CARJ welcomes the inquiry into the impact of coronavirus on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities
On 23 April 2020, Mrs Yogi Sutton, Chair of CARJ, received an email from Rev Dr Alfred Banya, Head of Chaplaincy at Kings College Hospital in London. Rev Banya said he had been seeing first-hand the devastating effect of the virus on patients and relatives. He went on to say:
‘We noticed being called to much younger Black and Ethnic Minorities after the first two weeks of the outbreak. Now we hear from the press disproportionate numbers of BAME people are dying from the virus but there seems to be no urgent action to address this. Can CARJ raise questions about this with its contacts in the House of Commons and House of Lords?’
The note from Rev Banya reflects the growing concern over the disproportionate numbers of Black and Minority Ethnic people who are affected by the corona virus. A Guardian analysis (22 April 2020) indicated that ethnic minorities are dying from the virus in disproportionately high numbers.[i]
Some have suggested this might be due to demography – the virus hit London first and very hard. Another explanation suggests co-morbidities could play a role. Black and Asian people are particularly affected by diabetes, hypertension and other underlying conditions.
An earlier article by Dr Omar Khan, Director of the Runnymede Trust, argued that ‘ethnic minorities are at greater risk because social and economic disparities lead to poor outcomes in health [ii]
As background to his argument, Dr Khan referred to Ethnicity, Race and Inequality in the UK: State of the Nation (Policy Press, 2020). This very useful Report includes a chapter on ‘Health Inequalities’ [iii]
The Government has launched an official Inquiry to consider why people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds appear to be disproportionately affected by coronavirus. The Inquiry will be led by NHS England and Public Health England.[iv]
CARJ welcomes the inquiry, but agrees with some who have questioned whether a more independent Inquiry might be appropriate [v]
CARJ welcomes the announcement that Baroness Doreen Lawrence will lead a Labour Party Review into the impact of coronavirus on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities[vi]
It is also important to consider the vulnerability of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities during the corona virus. On 24 March 2020, Friends Families and Travellers and 29 other organisations wrote to Government Ministers, asking them to take action to support GRT Communities at this difficult time: [vii]
CARJ will continue working with others to consider all these matters.
[i] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/22/racial-inequality-in-britain-found-a-risk-factor-for-covid-19?CMP=share_btn_link
[ii] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/20/coronavirus-racial-inequality-uk-housing-employment-health-bame-covid-19
[iii] https://www.runnymedetrust.org/blog/state-of-the-nation-new-comprehensive-analysis-on-race-in-britain
[iv] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/inquiry-disproportionate-impact-coronavirus-bame
[v] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/bame-covid-19-deaths-demand-a-broader-inquiry
[vi] https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-politics-52405243
[vii] https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/health/covid-19-uk-government-must-lay-out-clear-plan-to-support-gypsies-travellers-and-boaters/
NJPN Comment in the Catholic Universe: Barbara Kentish
NJPN Comment in the Catholic Universe
Barbara Kentish; Crisis of refugees– or of attitude?
Calais’current migrant issues are an illustration of the bigger challenges of welcome facing Greece and Italy. Many in Calais have passed through
southern Europe, their fingerprints fed into the pan-Europe database.
While there remains a need for a coherent humanitarian policy at
European level, local hospitality initiatives are inspiring. Volunteers in northern France are going the extra mile to welcome migrants into their homes. People such as V, who renovated her outhouse to equip it with water and electricity, to host two migrants; and P, who rents a disused presbytery to house five more. This winter, in disused parish rooms, he welcomed a further 11, while the Catholic Worker House is currently home to 16 others. Citizens are allowed to offer hospitality. France’s well-known ‘crime of solidarity’, forbidding help to
those without papers, has been attenuated by a judge who ruled that the primary value of ‘Fraternité’ trumps that of excluding non-citizens from human rights. It is an interpretation often challenged on the ground, however, and helpers must beware of profiting from any quid pro quo services.
