Ban on Plastic Water Bottles at Grand Canyon? Not Yet!

According to the New York Times, Grand Canyon National Park officials were very close to banning disposable water bottles until Coca-Cola -- a major donor to the National Park Foundation -- stepped in. Read the complete article here and consider taking action by signing this change.org petition.

The Murder of Sister Valsa

Click here to read more about the story of Sister Valsa John, who was instrumental in teaching Indian aboriginals about their rights to their land. She was killed by a mob of 30 men allegedly carrying axes, clubs and spears.

Close the SOA

This weekend, we remember in a special way all those who will be protesting at SOA/WHINSEC, especially Sisters Janice, Juliana, Mary Joan and Ruthann. What can we do this weekend in solidarity with those who protest? 1. Pray 2. Click here to tell President Obama to close the SOA. 3. Follow the schedule of events on the SOA Watch website and enter into solidarity with the protestors by educating yourself on the issues being discussed. 4. "Like" SOA Watch on Facebook. 5. Watch the trailer for the new DVD, "Somos Una América" (below), and consider buying the DVD. (E-mail subscribers: If you do not see a video below, click here to go to the blog post to watch it.)

November 16: We Remember

On November 16, we remember the six Jesuits, their housekeeper, and her teenage daughter, who were assassinated by the Salvadoran army on November 16, 1989 at the Universidad Centroamericana in San Salvador. Rather than calling them "the six Jesuits and two others," as we have been know to do, here are their names: Ignacio Ellacuría, S.J., Ignacio Martín-Baró, S.J., Segundo Montes, S.J., Juan Ramón Moreno, S.J., Joaquín López y López, S.J., Amando López, S.J., Elba Ramos, and Celina Ramos (15 years old, daughter of Elba Ramos).

We also pause to remember the thousands of others who lost their lives or disappeared during the period of 1980-1991 in El Salvador as a result of the Salvadoran Civil War.

As our Sisters prepare to represent us at SOA/WHINSEC this week, we remember!

SOA Link Updated

If you had difficulties clicking on the SOA link in the earlier post, please click here to try again. Thanks for your patience and persistence.

Say "No" to SOA/WHINSEC

As you know, our Sisters will be joining thousands of others in the protest at SOA/WHINSEC this weekend. We offer our prayers for Sisters Janice, Juliana, Mary Joan, and Ruthann. Hopefully, you will be praying the Evening Prayer that we sent out for this purpose. Additionally, we can show our support by contacting our Representatives. See the message from NETWORK below:

H.R. 3368 the Latin America Military Training Review Act was reintroduced in the House of Representatives on November 4, 2011. This bill would suspend operations at the SOA/WHINSEC*, investigate torture manuals and human rights abuses associated with the school, and conduct an assessment of military training in Latin America. Your tax dollars are paying for this institution.

Thousands of people will be heading to Columbus, GA, the home of SOA/WHINSEC, this weekend for the twentieth time with the message: CLOSE IT DOWN!

The time is right to show support for the people of Central and South America. Tell your representative to sign on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 3368 the Latin America Military Training Review Act.

Click here to send an e-mail to your representative.* School of the Americas/Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation

Pray for Syria

Click here to read the CNEWA blog post about the violence and unrest in Syria.

Room to Read

Click here to read the NYT Op-Ed about John Wood and his charity, "Room to Read," which has opened 12,000 libraries and 1,500 schools in the world. Here's a small portion of the article:

"So many American efforts to influence foreign countries have misfired — not least here in Vietnam a generation ago. We launch missiles, dispatch troops, rent foreign puppets and spend billions without accomplishing much. In contrast, schooling is cheap and revolutionary. The more money we spend on schools today, the less we’ll have to spend on missiles tomorrow.

Wood, 47, is tireless, enthusiastic and emotional: a motivational speaker with no off button. He teared up as girls described how Room to Read had transformed their lives.

“If you can change a girl’s life forever, and the cost is so low, then why are there so many girls still out of school?” he mused."

Important Action Alert: Global Poverty

The USCCB, Catholic Relief Services, and LCWR are asking us to consider taking action to maintain the levels of life-saving, poverty-focused international assistance for FY 2012 as passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee and to oppose any amendments that would cut poverty-focused international assistance. The alert is for all of us, but it is especially important for Pennsylvanians to contact their senators to urge them to support the Senate Appropriations Committee funding levels for fiscal year 2012 Poverty Focused International Assistance. In fact, Pennsylvanians, if you contact only one person, you are encouraged to contact Senator Toomey. Click here for more information and the Action Alert on the Catholic Relief Services website.