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May 17, 2007
In this issue:
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Hunger in America: Food stamps, farm bill,
and minimum wage. NOW
X
Peacemaker
X
Affordable housing week
X
A million prayers for immigration reform
X
Single Payer
X
Personal News
Millennium Development Goals:
1.
Eradicate extreme hunger and
poverty
2.
Achieve universal primary
education
3.
Promote gender equality and
empower women
4.
Reduce child mortality
5.
Improve maternal health
6.
Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and
other diseases
7.
Ensure environmental
sustainability
8.
Develop a global partnership for
development
Catholic Campaign Against Global
Poverty
Millennium Promise
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"I'm
grumpy already," Rep. Tim Ryan, Ohio Democrat, complained after doing
his shopping, during which he spent $20.66 on groceries for the week. That
purchased two loaves of bread, two jars of strawberry preserves, angel-hair
pasta, sauce, cottage cheese and one bag of cornmeal to make polenta. He'll
stretch 12 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches over seven days, he said.
"On a dollar per meal, a person can't buy fresh fruit and
vegetables. The kids across the country who go to bed hungry on nights when
the budget is stretched too thin deal with the reality of poverty every day,
and I want them to know they aren't forgotten," he said.
The four members -- some rank-and-file, some holding minor
positions in leadership -- said they want to pressure their leaders to take
action quickly.
"There's an urgency to this issue, and it needs to be
front and center as we talk about the farm bill," Mr. McGovern said.
"It's not enough to say there is no money. You've got to find money.
People should not be hungry in the United States."
http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/
“At
last count in 2005, 35 million low-income Americans — about a third of
them children — lived in households that cannot consistently afford
enough to eat. Since 2005, the situation has most likely become worse. Last
year, real wages for low-income workers were still below 2001 levels. This
year, job growth is slowing and prices are rising.
And
each year, the federal food stamp program — the bulwark against hunger
for 26 million Americans — does less to help. In large part, that is
because a key component of the formula for computing most families’
food stamps has not been adjusted for inflation since 1996. Over all, food
stamps now average a meager $1.05 per person per meal.” Or
$21.00/week. NY Times, editorial, May 13,
2007
Ways to respond:
- Support the McGovern/Emerson
“Feeding America’s Families Act” (H.R. 2129)
- Try living on the allotted
$21./week
- Demand action on the minimum
wage bill: (from the USCCB)
Call your Representative and Senators TODAY
202-224-3121 (Capitol Switchboard) Tell Congress to stop playing politics
with the lives of millions of minimum wage workers and their families. A
minimum wage raise deserves to move forward on its own merits. Now is the time
to send a STAND ALONE BILL to the President for his signature. (An increase
in the minimum wage bill was agreed on by the House and Senate but was
included in the Iraq
spending bill which was vetoed.
The basis for all that the Church
believes
about the moral dimensions of
economic life is
its vision of the transcendent
worth — the
sacredness — of human
beings. The dignity
of the human person, realized in
community
with others, is the criterion
against which all
aspects of economic life must be
measured.
Economic Justice for All, #28
Peacemaker
The
Fr. Bill O’Donnell Social Justice Committee invites you to St. Joseph the Worker, in Berkeley Friday, May 18 at 7pm:
Road from Ar Ramadi: Staff Sergeant
Camilo Mejia spent 6 months in Iraq and returned for a two week
furlough. He did not return to duty. He was denied conscientious objector
status, and sentenced to one year in prison. Come and hear him speak about
his new book. Admission free- all welcome.
Affordable
Housing Week: EBHO
We
are well into this annual series of housing events May 11- 20. See the
remaining events at:
http://www.ebho.org/calendar.htm
A Million
Prayers for Immigration Reform
In these days before Pentecost, May 20-26, the staff
of Justice for Immigrants is asking people to pray each day and act for
comprehensive immigration reform using the immigrants prayer at: http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/parishes.html
(In Spanish at: http://justiceforimmigrants.org/es/parishes.html
In some parts of the country people are praying the rosary, having prayer
vigils, etc.
Prayer For Immigrant Justice
Blessed are You,
Lord God of all creation.
Through Your goodness, we live in this land
that You have so richly blessed.
Help us always to recognize that our
blessings come from You
and remind us to share them
with others, especially those who come
to us today from other lands.
Help us to be generous, just, and welcoming,
as You have been and are generous to us.
Update: Today (May 17) the Senate
released its plan for immigration reform which offers many of the reforms
that the US
Bishops have pushed for over the last 18 months. There are also many
concerns about the legislation, and the Bishops are hoping that
amendments to the Senate bill will improve the current proposal, especially
the sections on family unification. The next weeks are crucial. Please
check the www.justiceforimmigrants.org
web page over the weekend or Monday to see the specific amendments we are
supporting. Thank you for all you are doing to insure a just reform for the
12 million undocumented who are living in the shadows of our nation.
Meeting re.
Single Payer Health Care
Hello,
single payer supporters - Just a reminder of our upcoming meeting. Please
join us if you can, and help to build a strong organization here in
Contra Costa in support of single payer. Your participation will make a
difference! On Wednesday, May 23,
from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM East and Central County
folks will meet at the Interfaith Council Office, 1543 Sunnyvale Ave, Walnut Creek.
(Rm 205 of education building of Walnut Creek United Methodist.)
If
you have not seen the DVD "The Healthcare Solution: California One
Care" you can view it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyWiVLdR47c.
It is very well done and informative.Many thanks for your support of single
payer and for all you do to help make it a reality!
Some personal
news:
During
the past 6 years, I have met or spoken with many of you who read Social
Justice News out in cyberspace. It has been a great pleasure for me to help
build our network through this simple newsletter.
I
have recently resigned my position at the diocese to take a job with a local
foundation, where I will support the work of social ministry from a different
vantage point.
I
plan to keep working through June, and hope to help orient my replacement
this summer. I ask you to keep this transition in your prayers; that the
Spirit who animates all we do, will call someone new into this work at the
diocese.
I
am working on some materials that I consider essential which I hope to pass
on to you before I leave. If you have ideas for materials that would be
helpful resources, please let me know.
Peace
and all good,
Mary Doyle
Social
Justice Coordinator,
Diocese
of Oakland
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