March-April 2017 NewsNotes

Vol. 42, No. 2 

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Toward Global Solidarity - Less than one hundred days into the new Trump presidency and it clear that we are experiencing a profound ideological shift that will have a large impact on both the U.S. and the world. 

Nonviolence: Action on World Day of Peace Message - The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns co-organized an event on “Nonviolence as a Style of Politics for Peace” at the UN in New York with the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a project of Pax Christi International. 

Integral ecology: Rules and regulations matter - With the start of the new Trump Administration, Congress has gone to work dismantling agency rules directed at the fossil fuel industry. 

Climate action: Proposal by U.S. conservatives - A group of conservative leaders recently shared a plan to decrease carbon emissions that could change the political possibilities for climate action. 

U.S. immigration enforcement: Shocking changes - Things are changing fast for vulnerable communities with which Maryknoll missioners have worked for decades. 

Loving Our Neighbor, Embodying Sanctuary - Isaac S. Villegas, pastor of Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship and board member of the North Carolina Council of Churches, shared this reflection at the “Loving Our Neighbor: Embodying Sanctuary” conference at Duke Divinity School on January 28, 2017.

Myanmar: Heal, not wound - Maryknoll Sister Mary Grenough, who recently returned to New York after many years on mission in Myanmar, wrote about Cardinal Bo's appeal and actions to promote an end to state-sponsored violence in Myanmar. 

Philippines: Bishops denounce extrajudicial killings - In a new pastoral statement, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has unequivocally denounced President Duterte’s war on drugs for creating a “reign of terror” among the poor. 

Help offered to families of victims of Philippine killings - Faith-based groups conduct trauma debriefing sessions to those left bereaved in drug war. The following article was published by ucannews.com on February 21.

Africa Union and the International Criminal Court - On January 31 several news organizations reported the African Union (AU) had agreed to a strategy of mass withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. 

Latin America: Brazil-based scandal spreads - Dave Kane, returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner, wrote this analysis from Brazil, where the breadth and depth of a massive muti-national bribery scandal is slowly coming to light.

Peru: Oil companies harm indigenous communities - Barbara Fraser, a returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner, writes from Peru about the misery and death caused by oil companies on indigenous communities. 

Honduras: “Deadliest place to defend the planet” - Global Witness, an international NGO based in London and Washington, D.C., released a damning report on killings and attacks against indigenous and environmental human rights defenders in Honduras.

Israel-Palestine: Toward peace, justice, equality - Fifteen Christian groups urge U.S. leaders to support peace, justice, and equality in Palestine and Israel.

Resources - Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns' 2017 Lenten Reflection Guide, advocacy for immigrants and refugees, Ecumenical Advocacy Days, and much more.