Despite this climate of deterrence, the welcome of NGOs in the Calais region has operated brilliantly until the Covid-19 crisis. Utopia56,
Refugee Community Kitchen, Project Play and Woman’s Aid, Collective Aid and Secours Catholique have now dovetailed efficiently to provide a range of hospitality services. One scheme deserving mention is Migr’action59, a family hosting project in Lille. It offers weekend respite stays to migrants, taking them away from the life of struggle, providing meals, a clean bed, showers and clothes washing. Another drop in the ocean? Sophie Djigo, a philosophy lecturer and founder of Migr’action59, claims not: rather, such actions can break down barriers between migrant ‘outsiders’, and ‘citizen’ society. Eating, socialising and sleeping in the same house are steps towards recognising equality between human beings, regardless of their circumstances. Migr’action has found that the 48-hour break allows the ‘exilés’ to take stock and rediscover a little hope in humanity, after their multi-country rejection. A
few reconsider their plans to reach the UK, seeing other possibilities, including asylum in France. These French citizens are reasserting their instinct to offer hospitality to others, resisting the apparently state-sanctioned violence towards the scapegoats for European problems. We don’t find these beacons of hope much in the papers. After all, they may be crimes of solidarity!
Barbara Kentish is a member of Westminster Justice and Peace.
Full article available here
Latest News From The NorthWest
The devastating impact of the Coronavirus pandemic worldwide dominates the May 2020 edition of the NW NJPN E Bulletin with reports, reflections and opinion pieces from a range of sources. Green issues are also featured with prayer resources and prize-winning articles from the Columban’s recent competition for young people on the theme ‘Tackling Our Throwaway Culture’.
Lots to read during lockdown! Do take care.
Latest News From The NorthWest
The April 2020 edition of the NW NJPN E Bulletin looks at the many changes we are having to make to our daily lives and the way we worship due to the coronavirus pandemic. Poems and reflections help us to adapt to what Cardinal Vincent Nichols calls ‘a strange, strange Sunday’, the first of many for the foreseeable future. Let’s use this enforced solitude well to reflect on all that is good, to slow down our busy lives and take stock. Let’s celebrate the many acts of kindness from friends, family and strangers in our communities.
Central America also features this month as well as the results of the Columban’s ‘Throwaway Culture’ competition for young writers and film makers. There are book reviews and a song for St Patrick’s Day to lift our spirits.
Please read and pass on and do take good care in these difficult times.
News from the latest NJPN Environment group meeting
Highlights from 56th Meeting of the National Justice and Peace Network
Environment Group: 5 February 2020
Websites:
These abridged notes(highlights) to go to Anne Peacey and Stephen Cooke for the NJPN website. Full minutes are available on request from NJPN
The group agreed to update the ‘Environment Organisations’ on the CBCEW website.
General Election 12 December 2019
The group circulated links to election resources in the last minutes – November 2019 – and did its best to get people to ask ecology-related questions of their candidates.
Bishops’ Conference
Our group is keeping in close contact with CBCEW who are pushing for both Diocesan Environmental Policies and a dedicated Diocesan Environment Contact in dioceses.
Salford, Liverpool and Arundel & Brighton have designated Environment working groups working towards this end.
The Journey to 2030
Journey to 2030’ and members felt this was a good tool for helping to mobilise the Catholic Church to act on the ecological crisis. It has the support of the CBCEW.
Website – https://journeyto2030.org/. John Paul’s blog is at: www.theecg.org/blog
NJPN Environment Group to keep in close contact with and sign up to ‘Journey to 2030’.
NJPN Executive to consider inviting John Paul to run a study half day on the initiative at a networking meeting.
Divestment from fossil fuels
In January, Operation Noah announced that 20 Christian organisations are divesting from fossil fuels, as part of the Epiphany Declaration for Fossil Free Churches. This joint divestment announcement included the first two Catholic dioceses in England to go fossil free (Middlesbrough and Lancaster), two Catholic religious orders (the Congregation of Jesus and Presentation Sisters) as well as sixteen other churches, synods and religious orders from across the denominations! There will be a multi-faith global divestment announcement on 26-28 March 2020.
More details can be found on the Bright Now website and see https://brightnow.org.uk/news/join-the-global-divestment-announcement-march-2020/ or contact James Buchanan from Operation Noah on james.buchanan@operationnoah.org
NJPN asks its members and supporters to continue to lobby dioceses, parishes, religious orders and organisations to divest from fossil fuels. NOTE: The Jesuits and Diocese Arundel and Brighton have now agreed to divest from fossils fuels (March 1st)
Ethical Investment
The group felt that NJPN should be putting more focus on ethical investment, NJPN had a designated EI group on this issue a decade ago, and Pax Christi annually used to ask dioceses about ethical investment and keep a record of responses.
