Mexico: Ending drug violence from bottom up
April 15 is the anniversary of an unusual and largely unnoticed "citizen uprising" in Cherán, a small indigenous town of 20,000 residents in the state of Michoacán, México.
Brazil: Digging deeper into corruption scandals
Within Brazil, national news programs and newspapers dedicate extensive coverage to several corruption scandals, which has contributed to growing anger toward President Dilma Rousseff and her affiliated Workers Party (PT).
Brazil: Study released on 30 years of land conflicts
The Brazilian Catholic Church’s Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) recently released a study of 30 years of conflicts in Brazil over access to land, water and worker rights.
Maryknoll, colleagues alarmed by "Fast Track" potential consequences
A number of faith leaders representing religious communions, denominations, and organizations across the country spoke out on April 16, 2015 to voice their concern about the newly released Trade Promotion Authority bill, or Fast Track, which would give the president unilateral power to sign the secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement without a chance for debate in Congress.
Maryknoll signs letter calling for stronger efforts to end use of death penalty
MOGC director Gerry Lee and Fr. Tom O'Brien, a member of the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers General Council, are two of the nearly 400 religious leaders who signed a new statement released April 1, 2015, urging stronger efforts to end the use of the death penalty.
MOGC applauds INDC contribution
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (MOGC) applauds the Obama Administration’s March 31 announcement of the U.S. Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) that will reduce emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.
TPP investment chapter will further threaten God’s Earth and vulnerable people
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns released this statement on March 31, 2015 after the release of the previously classified investment chapter of the proposed TransPacific Partnership trade agreement.
Resources for March-April 2015 NewsNotes
Resources on International Women's Day, World Water Day, Earth Day, the crisis at the border, and more ...
UN: CSocD holds 53rd session
In early February, civil society held a preliminary panel before the Commission for Social Development's 53rd session (CSocD53), “Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world.
Trade: TPP threatens access to medicines
With the current Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, the U.S. again looks to tighten control over patents for medicines.
Trade: Pacts undermine financial reforms
Leaks from three major trade negotiations show that the U.S. and the European Union are pushing for rules that would undermine the ability of governments to create laws to protect public safety, health and the environment.
Recommendations from drones conference
The Coalition for Peace Action (CfPA) hosted an Interfaith Conference on Drone Warfare at Princeton Theological Seminary from January 23-25, 2015.