A Million Doors for Peace

From Pax Christi USA:

Yesterday, Pax Christi USA helped to launch what promises to be the single most extraordinary effort this Fall to end the war in Iraq. We are working with USAction/True Majority, United for Peace and Justice, Win Without War, Catholics United and others to make Saturday, September 20 a national day of outreach to identify and organize the massive anti-war, pro-peace constituency in our country. This day -- Saturday, September 20 -- thousands of volunteers in every state will knock on a Million Doors for Peace.

This action, which promises to be the largest anti-war mobilization this Fall, is truly one of the most ambitious and innovative anti-war activities to date. And it has the added power of expanding the organized grassroots base of our movement at a time when we can make the issue of the war highly visible in the midst of the 2008 elections. So instead of gathering together en masse in Washington, D.C. or some other location, we are urging each one of you to help put thousands of people out into the streets in thousands of communities throughout the nation! Click here to become part of this effort now.

"Reverse Trick or Treating" for Fair Trade

What a novel idea! The Second Annual Reverse Trick-or-Treating will be held this Halloween. Sponsored by Global Exchange, this event seeks to raise awareness of poverty and child-labor problems in the cocoa industry and to introduce people to Fair Trade products. Go to the Global Exchange web site for more information. Thanks to Sister Joann Marie for alerting us to this possibility.

Stop Trafficking Newsletter

Click here for the August 2008 issue of the Stop Trafficking Newsletter. Notice the SCC statement on human trafficking on page 9.

Another Issue Facing Healthcare in the US

What do you do if you are an acute care hospital with a patient who is an undocumented immigrant? How about when he or she requires long-term care and no other facility will accept him or her? Out of desperation, some hospitals are choosing to send these patients back to their home countries, where the care is poor or non-existent. Check out this thought-provoking NY Times article, "Immigrants Facing Deportation by U.S. Hospitals," for more information.

International AIDS Conference

The International AIDS Conference will take place from August 3-8 in Mexico City. Click here for more information.

July 21 Call-in Day on Iran

On Monday, July 21, there is a nationalcall-in to Congress to coincide with a lobby day in Washington coordinated by Peace Action. Please let your elected representativesknow that there is strong opposition to military action against Iran. Further information can be found on the website of Pax Christi USA, inaddition to a new resource, "Nonviolence and Dialogue with Iran," byDave Robinson. See http://www.paxchristiusa.org/ for more information.

Convention for the Common Good (Conclusion)

Sunday, July 13 involved the commissioning of the delegates. John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO, addressed the assembly and Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ -- author of Dead Man Walking and The Death of Innocents -- provided much food for thought. The delegates left the convention with a renewed sense of spreading the word on voting the common good in the upcoming Presidential election.