Prayer
There have been a few disappointments in immigration and climate change issues this past week. I invite you to say a special prayer for our elected officials, especially those in whom we have so much hope. May their hearts open.
Advocacy and Action
It has just been announced that President Biden has decided to allow the Willows Project to go forward. If you remember, we sent our thoughts on this to the administration over the last few months. This goes against a specific campaign promise of the Biden Administration. CNN has a pretty well-rounded take on the situation. This project will only increase our climate change problem. Could you take a moment to let the White House know how you feel?. The National Resources Defense Council and Earth Justice have already filed an injunction to have the project stopped. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind some support if you have it to give.
Remember last week’s Heads up? The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice issued a proposed rule on February 23, to limit access to asylum for people who enter the U.S. without authorization through the southwest border if they did not seek asylum in a third country before arriving in the U.S. I said that advocacy opportunities would be available soon. Well, soon is here. The Sisters of Notre Dame in Chardon offers this tool to make a public comment. It is available ONLY until March 20, 2023. These comment periods are tools that can be used for any legal action that is taken if the rule is put into effect. Please consider adding your voice if you haven’t already.
Bread for the World is asking for our advocacy on the 2023 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill has a lot more in it besides help for farmers. There are provisions concerning families who are food insecure and conservation issues among other things. The Farm Bill goes up for renewal every 5 years, and 2023 is the year. Use the tool provided by BFW to send notes to your elected officials.
Education
- Cincinnati friends, next Tuesday, March 21 from 7-8, the local League of Women Voters is hosting a forum on Zoom concerning Policing and Race. It will involve our Cincinnati police chief and the sheriffs of Hamilton and Warren Counties. You can find details and registration information here.
- Check out this interactive visualization from CNN on how our climate has changed over the last several decades. Use the center arrows and slide them right and left to see the difference in the pictures taken by NASA satellites over time. Photos show the effects of a warming globe, forest fires, droughts, and other disasters.
- Thou Shalt Not Kill: A Conversation with Sr. Helen Prejean about Faith and the Death Penalty is available on YouTube. This presentation was sponsored by Faith Leaders of Color Coalition (FLOCC) and Ohioans to Stop Executions.