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#Black Lives Matter

Dear Friends,

What a sad week it has been. The unnecessary death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, at the hands of the Police, has ignited a flame around the world, and highlighted again the issue of racism. I was going to use the phrase ‘All Lives Matter’ at the start of this newsletter – but my 19 year old son said to do that would actually dumb down the issue, and make it not about racism. He then went into several examples of how, through media reporting, often black and ethnic minorities get a raw deal. Thank goodness for the youth, who often have a far better insight into the problem in hand. 

So, this issue has a strong theme running through it about the issue of racism and we hope that you are able to engage with it, and go out and make a difference in the world (if not physically, then virtually).

On another matter, if you have any comments, or articles that you would like highlighted in this e-bulletin, we now have a designated email address just for this purpose: – 
ebulletin@justice-and-peace.org.uk. Our aim is to send the ebulletin out every fortnight. 

We pray that you stay safe out there, now there has been some easing of the lockdown.

Editor

Please note we are still using a temporary postal address due to the closure of the Eccleston Square office:

Geoff Thompson, NJPN, c/o CAFOD Lancaster Volunteer Centre, St Walburge’s Centre, St Walburge’s Gardens, Preston PR2 2QJ.

You can still use the same phone number.

See below for: – 

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E-Bulletin Contents: –

News and Comment

1. Various comments on the killing of George Floyd and racism issues
2. Feeding Programme for Street Children in Kenya
3. NJPN column in the Universe
4. Truth Commission in Colombia
5. News on the forthcoming Refugee Week 
6.  Apostolic Blessing for Day for Life
7. Remember Tiananmen; Prevent Tiananmen v.2 
8. Protecting the Rainforest through Chocolate.
9.  Disparity in the risks and outcomes of Covid-19 and what it is like to be a refugee in the pandemic. 
10. Modern Slavery possibly growing during the pandemic

    11. News on our own NJPN Newsletter                          

Actions

    17. Catholic Association for Racial Justice – petition re George Floyd.

***NJPN Action of the Week***

   18. Show your support in ending detention (Jesuit Refugee Service)
   19. Stop arming US state violence.

E-Petitions

   20. Tell Kirin to stop funding genocide!
   21. Iranian women sentenced over viral video 

Resources

  22. Season of Creation Resources
  23. Banks, Pensions and Nuclear Weapons: Investing in Change

The Last Word

    24. Thy Kingdom Come: Offering up our Broken World

News and Comments

1. George Floyd RIP – the straw that broke the camel’s back?

Many of our partner organisations have issued very powerful statements on their websites concerning the killing of George Floyd, and the protests this has led to around the world. A selection of them are highlighted below:-

Amidst the chaos going on in the US at present, Pope Francis has assured  the American people and the US Bishops of his prayers at this time. Vatican News reports here.

‘How Long, O Lord?’ Psalm 13 is the cry of black Americans.…a deeply touching essay by black American Jesuit, Mario Powell. You can read it here.
 
‘Discrimination is the fuel that powers slavery’ writes Ryna Sherazi from Anti-Slavery International. Her reflection is available here to read.

Campaign Against Climate Change believe that there will be no climate justice without an end to racism. Climate breakdown has always been an issue of racism as well as social and economic injustice. How could it be otherwise, when the Global South suffers so disproportionately from something it has done so little to cause? Click here to read their full article.

Finally, the US Bishops’ statement is available to read:- ‘Racism is a Life Issue.’

2. How a feeding programme for street children has been sustained during the pandemic

Sr. Winnie Mutuku has managed to maintain a feeding programme for street children in Kitale, Kenya, despite Covid-19 ravaging the country. Read all about Sr. Winnie and how she went about it in a Q & A interview here.

3. Latest NJPN Columns in The Universe

The Women’s Bishop – Celia Capstick (past president of the National Board of Catholic Women) writes a tribute to Bishop Vincent Malone. Read it here. (from the 5th June issue of The Universe)
Imagine – Phil Kerton (Co-Director of Seeking Sanctuary, and active with Southwark Justice and Peace) writes about Refugee Week, running from the 15th to the 21st June, with the theme of ‘Imagine.’ The full article is available to read here. (this article will be in the 12th June issue of The Universe)

Our thanks go to our friends at The Universe for supporting us. If you would like to take out a subscription to their newspaper, please follow the link.

4. Bishop calls for Colombians to share their experiences of conflict

Bishop Declan Lang is encouraging the Colombian people who have been affected by the conflict to share their experiences with the Truth Commission, which was set up as part of the peace process.
The full story is available through this link.