CBCEW has been in dialogue with diocesan financial secretaries urging them to go for complete disinvestment from fossil fuels. The work of Catholic Impact Investing Collaborative (CIIC).
https://impactalpha.com/catholic-institutions-pledge-to-increase-impact-investments-in-climate-action-and-social-equity/ has further information on ethical investments.
Action: The group will produce a two-sided template to present to dioceses, to make the most of the March disinvestment announcement and suggest that there is positive case for ethical investment, as well. Additionally, ON are looking into putting on a day for dioceses (similar to the day for religious last year) in the summer.
Conference 17-19 July 2020
The conference title will be ‘2020 Vision: Action for Life on Earth’. It aims for a long-term renewal of the justice and peace movement in light of Laudato Si’ and the economic-ecological crisis.
See www.justice-and-peace.org.uk for more details of the conference (and to get a booking form)
The speakers, workshops, presentations and youth involvement, including Just Fair, an opportunity for groups to highlight and engage/network with attendees. The Conference Centre will continue to follow the LOAF principles
All to suggest additional stalls that could be invited to the Just Fair
Global Caring
Downloadable posters, fliers, newsletter info and leaders guides with numerous next step links for deeper reflection & action at www.ourcommonhome.co.uk. Lots of positive feedback from J&P groups in parishes using the resources – Harpenden, Caterham, for example. Also being pushed as a Lent resource.
NJPN contacts to push ‘Global Healing’ and ‘Global Caring’. www.ourcommonhome.co.uk
Lent 2020 resources
The Columban Stations of the Forests(a popular resource) at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ancWU2YInHE
Combined Creation Time and Lent Resource Liverpool Archdiocese / CAFOD
https://jp.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/combined-creation-time-and-lent-resources/ Hard copies at: http://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/formation-shop
Saying Yes to Life; Lent Book 2020 Ruth Valerio
Draws on the Days of Creation, relating themes of light, water, land, seasons, other creatures, humankind, Sabbath and resurrection hope to environmental, ethical and social concerns.
Season of Creation 2020
The group was delighted to hear that a new annual CREATION SUNDAY is being planned across the Christian denominations for 6 September 2020, during Creation Time. https://seasonofcreation.org/
All to prepare for the Season of Creation 2020 1 September- 4 October
Conference of Religious
The Conference of Religious is organising three meetings around the country in the Spring to reflect on Laudato Si’ as a first step in the launch of a new ecology group. Contact: admin@corew.org
Borrowed Time
A new project on deep adaption and building pastoral care in the climate emergency. A key organiser is Paul Bodenham, the J&P worker in Nottingham Diocese.
https://greenchristian.org.uk/borrowed-time-building-pastoral-care-in-the-climate-emergency/
It is recommended that NJPN links into this initiative.
COP 26 in Glasgow
The year ahead will be a crucial one for climate action in the UK, with the COP26 conference coming to Glasgow in November 2020.
CAFOD and CBCEW will work on hierarchy involvement at the COP in Glasgow.
NJPN to link into COP Advocacy arrangements.
CAFOD
CAFOD has launched a three-year campaign, ‘Our Common Home’ and the theme this year is, ‘Generations Unite’. Materials are available and there is a petition and templates for Creation Liturgies, meals and quizzes. A new hashtag is to be launched – #AmentoClimateJustice
https://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Climate/Generations-Unite
There are now 72 Live Simply award winners – including three cathedrals. Arocha and Eco Congregation Scotland have audits but it would be great to have a specific Live Simply one.
See https://ecochurch.arocha.org.uk/ and click ‘The Questionnaire’ and https://www.ecocongregationscotland.org/materials/ideas-for-action/church-check-up/
See attached an audit used by Lancaster Diocese.
New campaigning initiatives on CAFOD’s website – https://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Latest-campaigns:
To do: All to promote the Livesimply award – http://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/How-to-campaign/Livesimply-award – and CAFOD’s campaign, as well as, Environmental audits, with a view to making a Live Simply one available.
