintain the way you live.
For ideas on what to do, check out the website for Breaking the Snares – A resource for parishes to use in combating Human Trafficking by the Sisters of the Divine Savior; see their parish resource.
In addition, explore the following:
- Stop Trafficking Newsletter and other resources: http://www.stopenslavement.org/archive.htm#handouts
- End Child Prostitution and Trafficking: www.ecpat.net (Website also available in French and Spanish)
- Google The Dark Side of Chocolate to find several sites that show how children in Africa are involved in the chocolate that is so available to us.
Vatican Suggestions for Financial Reform Debated November 8th, 2011
“Robert A. Sirico’s “The Vatican’s Monetary Wisdom” (op-ed, Oct. 27) correctly praises the analysis of the causes of the financial crisis that was included in the Vatican’s statement on reforming the financial system. His summary dismissal of the suggested responses in the document clearly states that no sovereign or international regulatory authority is up to the task of regulating the major actors in the financial sector. Are we then to believe that they will do it themselves?
Haven’t we just experienced the consequences of deregulation, regulatory arbitrage and the capture of elected officials and assemblies by banks and industry associations? Greater cooperation, coordination and collaboration among sovereign regulators and authorities, as the Vatican suggested, is a step in the right direction if the public is to have a safe, stable and fair financial system that is worthy of their trust and their transactions.”
The Rev. Seamus P. Finn OMI
The Story of Broke and How our Tax Dollars COULD be Used November 8th, 2011
In her latest video, Annie Leonard (creator of The Story of Stuff) looks at where our tax dollars go – and how they could be better used to build the kind of society we all want.
Watch “The Story of Broke”:
JPIC Distance Learning Program October 25th, 2011
The Spiritan-owned Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, USA, launched a JPIC Distance Learning Program in mid-August of this year. For more information, please see our earlier post or go to: http://www.duq.edu/jpic.
Reflections on “Justice in the World” October 25th, 2011
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the publication of the 1971 Synod document, ‘Justice in the World’, the JPIC Commission in Rome is conducting a series of interviews with people from around the world who have something constructive and educational to say about this document. The videos, which are then placed on YouTube, are designed to further the incorporation of Catholic Social Teaching into the mainstream of Catholic life.
Watch these YouTube reflections on ‘Justice in the World’ from Maria Riley, O.P. and Jim Hug SJ from the Center of Concern in Washington and Marie Dennis from the Maryknoll Office of Global Concern. [http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/]