5. Refugee Week (15th – 21st June)

Normally this would be a week full of activities and events showing solidarity with our refugee friends, but like most things this year, it will be different. However, it will still be celebrated, to show refugees that they have not been forgotten, and to try and change public and government perceptions. News about Refugee Week and the events you can be involved in are available here.

6. Day for Life 2020 receives an Apostolic Blessing

This year, the theme for Day for Life is ‘Choose Life,’  which will focus on the dignity and worth of the unborn child and expectant mothers. To read Pope Francis’ message, and the response by Bishop John Sherrington, the Lead Bishop for Life Issues, go to…

7. Remembering Tiananmen Square; prevent a second one….

31 years ago, on the 5th June 1989, the world watched as the Chinese Communist Party sent tanks and guns into Tiananmen Square, massacring thousands.
Today the world is beginning to wake up to the sheer brutality, inhumanity and mendacity of the Chinese regime as we see the incarceration of more than a million Uyghur Muslims in concentration camps, the way the regime’s repression of truth led to a global pandemic, and the direct threat it now poses to Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms. And there are growing fears that we are closer to a Tiananmen 2.0 than at any point in the past three decades. For an insight into what is happening, click here.

8. Chocolate, and the power to protect the Rainforest.

Just through buying a Fairtrade Chocolate Bar or a product containing cocoa, you can help protect the Rainforest. Watch this video about Beshey and his family, working to protect their environment. Plus, not only have Waitrose and John Lewis pledged this year to use only Fairtrade cocoa in their own brand confectionary; but Lidl have just launched their own ‘Way to Go!’ Fairtrade chocolate bar. Buying this way certainly makes me feel better about the odd sweet treat or few!
 

9. Covid-19 Deaths, and the life of a refugee in this pandemic

The long-awaited report from Public Health England about the Disparities in the risk and outcomes of Covid-19 is now available to view here.

The Jesuit Refugee Service reports on the systemic injustice and the need to do something. Read their article in depth here.

A refugee has written an article in the Independent newspaper about the impact of the pandemic on refugees and asylum seekers. You can access it here.

10. Report shows trafficking on increase

It would appear that joblessness, growing poverty and food insecurity generated by the restrictions have made many people, especially the poor, more vulnerable to human trafficking, exploitation and modern slavery. Various reports from around the world are available to read on the Vatican News site; click here.

Also, according to Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) for children and young people affected by trafficking, the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has created a new set of risks and obstacles – deepening inequalities, worsening instability and creating a perfect storm for children to be re-trafficked or harmed. Their full article, including how you can get involved, is available to read by clicking here.

NEWSLETTERS

11. The NJPN Newsletter

Due to the printer telling us they were unable to print our newsletter and informing us the mailing company was also closed we postponed putting together our newsletter. When Ellen was able to get the printer and mailing company to agree to send out Vocation for Justice we were still waiting for Swanwick to cancel our conference so decided to wait and send out by email until a final decision about the conference was made. Individual members and representatives of member organisations will be emailed out a copy when it is finalised next weekend. It will then be available on the website for others to download. It won’t include a diary page.

We will also be putting together a further newsletter to be emailed out at the start of July. We are asking what  you, as an organisation, a parish or an individual have done over the lock down period in the field of Justice and Peace. Have your projects continued, been furloughed or contracted; have new projects/work been needed and started in your area? Could you send to admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk a short article/picture to be included in this newsletter to give a picture of Church, not as buildings but as the body of Christ working for the Common Good. Also any diary dates for July, August, September and early October.

EVENTS

12. ‘See, I am making all things new’:  our Christian response to the COVID-19 crisis

This year in place of the Liverpool Archdiocese’s usual annual assembly, we will be hosting four events on Zoom,

On Sunday 28 June (7.30 – 8pm) Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald MAfr will offer a spiritual reflection, to open the week of events, then Monday 29 June (7.30 – 8.30pm) Fr Diarmuid O’Murchu MSC will discuss ‘framing the conversation’: local and national issues followed by breakout groups.

This will be followed on Wednesday 1 July (7.30 – 8.30pm) by Christine Allen, Director of CAFOD discussing international issues followed by breakout groups and the week will conclude on Saturday 4 July (10am – 12pm) with a sharing of responses to the earlier talks, followed by Q&A to a panel made up of the speakers and politicians.

The entirety of the week’s events will take place free of charge, on Zoom, for which places must be registered for, for free. It is possible to attend as many or as few events as you like. The talks, and panel discussion will also be available on Facebook, and YouTube. See here for more information.
 

