|
Global and Social Issues -- Archive
# 3
September through December, 2001 |
Pat
Robertson's departure from the Christian Coalition points to the
paradox of conservative politics [12-22-01]
Religion News Service, in a Dec. 19th
story, notes that Pat Robertson's resignation from the Christian
Coalition points to a political challenge confronting religious
conservatives in today's conservative climate: Christian rightists seem
to gain strength and support when their "enemies" hold power
in Washington. But when allies like George W. Bush gain power, the
Christian conservatives lose influence. take over, Christian right
groups thrive. When their allies hold political power, they weaken. So
now, "the future of not only the Christian Coalition but of all
religious right organizations has never seemed more in doubt."
The article suggests that the reason for this loss of
power - just when they seem to be winning - "is that real political
power requires compromise and accommodation, characteristics that
absolutist groups have difficulty embracing. It's much easier to rally
Christian political soldiers when they perceive that their faith is
under attack by the political establishment and the press."
One conservative observer is quoted as expressing
relief that Robertson is leaving, since his silent support of Jerry
Falwell's anti-women, anti-gay statements after September 11th
offended even many supporters of the movement. |
| Florida
farm workers call for boycott
of Taco Bell, plan "Truth Tour" for March [12-22-01] |
| Building
the federal budget for youth
The Presbyterian Washington Office has joined other
religious and civic groups in urging Office of Management and Budget to
"increase investment in community-based juvenile crime prevention
efforts that positively engage children and youth." This
includes the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, the Title
V Local Delinquency Prevention program, and the national programs under
the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA), which provide critical
assistance to youth in high-risk situations. [12-19-01] |
| The
UCC Justice and Peace Action Network, in its weekly message, calls for
concerned citizens to urge the U.S. not to
withdraw from the A.B.M. Treaty. [12-19-01] |
We've
received three interesting reports of current
activities on behalf of peace:
 | Hampshire College Condemns War in All-Community
Vote |
| Barbara Lee Addresses Growing Interfaith Peace
Movement |
| North Carolina Rally And March For Alternatives
To War |
[posted here on 12-17-01] |
| Churches
for Middle East Peace issue "A
Christian Call for Peace" in the form of a petition
[12-17-01]
We
reported a year ago on a prayer vigil campaign by the group,
Churches for Middle East Peace, in which the PC(USA) is an active
participant.
This year the group has issued a petition for peace,
which you can sign on their
web site. (Or print a copy to circulate it more widely, and
mail it to the address provided.) They will send the signatures to
our nation's leaders. |
| A
quick way to contact Congress [12-10-01]
Jane Hanna shares this helpful hint:
A California man, Jim Harris, has a service whereby he
will send you copies of the letters he and volunteers have written and
you then send a reply indicating that you want it sent--otherwise you
don't respond. You can rewrite the letters, if you wish.
I have found this service invaluable. The letters are
well written, to the point, and save me not only time but the
frustration of otherwise not being able to address more than a few of
the issues.
I receive response from the president down every time
I write so I know they are at least receiving them. Noone can be sure
they ever read them. Jane
Check out <http://www.ProgressiveSecretary.org>
and give it a try.
|
| In
Search of Alternatives to Violence will be the topic for a Ghost
Ranch seminar set for July 29-August 5, 2001. Leadership will
include Bruce Gagnon, Alan Geyer, and Barbara Green. Co-sponsored
by Witherspoon Society, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, and Presbyterians
for Restoring Creation. [12-5-01] |
| Petition
for peace: American Friends Service Committee has been
gathering signatures for a petition authored by a group of Nobel Peace
Prize Laureates that calls on the United Nations to chart a new course
in the global response to terrorism. [12-5-01] |
| As the "war against
terrorism" continues, Presbyterians and others still protest the
US-based training for terrorists at Ft. Benning's School
of the Americas
A special report from Anne Llewellyn Barstow
dated 11-29-01, posted 12-1-01
|
| Terrorism?
Abortion providers are used to it. And it continues.
[11-29-01]
ABC's
20/20 reported on November 28 about continuing threats to legal
abortion providers around the country. The growing number of threats,
often in the form of powder purported to be anthrax, often come from the
group calling itself the Army of God. Many members of this group see
September 11th as divine punishment against the United
States, and proudly claim for themselves as well the mantle of the
terrorist.
