2010 Global Economic Justice Workshops

There can be no truly comprehensive immigration reform without addressing global economic injustices. Come learn about how US-promoted global economic policies force people to leave their homes and become people on the move.

 

Global Connections: Understanding the Push & Pull Factors of Migration
(Co-sponsored with the Latin America Track)

International trade policies and the debt crisis have pushed people to leave their countries, journey across borders, and work and reside in distant lands. Come listen to the stories of three speakers at each point of the journey – from a Central American country facing massive out-migration, the U.S./Mexico border, and the DC-metro area where many new immigrants work and live – and the policies that pushed and pulled them.

Speakers:

• Magda Lanuza, Program Coordinator for Latin America with the Kenoli Foundation
• Fr. Bill Morton, SSC, US Vice-Director, Missionary Society of St. Columban
• Invited Guest from Casa de Maryland

Moderator: Melinda St. Louis is Deputy Director of Jubilee USA.

 

Economic Justice & Migration: Biblical Roots and Present-Day Realities

The Bible offers us countless stories of migration and movement of people as well as offering us a prophetic vision of a just world and right relationships between peoples. This plenary will explore biblical roots as well as present-day realities of economic injustice and migration. We will see how the Biblical mandate of “welcoming the stranger” is played out in some places in the world and we will be informed in ways we can recognize and challenge some of the root causes of migration.

Speakers:

• Reverend Stan Duncan, Senior Pastor, United Church of Christ in Abington, Massachusetts
• Bobby Gilmore, SSC, Columban Missionary, Philippines (1964-78), Director of Irish Emigrant Chaplaincy, Britain (1978-92), Missionary in Jamaica (1992-99), Co-founder of the Casa Housing Association in London, Co-founder of the Irish Commission for Irish Prisoners Overseas, the former Chairman of the Campaign for Irish prisoners in Britain, Co-founder and Chair of the Migrant Rights Center Ireland.

 

“Leaps and Bounds,” a Theatrical Production

Get out of “lecture mode” and explore the deepening of our planet’s economic and ecological crises through creative expression. Through the performance participants will engage in and witness the economic and ecological driving forces behind migration and marginalization through a combination of artistic expression – dance, theater and spoken word. Respondents will then encourage and facilitate participants’ reactions.

Presenter: Tevyn East, Choreographer and Performer with the Affording Hope Project

Respondents:

• Colin Rajah, Program Director, International Migrant Rights and Global Justice Program at the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR)
• Kathy McNeely, Coordinator of the Faith Ecology Economy project at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (MOGC).

 

From Foreclosures at Home to the Debt Crisis Abroad: How the Global Economic Crisis Affects Us Here and Around the World

In 2009, the economic crisis pushed more than 100 million people back into poverty. The most vulnerable around the globe, which had no hand in creating the crisis, are now suffering heightened food insecurity and a growing debt crisis. Come learn about the connections between experiences in our own communities and communities in the Global South. We will look into deeper economic structures that have caused the crisis, the harmful influences of the financial institutions and the practice of food and other commodity speculation on global stability and prosperity. Learn about current legislation to combat some of these deep injustices, including the Jubilee Act and the TRADE Act.

Speakers:

• Dave Kane, Associate for Latin America and Economic Issues at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (MOGC)
• Hayley Hathaway, Communications & Development Coordinator for Jubilee USA Network.

 

Who Owes Whom – Climate Debt
(Co-Sponsored with the Eco-Justice Track)

Countries in the Global South bear the harshest burden from climate change and have the fewest resources to combat it. Climate change is increasing the spread of infections diseases and causing more natural disasters, as well as food and water shortages – creating millions of climate refugees. Harmful agriculture practices, including deforestation, mono-cropping and the heavy use of agro-industrial inputs promote growth in rich countries, while hurting the most impoverished. The reality is that large, industrialized nations including the United States bear most of the responsibility for the climate situation we’re in today, and therefore owe a climate debt to developing countries – much more than the value of loans that the Global South continues to pay to the North. This leaves us asking, “Who owes whom?” Unfortunately, current policy solutions may force impoverished countries to take out more loans to fight climate change; so countries get further into debt while trying to fight the crisis. Come learn about the concrete changes that can save the planet while addressing global inequities, including emission reduction and paying our climate debt to the Global South through funding adaptation and mitigation.

Speakers:

• Janet Redman, Co-director of the Sustainable Energy and Economy Network at the Institute for Policy Studies
• Njoki Njehu is the Director of Solidarity Africa Network in Action and the Daughters of Mumbi Resource Center in Kenya

Moderator: Michelle Melcher Knight, Advocacy/Outreach Associate at the Cloumban Center for Advocacy and Outreach of the Missionary Society of St. Columban.

 

Building the Movement in Your Community

This workshop will give us the tools we need to learn how to continue EAD’s momentum in our home communities. Learn how to strengthen the economic justice and migration movement in your faith community, school, or community group. We will discuss legislative initiatives that expand debt cancellation, promote responsible lending and borrowing, and establish more just trading relationships as well as just trading relationships, as well as ways to plug into a number of exciting events and opportunities for action around the world in the coming months.
Speaker: Brooke Harper – National Field Organizer for Jubilee USA Network.

 

Workers Rights For All
(Co-sponsored with the United States/Domestic Track)

Because undocumented workers are a highly vulnerable population, they are frequently victims of wage theft and other abusive practices. Through a panel presentation, the Workers’ Rights for All workshop will provide a first person account of these abusive practices: a faith-based response to this ongoing exploitation of workers; an historical perspective of worker rights with a portrayal of the extent of current abusive practices; a description of the legislative responses required; and a detailed call-to-action on what participants can do both here in DC and at home. We will provide handouts with additional information, websites, and contact persons.

Speaker: Colin Rajah is the Coordinator of the International Migrant Rights Program at the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR)