Post SOA Watch

This past weekend, we returned to the gates of Fort Benning to take a stand for justice and accountability. Torture survivors, union workers, religious communities, musicians, puppetistas, students, migrants, veterans and others from across the country spoke out against violence and militarization. We commemorated the martyrs, marched to Stewart Detention Center, learned from each other in the Columbus Convention Center, and celebrated resistance at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia. Click here to view the SOA activities. CSA participated in the vigil and march.

Syrian Refugee Resettlement

The step-by-step comprehensive refugee screening process, which averages two years, is a detailed rigorous process. Resettlement is considered a durable solution for refugees who cannot return to their countries of origin or integrate into the current country that is hosting them. Resettlement to a country like the U.S. presents a life-saving alternative for a very small number of refugees around the world (less than one half of one percent). Refugees seeking resettlement in the United States must pass through a number of steps aimed at ensuring that they will not pose a security risk to the United States.
Talking Points: Response on Syrian Refugee Resettlement in the Wake of the Paris Attacks.

Syrian Refugee Action Alert

Please consider this message from LCWR’s Ann Schultz regarding the backlash in the USA toward welcoming Syrian refugees. Take action as you deem appropriate (at both state and federal levels).

YOUR VOICE IS URGENTLY NEEDED:
Tell Congress & Your Governor to WELCOME SYRIAN REFUGEES!
Background: As people across the United States are donating to help Syrian refugees abroad and volunteering to welcome refugees in their communities, a number of Governors recently announced that they want to stop their states from resettling Syrian refugees. This is morally reprehensible and goes against everything for which the United States stands. Some Members of Congress have even introduced legislation that would stop refugee resettlement altogether. It is critical that public officials hear from their constituents NOW as decisions are being made that will drastically impact the lives of Syrian refugees and refugee resettlement in the United States.
Please take action TODAY:
Call your Representative and Senators : 1-866-961-4293
AND if you live in these states, call your Governor!
 Alabama: (334) 242-7100
 Arizona: (520) 628-6580 / (602) 542-4331
 Arkansas: (501) 682-2345
 Florida: (850) 488-7146
 Georgia: (404) 656-1776
 Idaho: (208) 334-2100
 Illinois: (217) 782-0244 / (312) 814-2121
 Indiana: (317) 569-0709
 Iowa: (515) 281-5211
 Kansas: (785) 296-3232
 Louisiana: (225) 342-7015
 Maine: (207) 287-3531 / 1-855-721-5203
 Massachusetts: (617) 725-4005 / (413) 784-1200 / (202) 624-7713
 Michigan: (517) 373-3400
 New Hampshire: (603) 271-2121
 New Jersey: (609) 292-6000
 North Carolina: (919) 814-2000
 Ohio: (614) 466-3555
 Oklahoma: (405) 521-2342
 South Carolina: (803) 734-2100
 Texas: 800-843-5789 / (512) 463-1782
 Wisconsin: (608) 266-1212

When you call, tell the receptionist that as a constituent, you want to help WELCOME Syrian refugees and that you're against the calls of some governors to reject Syrian refugees.
Ex: “I’m a constituent from [City] and I support the resettlement of Syrian refugees. I urge the Senator / Representative / Governor to represent me and other constituents who seek to welcome Syrian refugees.”
Here are some helpful points that you may want to mention, but the most important point is your story and why your community wants to welcome Syrian refugees!
 The U.S. government handpicks the refugees who resettle here, and refugees are the most thoroughly vetted people to come to the United States.
 All refugees resettled in the United States undergo rigorous security screenings by the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Department of Defense and multiple intelligence agencies, including biometric checks, forensic testing, medical screenings and in-person interviews.
 This is not an either/or situation. The United States can continue to welcome refugees while also continuing to ensure national security. We must do both.
You can also tweet your Members of Congress and your network:
“.@REPRESENTATIVE, Our community is ready to welcome #Syrian #refugees. #RefugeesWelcome #AmericaWelcomes!"
Follow @RCUSA_DC on Twitter and “like” Refugee Council USA on Facebook for up-to-date alerts

Catholic Climate Covenant - Who's Under Your Carbon Footprint?

Who's Under Your Carbon Footprint 

The message below comes from the Maryknoll Global Concerns Office, regarding the Paris Summit which will convene at the end of November.
 

Last week we shared with you Issue 1 of Path to Paris, our weekly prayer-study-action guide on climate change as experienced by Maryknoll missioners, and what you can do to help. We're now another week closer to the historic UN Climate Summit in Paris, starting November 30, where nearly 200 nations will gather to solve the climate crisis. To help you join the millions of people worldwide praying and acting for the care for the earth, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns now offers Issue 2 of Path to Paris. Download Issue 2 of Path to Paris The second issue of Path to Paris examines the impact of extreme weather, especially on the people of the Philippines. It also offers ideas for making a personal commitment to lifestyle changes, for taking action, and for meditation. We offer Path to Paris in response to Pope Francis’ call: “Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity, but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.” (Laudato Si' 19) Find all four issues online at www.maryknollogc.org/tag/path-paris Photo: Indian fields and wind turbines,Yahoo! Blog from Sunnyvale, California, USA / Licensed CC BY 2.0 Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns 200 New York Avenue, NW Washington DC 20001

Month of Climate Action

From November 30 – December 11 leaders of countries will meet in Paris (COP21) to share commitments that would keep the rise in atmospheric temperature to less than 2 degrees Centigrade. The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) has launched a Month of Climate Action: Journeying with Laudato Si'. As our response to the bishops' appeal we encourage all of our networks to raise the roof in collecting petitions and bringing people to the Global Climate March.  See the GCCM Statement: A Call for a Month of Climate Action: the Faithful Respond to the Bishops' COP21 Appeal and the Month of Climate Action webpage