Synod on Amazonia
Ellen reported that the Columbans internationally produced a series of articles in the lead up to the Synod. https://columbancenter.org/Synod-on-Amazon-Model-for-World
Laudato Si’ educational work continues to be popular in dioceses and parishes.
http://www.columbans.co.uk/news/laudato-si-columban-study-and-action-guide/
https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Laudato-Si-encyclical
Special events are being planned for the fifth anniversary of the Encyclical in 2020.
NJPN Universe Column
Ellen Teague invited the group to let her know if they would like to do an NJPN Column on environmental issues in March. Three slots are available.
The future
Issues we will look at in future meetings, and perhaps produce policy papers:
Loss of biodiversity in the leadup to the October 2020 UN Biodiversity Conference
Plastic pollution/waste
Energy – renewables and conservation of energy.
AOB
The issue of ECOCIDE is becoming more prominent as the UN contemplates introducing the atrocity crime of Ecocide. And Pope Francis is considering adding ‘ecological sin’ to Catholic teaching:
https://www.energylivenews.com/2019/11/18/pope-francis-considers-adding-ecological-sin-to-catholic-church/
Several members of the group attended the beautiful funeral of eco-theologian Edward Echlin in January and expressed condolences to Barbara. Tributes at:
https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/38631
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/texts-speeches-homilies/4/1346/dr-edward-p-echlin-an-obituary
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/12357/news-briefing-britain-and-ireland
Bishop John Arnold is on the cover of the International Messenger of St Anthony magazine for February 2020 under the heading ‘The Green Bishop’, bringing welcome attention to new ecological initiatives in the Catholic Church of England and Wales.
Future Events:
February 8 – NJPN Network meeting in Bristol.
‘Our Common Home – creative responses’
https://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/njpn-meetings/
Catholic People’s Weeks events for 2020:
https://catholicpeoplesweeks.org/events
Green Christian events at https://greenchristian.org.uk/whats-on/
March 7 Derby: Conference: Renewal and Rebellion: Faith, Economy and Climate
March 28 Earth Hour: wwf.org.uk/earthhour
April 21 World Curlew Day
Curlew Action – Mary Colwell is a lead organiser – http://www.curlewmedia.com/
May 2 Networking Day and NJPN AGM – CAFOD, Romero House, London – Please note this meeting has been postponed to the NJPN conference, please see the NJPN meetings page for more details
June 12-14 Christian Meditation Conference, ‘Touch the Earth Lightly: Meditation and the Future of the Planet.’ christianmeditation.org.uk
June 12-13 A Christians Aware day at Mirfield, West Yorkshire on sustainable goals and the environment. (Ellen is one of the speakers.)
17-19 July: The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick: 42nd Annual Justice and Peace Conference- ‘2020 Vision – Action for Life on Earth’
Breaking News – Postponement of Annual General Meeting
The NJPN Exec met yesterday morning (18th March) via Skype instead of a planned meeting date in London. During this meeting the following motion was agreed:
NJPN AGM Saturday 2 May
This meeting will no longer take place. NJPN Executive members agreed that the meeting be re-scheduled for 1.45pm on Sunday 19 July at the Hayes Conference Centre Swanwick (immediately following the NJPN Conference)
The Annual Report and Accounts for the period of 12 months since they were last produced must be presented to the postponed AGM and later be submitted to Companies House and the Charity Commission as required.
This situation will be kept under review and if Government restrictions mean that the conference cannot go ahead, it is proposed that the AGM take place at the Open Network meeting in November 2020.
Latest News From the NorthWest
As violence escalates in the Central African country of Cameroon the NW NJPN E Bulletin for March 2020 leads with a call for urgent peace talks. Opinion pieces highlight the mixed reception of Querida Amazonia, Pope Francis’ response to the Amazonian Synod. Many feel the opportunity to relax the celibacy rule to allow married priests and women deacons has been lost. The bulletin also features current news from around the world plus local events.
Booking now open for the NJPN Annual Conference – details on page 18.
Please read and pass on to others.
Report: NJPN Networking Day in Bristol on 8th February in St Nicholas of Tolentino Church
A wide variety of 50+ people attended from areas of the South of the UK, from London to Cardiff and much more. Stalls from CAFOD, Pax Christi, NJPN and local displays were available.
