Social Justice Issues
Introduction
Hill Connections offers ways of linking faith with action for social justice -- to help build a just and peaceful world. Introductions to Social Justice Issues (with links to web sites for in-depth background material and analysis) are provided. When focusing on an issue, consider using a 4-step Social Analysis Process as part of your reflection. As you contemplate these issues in light of your spirituality, you are invited to put your faith into action.
Children
Widespread abuse and neglect: child labor, trafficking, and child soldiers. Stop the demand for human trafficking. Needed: U.S. ratification of Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF's Photo Essay 1 and Photo Essay 11 on rights of the child.
Death Penalty
Violence begets violence; all life sacred. U.S. out of step: 1,279 executions since 1976! At the Death House Door: Chaplain Carroll Pickett. Inspirational: Juan Melendez and Bud Welch and Mary Johnson. 138 innocent people released from death row.
Disarmament
Eisenhower's: "cross of iron." Carter: a nuclear crisis. Disarming peacemakers: Thomas E. Trimmer and Carol Gilbert, OP, and Ardeth Platte, OP. Urge Congress to challenge Libya war. How much tax dollars pay for war. Sojourner's video: War No More.
Genetic Engineering (GE)
Dangers of terminator seeds, Bt engineering, pharming, programmed resistance to herbicides. A Theological Framework for Evaluating Genetically Modified Food. Support organic agriculture and the best nutrition for children.
Global Debt Relief
Commitment to debt relief still needed. Jubilee Blog. Become a jubilee congregation. Catholic campaign against global poverty. Online postcard to end debt and poverty. Debt Relief Now.
Landmines/Cluster Bombs
Efforts to ban landmines and cluster bombs. U.S. has not signed The Ban Mine Treaty; Nobel Peace laureates call on President Obama to join treaty. U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Migration
15 million migrants. Amnesty International’s report, Why Am I Here? Pastoral letter: Strangers No Longer. Prayer service: Celebrating Immigrants
. NFWM resources. Inspirational: Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Act now for immigration reform. Watch "Families Under Threat."
Peacemaking
Peace campaigns: Global Nonviolent Peaceforce and Christian Peacemaker Teams. Purchase Peace Bonds. Peace Tax Fund bill.
Restorative Justice
Sobering statistics: such as U.S. is world leader in incarceration. Restorative justice sites. Real Justice training. Treatment Instead of Prison programs. Videos about principles and best practices.
School of Americas (SOA/WHISC)
SOA responsible for notorious dictators and human rights abusers. SOA Watch Legislation 101. SOA Watch's 2010 vigil at Fort Benning: photos.
Women
Striving for freedom, peace, and equality. Peace X Peace. Worldwide exploitation and abuse: TRADE, the movie. Rescue and Restore: anti-trafficking campaign. CEDAW ratified by 187 countries, but not U.S.
Gratitude to the Institute for Peace and Justice
for use of their Pope Paul VIth graphic.
Modified Feburary 1, 2012.