Martin Luther King Jr. Speaking About The Labor Movement

Web link: AFT website ; Resource type: Web site

From the AFT website, the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from the 1960's:

"The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress. Out of its bold struggles, economic and social reform gave birth to unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, government relief for the destitute and, above all, new wage levels that meant not mere survival but a tolerable life. The captains of industry did not lead this transformation; they resisted it until they were overcome. When in the thirties the wave of union organization crested over the nation, it carried to secure shores not only itself but the whole society."
—Speech to the state convention of the Illinois AFL-CIO, Oct. 7, 1965 [ read more ]

Bishop Sisk: We Must Not Serve Capitalism – We Must Make It Serve Us

Web link: Bishop Sisk Commentary on ENS; Resource type: Web site

"We must -- and I believe that this is what lies at the core of the OWS protests -- rein in the imbalances that have caused our economic house to careen off course as though it is a self-perpetuating, self-governing good. The solution that we find will not be perfect, just as human beings are not perfect; but to surrender to forces as though we are helpless before them is not an answer, but an excuse." --Bishop Sisk.

The Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk, bishop of the Diocese of New York, published a commentary on the diocesan website and on the Episcopal News Service commentary page with his reflections on the Occupy Wall Street movement and economic justice. Bishop Sisk's commentary can be found here. [ read more ]

What About Guns? EPF Project to Reduce Gun Violence

Web link: What About Guns?; E-mail: epfnational@ameritech.net; Resource type: Web site

Here are some sobering statistics -- 34 Americans are dying each day due to gun violence (8 of those are children), and 180 Americans are wounded by guns each day. This must stop.

The Episcopal Peace Fellowship would like to create a national Gun Violence Action Group/Network that would help to address this critical issue affecting the US.

Click here for more information from the National EPF website. You'll also find suggestions for action that you can take to advocate for a reduction in gun violence. [ read more ]

Act Now to Stand Up for Families and Kids in Michigan

Web link: Michigan League for Human Services; Resource type: Web site

On Oct. 1, two new state policies impacting economically vulnerable families and children in our state took effect. The strict enforcement of time limits on cash assistance and the new asset testing for food assistance will hurt struggling families and people across our state. [ read more ]

Advocacy for Haiti victims

Web link: EPPN urges Haiti advocacy; Resource type: Web site

EPPN urges prayer, giving and advocacy for Haiti;
White House grants temporary protected status to Haitian refugees in the U.S.

By Matthew Davies, January 15, 2010

[Episcopal News Service] The effort to assist victims of the Haiti earthquake should be expressed through prayer, financial support and advocacy, the Episcopal Public Policy Network has urged in a policy alert issued Jan. 15.

"Like hundreds of millions of Americans and other people around the world, my heart has broken as I've seen the images of the devastation brought to Haiti by this week's earthquake," said Alexander Baumgarten, director of government relations for the Episcopal Church, in the alert. [ read more ]

How Episcopalians can help Haitians in need

Web link: ENS article on Haiti; Resource type: Web site

Haiti earthquake prompts the desire to help, asks the question of how

By Mary Frances Schjonberg, January 13, 2010

[Episcopal News Service] Whether it is a tsunami overwhelming southeast Asia, hurricanes demolishing the U.S. Gulf Coast, or an earthquake devastating Haiti, many people feel the need to give of themselves to help those who suffer.

The question is how best to do that at each stage of the aftermath and how best to meet the needs of those hurt by the disaster.

As people contemplated how to respond to those needs in the hours since a magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook the Port-au-Prince area to its foundation at just before 5 p.m. on Jan. 12, governments and the United Nations began moving bulldozers, cranes and hospital ships into position.

"It's heavy disaster logistics," Robert Radtke, president of Episcopal Relief and Development, told ENS. [ read more ]

350.org, resource for environmental action

Web link: 350.org; Resource type: Web site

Explore the site www.350.org, a source of information and a call to action regarding climate change legislation.

The mission of 350.org is as follows:

350.org is an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis-- [ read more ]