13. The Truth: Lost at Sea – a free film screening

 Join film maker Rifat Audeh, and passenger Sarah Colborne, in the story of Israel’s assault on the Mavi Marmara as it tried to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in 2010. The film screening takes place on Monday 8th June at 6pm, and will be followed by a Question and Answer session. This is free to watch, but you must register to get a zoom joining link. Click here.

 14. Church investments in major oil companies: Paris compliant or Paris defiant?

Operation Noah are hosting the above Webinar on Wednesday 10th June from 7pm to 8.30pm. They will be launching their new report. This report shows the gap between the business plans of major oil companies and the Paris Agreement targets, and calls on Churches in the UK to urgently divest from fossil fuels to tackle the climate emergency. To book your place click this link.

 15. US political crisis and the need for internationalism

Join the Global Justice Now panel as they analyse the events in the US, their causes, their global repercussions and the need to create a new world out of this crisis. Taking place Monday 8th June, 3pm to 4.30pm. Register here. 

16. Money makes Change – free taster session.

ECCR  want to make it easy for Christians to make connections between their faith and their finances. Their interactive workshop resource gives you everything you need to start that conversation and explore how the choices we make around money can change the world for the better. Join them for an interactive and informative session on Thursday 18th June at 11am or 8pm. For more information, click here.

ACTIONS

17. The Catholic Association for Racial Justice have put out a statement about racism, including a comment from Mrs Yogi Sutton, the Chair of CARJ, about the death of George Floyd.
You can view it here and put your name to the petition about George Floyd that they are asking you to sign.

*** NJPN Action of the Week***
 

18. The Jesuit Refugee Service is asking us to write to our MPs to end indefinite detention
MPs are currently tabling amendments to the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU withdrawal) Bill that would introduce a 28-day time limit on detention, together with judicial oversight of the decision to detain. Can you help JRS UK support the proposed time limit and call for an end to the UK’s system of indefinite immigration detention?  Please show your support by reading the article and contacting your MP. Find it here.

19. Campaign Against Arms Trade: Stop Arming US state violence

The UK government has licensed crowd control equipment of the type that has been used in violent attacks on protesters and others in the United States. The UK’s own export control rules say that arms exports should not be licensed where there is a clear risk that they might be used in repression. CAAT are asking us to contact our MP to ask them to support the cancellation of these licenses. More details here.
 

E-Petitions

20. The Japanese beer giant, Kirin, needs to stop funding genocide.

Kirin is a Japanese brewery which operates worldwide. They make Kirin lager sold in the UK, and distribute the popular Casillero del Diablo wine brand.

In Burma they are in not just one, but two joint ventures with the Burmese military. One is Myanmar Brewery, which makes the best selling beer in Burma, and the other is Mandalay Brewery.

Kirin manage the breweries, bring their global experience to increase sales and make more money for the Burmese military. Money which the military use in their campaigns against ethnic minorities, killing, raping and burning homes.

On Friday, they announced that there would be an outside investigation of two Myanmar beer ventures it operates. More information is available here.

Burma Campaign UK have set up an e-petition to be sent direct to Kirin, asking them to stop funding genocide in Burma. Find it here.

21. Iranian women sentenced for ‘inciting prostitution.’
Three Iranian women were jailed and charged with “inciting prostitution” among other bogus charges after a video went viral showing them on a train in Tehran with their heads uncovered.
Please help Amnesty International free these women.
Sign the petition here.

Resources

22. Season of Creation Resources
The World Council of Churches now have available a downloadable Season of Creation 2020 Celebration Guide – ‘Jubilee for the Earth.’ For more information about the Season of Creation, please click here.

23. Report: Banks, Pensions and Nuclear Weapons: Investing in Change
Pax Christi, along with other interfaith groups, have spent more than a year researching the role of our financial institutions in supporting the production of nuclear weapons. On 27th May that report was published. For details follow the link to the Independent Catholic News here.

The Last Word

24. The Kingdom Come: Offering up our Broken World
Celebrate with Dr. Krish Kandiah and his family here.

NEWS LINKS

Independent Catholic News
Find Justice and Peace stories at:
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/justice-peace-environment
Sign up to receive these regularly.
  
Catholic Communications Network
Find news stories at www.catholicnews.org.uk
 
Latest Zenit Headlines here
 
Vatican Radio homepage: http://en.radiovaticana.va/
 
World Council of Churches
https://www.oikoumene.org/en/
 
UK Parliament News
https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/
 
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