After a welcome by Anne Peacey and prayer, Fr Augusto Zampini gave an invigorating address where he urged us to convert our parishes to the message of Laudato Si, heard and quoted all over the world more than any papal document ever, but largely unknown in the pews. The need is to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. He urged us to resist those who deny climate change, as all the best scientists with the most conservative consensus agree we are at a crucial tipping point and the last opportunity for urgent action. Conversion must be deeper than reason, or emotion, but involve our very deepest commitments, such as our faith. Our faith can counter prevailing utilitarianism about the world’s resources and people with the spirituality of contemplation, the individualism of society with the uniting focus of the liturgy, and the materialism with an aesthetic of beauty. He urged ‘injustice is not invincible’ and that our faith means that change is possible and we must want to leave the world a better place, which we are not doing at the moment. He emphasised the power of example, of prayer and of doing small things for God, in the little way of love of St Therese of Lisieux, contrasting the globalisation of indifference with radical transformative love for the planet and all its life.
Phil Kingston followed as a climate activist, who led us in an exercise to get in touch with our feelings when we heard that while the Paris agreement committed us to reducing global emissions of CO2, the last three years have seen their relentless rise. This was a transformative exercise for many, in digesting what we had already heard.
Nikki Jones from Clifton Climate Action completed the input, with news of powerful scientific evidence, making financial and investment institutions move radically in the last few months. The big lack is a change in consumer culture. She mentioned that a 10% cut in car use equals a 130% cut in emissions as much comes from production and transportation of oil We should examine our use of energy, understanding our bills, cut our shopping, not fly, insulate our homes better. There is tremendous consumer power. Airlines have a 3% profit margin so are very vulnerable to changes in demand. She quoted ‘We are in a battle for our lives’ Antonio Guttierrez, and ‘This is our Third World War’ Joseph Stiglitz economist. She has set up three Climate Change action groups in Clifton.
We then heard news from various parts of the country, and from the different networks present, including a major push for COP 26, the Conference of the Parties, seeking to ratify the Paris commitments worldwide, which will happen in Glasgow in November 2020.
The meeting concluded with thanks to all who came and for all involved in the organisation.
Latest News From The NorthWest
-
As the U.K. Government votes overwhelmingly to scrap legal protection for child refugees the February issue of the NW NJPN E Bulletin also looks at positive action against the US Administration’s policy of separating immigrant families and its continued detention of unaccompanied children on the borders. A round-up of current events and campaigns includes Holocaust Memorial Day, with opinion pieces from poet, author and activist Michael Rosen and blogger Robert A Cohen, a report of ground-breaking action by Muslim leaders joining Holocaust survivors in prayer at Auschwitz, a moving speech in support of the Palestinian people from Prince Charles, Climate Change in the light of the Australian bush fires, Poverty Action Week 23 Feb, Lent resources, Franz Jagerstatter film review and diary dates for the next two months.
Read this months ebulletin
The Lent resources can be downloaded at:
Pope Francis: “Spontaneous hospitality and thoughtful gestures communicate something of God’s love,”
Pope Francis has dedicated his Jan. 22 catechesis to the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” stressing on hospitality, which he described as an “important ecumenical virtue.”
The pope, who had completed his catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles the previous week, nevertheless returned to the episode of the shipwreck of Saint Paul in Malta, to which the Week of Unity 2020 owes its theme.
“Spontaneous hospitality and thoughtful gestures communicate something of God’s love,” Pope Francis noted in his catechesis, with 7,000 faithful listening at Paul VI Hall.
This is an “important ecumenical virtue,” the pope said. “The desire to know the experience that others have of God.”
This “recognizes that Christians of other denominations are truly brothers and sisters in Christ” and therefore requires “the readiness to listen to other Christians, to pay attention to their personal stories of faith and those of their communities,” he said.
Hospitality, the pope added, also includes “the desire to know the experience of God in others” and therefore allows us to receive “what the Holy Spirit has sown in our brothers and sisters.”
“It becomes a gift for us as well,” he said.
Read more at:
https://international.la-croix.com/news/pope-insists-on-hospitality/11678?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_content=23-01-2020&utm_campaign=newsletter_crx_lci&PMID=9af1d9079eaa55f77e61c1979fff3e9a
