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Blessed Maria Antonina Kratochwil (10/2) and the other SSNDs who were martyred during WWII are the patrons of
Shalom, our international network for justice, peace and the integrity of creation. May their sacrifice and willingness to risk all in faith for a more just and truly human world inspire us to do all we can to promote a culture of life and address the injustices of our time.
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Shalom North America Contacts
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Integrity of Creation
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 Who is My Neighbor in a Climate-Threatened World?
On October 4, we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis. To help us commemorate this day and the completion of this year's Season of Creation, the Catholic Climate Covenant has put together the wonderful prayer/education resource,
Who is My Neighbor in a Climate-Threatened World?. Focusing on the interconnections between immigration, refugees, and climate change, this resource includes prayers, readings, a short video, and suggested activities.
Facilitator guide,
participant handout.
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Integrity of Creation
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 Clean Car Rule - Action Alert
The Trump administration is currently accepting comments about their proposed rule change to fuel economy standards for future models of cars and light-duty trucks set by the Obama Administration and agreed to by automakers back in 2012. The administration proposes to freeze fuel efficiency standards to 2020 levels through 2026. According to our friends with the Catholic Climate Covenant, such a rule change would impact our health, environment, and the wellbeing of our neighbors. Among the potential impacts - the consumption of 200 billion more gallons of gasoline and the release of 2 billion more metric tons of global warming gases into our atmosphere by 2040.
Learn more/take action.
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Integrity of Creation
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 Affordable Clean Energy Rule - Action Alert
The Trump administration has proposed the Affordable Clean Energy rule as a replacement for the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan. As noted by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, "The proposed rule would significantly weaken the Clean Power Plan (CPP) which sought to speed the closure of coal-burning plants and the conversion to clean energy in order to reduce carbon pollution, mitigate climate change, and protect the health and welfare of all people, especially the most vulnerable." The Environmental Protection Agency's own analysis shows that under the proposed rule, carbon dioxide emissions will continue to rise and could lead to as many as 1,400 premature deaths annually. Learn more, take action.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 World Teachers' Day
This year's theme, "The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher," has been chosen to remind the global community that the right to education cannot be achieved without the right to have trained and qualified teachers. There are an estimated 264 million children and youth still out of school globally. To reach the 2030 Education Goals of universal primary and secondary education, the world needs to recruit almost 69 million new teachers. This 'teacher gap' is more pronounced among vulnerable populations, such as girls, children with disabilities, refugee and migrant children, or poor children living in rural or remote areas. Learn more, prayer resource.
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Human Life and Dignity
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Goods Produced Using Child or Forced Labor
The Trump Administration's approach to enforcement of a law aimed at stopping the import of products tainted by child or forced labor focuses as much on "America First" as it does human rights and dignity concerns. "American workers cannot compete with producers abroad who use child labor or forced labor" U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta said in a foreword to the list of 148 goods produced in 76 countries. If "a trading partner" engages in child or forced labor, "the U.S. will do what it takes to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation, safeguard American jobs, and create a fair playing field for countries that play by the rules", he added. Read more. Take action to address child and forced labor by urging Congress to support the Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 Proposed Rule May Lead to Hardship, Tough Choices for Immigrants
A new rule proposed by the Trump administration could result in legal immigrants losing their ability to receive a green card if they need food stamps or housing vouchers. As noted by NCR, while federal law has always required those seeking green cards to prove they will not be a burden to the government, it has never considered the use of public benefits, such as food stamps or housing vouchers, in its decision. This action could force millions of immigrants who rely on public assistance for food and shelter to choose between accepting help or seeking a green card to live and work legally in the United States. Learn more, let your voice be heard.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 Indigenous Peoples' Day (10/8)
Since 1991, dozens of cities, several universities, and a few states have chosen to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day. Why? Concern that memorials and holidays dedicated to Columbus sanitize his actions-which include the
enslavement of Native Americans-while giving him credit for "discovering" a place where people already lived. It is part of a movement to recognize the atrocities Columbus committed while also highlighting the history and contributions of Native peoples.
Learn more.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 International Day of the Girl (10/11)
Since 2012, October 11 has been used as a day to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. Educated and skilled workers are in great demand, but roughly a quarter of young people - most of them female - are currently neither employed or in education or training. Under the theme,
With Her: A Skilled GirlForce, the International Day of the Girl will mark the beginning of a year-long effort to bring together partners and stakeholders to advocate for, and draw attention and investments to, the most pressing needs and opportunities for girls to attain skills for employability.
Learn more,
join in 11 days of action.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 National Farmer's Day (10/12)
It's a day to acknowledge the hard work that goes into feeding and supplying a nation. We are invited to pay tribute in some way to the individuals who plow, sow, raise, feed and harvest to provide the food and materials that our country needs to survive. As you partake of a meal today, thank those who have had any part in its planting, harvesting, and preparation for consumption. We also invite you to learn about the work of the National Farm Worker Ministry.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 Hunger and Poverty
Driven by climate change and conflict, levels of world hunger increased in 2017 for the third straight year, according to the United Nations' State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018 report.
Learn more.
Prayer resource. It is important to recall the fundamental connection between extreme poverty and human rights, and that people living in poverty are disproportionately affected by many human rights violations.
Learn more.
Video reflection.
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| Poverty and profit - the business of development aid | DW Documentary |
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Peace and Non-Violence
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 Striving for Nonviolence
October 2 is the
International Day of Nonviolence, established by the UN General Assembly in June of 2007, as an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness" and to reaffirm the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence". Quoting Mohandas Gandhi, whose birthday is also commemorated on this day: "Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man." Check out this
Education for Justice (EFJ) toolbox of resources. (SSND EFJ
username and password.)
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Peace and Non-Violence
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 A Continuing Voice for Peace
October 11 is the birthday of
Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, author and peace activist. At 90 years of age, he continues counseling world leaders in the private and public sector on reversing the cycle of violence, war and global warming, and embracing nonviolence with compassionate action.
Reflection resource.
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Peace and Non-Violence
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Disarmament Week (10/24-10/30)
The annual observance of Disarmament Week, which kicks off on the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (October 24), was first called for in the Final Document of the General Assembly's 1978 special session on disarmament (resolution S-10/2). The document called for abandoning the use of force in international relations and seeking security in disarmament. States were invited to highlight the danger of the arms race, propagate the need for its cessation and increase public understanding of the urgent tasks of disarmament.
Learn more/resources.
Prayer.
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The SSND International Shalom Network witnesses to the Gospel with audacity and hope as we collaborate to build just relationships and respond to the urgent needs of our times.
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 Shalom News North America is an e-publication of the Shalom North America Contacts (SNAC) of the School Sisters of Notre Dame - Arlene Flaherty, Ethel Howley, Jeanne Wingenter, Kathleen Bonnette, Rose Mary Sander, and Tim Dewane. Your comments, suggestions, and feedback are always welcomed. Email us at
[email protected].
Please only print this e-publication if necessary.
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