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March 2024 Newsletter
Issue #85
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By 2050, it is estimated that waste generation will grow globally from around 2.01 billion tons to 3.40 billion tons each year.
The U.S. produces over 292 million tons of trash and 146 million tons of it ended up in landfills.
U.S. recycling levels are currently at 21.4% and recycling levels have not improved in 20 years.
66% of Americans say that they would not recycle a product if it’s not easy or convenient to do so.
The amount of waste that goes into the oceans has increased from 48,000,000 pounds of waste 61,000,000 pounds -- a day.
Plastic
Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles -- every hour.
Of the approximately 6.3 billion tons of plastic waste that has been generated, around 9% has been recycled, 12% incinerated, and 79% was accumulated in landfills or the natural environment.
If current production and waste management trends continue, roughly 12 billion tons of plastic waste will be in landfills or in the natural environment by 2050.
Paper
The U.S. spends $12.7 billion on wrapping paper, tissue paper, and gift bags and most of it is not recycled.
Nearly 1 billion trees worth of paper is thrown away each year.
Cans
The average person has the opportunity to recycle more than 25,000 cans in a lifetime.
It requires 95% less energy and water to recycle a can than it does to create a can from virgin materials.
Glass
More than 28 billion glass bottles and jars end up in landfills every year
Cardboard
Over 90% of all products shipped in the U.S. are shipped in corrugated boxes, which totals more than 400 billion square feet of cardboard.
Electronics
1.8 million tons (82%) of TVs, cell phones, computers etc. ends up in landfills.
The National Safety Council study estimates about 40 million computers become obsolete within 1 year.
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Does Recycling Your Plastic Actually Work?
A short, animated TED Talk that examines the confusing and sometimes misleading recycling symbols on many plastic products -- how they came to be, what they mean and what can be done to expand recycling efforts. Watch now.
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The Stop Sign Analogy
A brief animation from Recycle Across America that explains how uniform labeling would help consumers recycle more effectively. Watch now
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What We've Become:
Living and Dying in a Country of Arms
By Dr. Jonathan M. Metzl. Looks at the long history of distrust of public health and the larger forces―social, ideological, historical, racial, and political―that allow mass shootings to occur on a near daily basis in America. Looking closely at the cycle in which mass shootings lead to shock, horror, calls for action, and, ultimately, political gridlock, explores what happens to the soul of a nation―and the meanings of safety and community―when we normalize violence as an acceptable trade-off for freedom. Mass shootings and our inability to stop them have become more than horrific crimes: they are an American national autobiography. Points to mass shootings as a symptom of our most unresolved national conflicts and sets us on the path of alliance forging, racial reckoning, and political power brokering we must take to put things right.
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Fair Trials
An international organization that campaigns for structural and policy changes needed for fair and equal criminal justice systems. Has a direct impact on people who are arrested but not given access to a lawyer, people who are coerced into accepting a plea bargain, people who are held for months, or even years, without being tried for a crime, and people who are tortured by the police or other state officials. Has offices in Europe, Central America and the U.S. Learn more.
For more on the Criminal Justice System,
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Casey Family Programs
A nonprofit organization that works in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and with tribal nations across North America to influence long-lasting improvements to the well-being of children, families and the communities where they live. Believes that:
- Every child deserves a safe, supportive and permanent family.
- Every family will thrive with the support of a caring community.
- Every community can create hope and opportunities for its children and families.
- Every one has a role to play in Building Communities of Hope.
Their core values include: diversity, equity, anti-racism and anti-discrimination, innovation, partnerships & stewardship. Learn more.
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Refuge
An award-winning feature-length documentary that follows a leader in a white nationalist hate group who finds healing from the people he once hated - a Muslim heart doctor and his town of refugees. He is a husband and father, a veteran, and until recently, a leader in the KKK. He started hating Muslims when the planes hit the Twin Towers on 9/11, but is forced to confront his hate when he receives a text from Muslim refugee. The film is set in Clarkston, Georgia and follows a Syrian Kurd, a former Klansman, and a town of refugees who seek belonging in an increasingly polarized and isolated America. Uncovers what is possible when we leave the security of our tribes and what is at stake for our country if we don’t. Watch the trailer.
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Home for Refugees
A faith-based organization that advocates for resettlement assistance and creates community relationships for ongoing support to help alleviate the worldwide displacement crisis. Creates partnerships between refugees, faith congregations and community groups to encourage self-sufficiency. Provides resources and tools for volunteers to empower refugees for long-term resettlement success through community sponsorship teams, in partnership with refugee resettlement agencies and organizations. These teams help refugees set up their new home, access public benefits, find doctors, enroll children in school, facilitate job searches, and perform other necessary tasks to help them create their new home in the U.S. Learn more.