Thanks to Fred Clarkson for sharing this report. |
| Presbyterian
Washington Office joins in letter to Congress opposing Rep. Istook's
proposed amendment for state-sponsored
school prayer. [11-29-01] |
| UN
Racism conference failed, participants say
Presbyterians examine results of recent meeting in
South Africa
[11-24-01]
At the Presbyterian UN Seminar on the
UN Conference Against Racism, held Nov. 14-16, some 40 participants
heard reports and analyses of the event's failure as due largely to
Arab-Israeli tensions, and the withdrawal of Israel and the US from
participation in the conference. Some modest results were seen, however,
in the conference's condemnation of slavery - although that fell far
short of the move for reparations that African nations had sought. |
|
Looking
homeward from El Salvador [11-19-01]
Julia Jones, who formerly served on the staff of the
Presbyterian UN Office, is now in El Salvador, serving under the
Presbyterian Reconciliation and Mission program. She looks at the
US from her new vantage point and suggests:
"We should celebrate all the good that our
country does and has done in the world, because it has been a leader in
countless important ways. We also have the responsibility, as citizens
of the most powerful country in the world, to be aware of what our
country is doing around the world, at home, in the United Nations, and
elsewhere, to question it if need be, and to speak out or demand change
if the U.S.'s actions are preventing peace, the promotion of human
rights or a sustainable future."
She also offers some good thoughts on alternative
Christmas giving!
|
| Guilt!!
[11-19-01]
Peter Sawtell, the Executive Director of Eco-Justice
Ministries, offers some constructive thoughts about the uses of guilt as
a motivator for good causes -- and seeks alternatives. |
| UCC
Justice and Peace Action Network calls for last-minute
action on funding bills for education and economic
stimulus [11-19-01] |
| More
efforts to get prayer in schools
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
warns that the House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a
resolution encouraging public schools to set aside prayer time for
students. [11-15-01] |
| Economic
stimulus package still favors corporations and the well-off
[11-2-01]
We have reported
before on concerns that the President's proposals for stimulating
the US economic seem designed to benefit the wealthy, and especially the
largest corporations, more than helping average citizens - or the fading
economy itself.
The picture looks even worse now, as reflected in a
recent New York Times analysis. |
| Charleston
five go to trial
Race seems one element in longshoremen's protest in
South Carolina [10-31-01]
Five members of two predominantly African-American
locals of the Longshoremen in Charleston, SC, go on trial Nov. 13 for
protests in Jan. 2000 against a Danish ship's use of non-union labor,
charged with "incite to riot" -- a charge which seems wholly
unfounded. A statement by religious leaders is being prepared, and
you may want to join in on it. |
| As
election day approaches, the UCC Justice and Peace Action
Network suggests we can exercise our democratic rights and
responsibilities by informing ourselves on issues and candidates, and by
urging Congress to support election reform. [10-31-01] |
| Marriage
in the New Millennium
by Don Browning, Director of the Religion, Culture,
and Family Project at the University of Chicago Divinity School, argues
that marriage needs more than education to strengthen it. In our
global society, we need "new interfaith dialogue about sexuality,
marriage, and family." [10-26-01] |
| Rep
Dennis Kocinich has introduced a bill in Congress that would establish a
federal Department of Peace. [10-22-01] |
| October
17th has been designated as a "Day of National Concern
about Young People and Gun Violence." Students will be
encouraged to sign the Student Pledge to Stop
Gun Violence. [10-13-01] |
| Peacemaking
team to visit Israel/Palestine
Presbyterians from all over the United States,
including a former moderator of the General Assembly, will travel to
Israel/Palestine from October 22 to November 3 as part of the first
joint delegation sponsored by the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF)
and the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). [10-5-01] |
| Washington
Office urges calls for caution on immigration
provisions of Anti-Terrorism Bill
As reactions to the terrorism of Sept. 11 continue,
the Anti-Terrorism Bill now before Congress may carry provisions that
violate the human rights of immigrants, as supported by action of the
1994 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. [10-3-01] |
| Anne
Barstow offers a more complete report on the
Ghost Ranch seminar of last August, on the links between
militarization and globalization -- with special focus on the situation
in Colombia, and some of the points for action that arose among the
participants. [10-5-01] |
|
National groups urge President to postpone
action on 'charitable choice' aid to churches
44 labor, religious, health and civil rights groups
say 'faith-based' job bias is 'religiously divisive,' would undercut
national unity. [10-3-01] |
| Friends
Committee on National Legislation alerts us to new
efforts to increase funding for nuclear weapons, beyond all requests
[9-26-01] |
| White
House considers renewed drive to fund churches through ''faith-based
initiative''
Bush push to win
'Charitable Choice' grants for religion would be deeply divisive,
charges Barry W. Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and
State. [9-26-01] |
| Washington
Office calls for action on Latin
America policies [9-12-01]
Consistent with recent General Assembly statements,
the Presbyterian Washington Office is urging people to call for
Congressional action to change our aid and other policies in relation to
Colombia, and our travel restriction in relation to Cuba. |
| Oxfam
and other groups call for global petition
to change WTO patent rules to provide cheaper medicine for people in
poor countries [9-10-01] |
| Stories on social and
global concerns from June through August 2001 are listed in Global
Archive # 2.
And there's another page
listing reports and comments on social issues, from May
2000 through May 2001.
|