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Frontex: Why is the European Union Funding Human Rights Abuses?
A documentary from Fair Trials that examines fundamental rights abuses by the EU’s border agency, including their involvement in illegal pushbacks in the Aegean Sea. Features interviews with journalists and activists who have been investigating Frontex’s activities and exposing the criminalization of migration in Europe. Watch now.
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A Better Balance
A national nonprofit legal advocacy organization dedicated to work-family justice. Uses the law to ensure all workers can care for themselves and their loved ones, without sacrificing their economic security. Their expert legal team combats discrimination against pregnant workers and caregivers and advances supportive work-family policies like paid sick time, paid family and medical leave, fair scheduling, and accessible, quality childcare and eldercare. Primary strategies include: policy & legislative advocacy, legal services & litigation, education & enforcement. Learn more.
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Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine
By Uché Blackstock MD. The story of a Black physician, her career in medicine, and the deep inequities that exist in the U.S. healthcare system that Black patients and physicians continue to face. It is a journey through the critical intersection of racism and healthcare -- an indictment of the system in this country, a generational family memoir, and a call to action. Read more.
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The National Museum of African American History & Culture
The only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by an Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution and has collected more than 40,000 artifacts. In addition, it's website offers a section on Talking about Race and offers resources on related topics such as: Being Anti-Racist, Bias, Community Building, Historical Foundations of Race, Race & Racial Identity, Self-Care, Social Identities and Systems of Oppression and Whiteness. Learn more.
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White Awareness
An organization of all volunteers that works to increase awareness of what it means to be White in countries where that is a privilege. Recognizes that discrimination based on skin tone harms everyone. Includes a White Awareness Quiz, Anti-Racism Actions, Stages of White Awareness, Anti-Racism Films, Anti-Racism for Children and Parents and Anti-Racism Social Media. Learn more.
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The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy
By Jim Wallis. Calls on Christians to reject and help dismantle a false gospel that propagates white supremacy and autocracy. Argues that believers need to raise up the faith of all of us, and help those who are oblivious, stuck, and captive to the ideology and idolatry of White Christian Nationalism. Focuses on six iconic texts at the heart of what genuine biblical faith means and what Jesus, in the gospels, has called us to do and asks readers if they believe these teachings or not. Asserts that when we see a civic promotion of fear, hate, and violence for the trajectory of our politics, we need a civic faith of love, healing, and hope to defeat it. Holds that learning to practice a politics of neighbor love will be central to the future of democracy in America.
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Carr Center for Human Rights Policy
A resource of the Harvard Kennedy School's research, teaching, and training in the human rights domain. Embraces a dual mission: to educate students and the next generation of leaders from around the world in human rights policy and practice; and to convene and provide policy-relevant knowledge to international organizations, governments, policymakers, and businesses.
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A Faith That Does Justice
An interfaith organization that challenges people to experience God by living their faith intentionally in service to others. They do this by showing how unjust societal structures marginalize people and by acting to help those in need. Each week they publish a teaching by a faith leader on issues of spirituality and social justice to help subscribers live their faiths more fully. Learn more.
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Important Dates This Month
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Individuals Honored This Month |
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No one has ever become poor by giving.
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We who say we dwell in Christ, should walk just as he walked.
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March 3rd
I believe much trouble would be saved
if we opened our hearts more.
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March 5th
The number one cause of atheism is Christians. Those who proclaim Him with their mouths and deny Him with their actions is what an unbelieving world finds unbelievable.
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March 13th
Many powerful people don’t want peace because they live off of war.
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March 14th
The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything.
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March 24th
A church that doesn’t provoke any crises, a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed – what gospel is that?
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March 31st
History will judge societies and governments and their institutions not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and powerful but how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless.
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The Social Justice Resource Center is an independent, faith-based organization that is financially supported by private donations. We're an all-volunteer team that relies on support from visitors like you. If you like what we do and want to help support our work, please consider making a small donation. The Social Justice Resource Center is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Thank you!
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Since 2017, there have been more than 450,000 visitors to the Social Justice Resource Center website. We provide a wide variety of facts and figures on specific social issues as well as thousands of free resources including films, publications, links to other organizations, prayers, quotes, principles of social justice, key dates throughout the year, action ideas, Diocesan office contact information and biographies of famous people who have worked for social justice.
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Contact@SocialJusticeResourceCenter.org |
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