Statement on Juneteenth Observation
While we are all grateful that the celebration of Juneteenth will now be recognized as a federal holiday, we believe that there is still much to do to end the sin of systemic racism and ensure justice for all people. The following statement was released on our social media channels on Friday.

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We are honored to join our black sisters and brothers in the first official commemoration of Juneteenth – the date that marked the final end of slavery in the United States. This recognition is to be celebrated but is also bittersweet, as we realize that there is still much to do to heal the damage done by racial inequality and the systemic racism still in place in our nation.

While we pray with gratitude for this recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, we also ask God to move each of us, as Christians, citizens, and leaders, to work for equality in education, housing, voters’ rights, the legal system, and employment.

We pray for the souls of those who died in slavery, and for those who died fighting for equality. May they experience the everlasting peace and justice of the Kingdom of God, and may we work towards that same peace and justice here on Earth.

The Interfaith Power & Light Film
Interfaith Power & Light will be sharing Other Side of the Hill, a hopeful, inspiring look at local leaders in rural America who are leading climate action in their communities.

This 30-minute film will be available for free online viewing July 10 – 25. Registration opens July 1.

You can watch the trailer and sign up to get a registration reminder here.

A screening kit from Interfaith Power and Light will be available on July 1.

Tell Your Representative – Approve a Climate-Friendly Budget
President Biden’s 2022 budget prioritizes protections for our air, water, lands, biodiversity, wildlife, and oceans. The $6 trillion budget increases investments by over $14 billion for climate action, compared to 2021—across nearly every agency. EPA will get a 21% increase, and there are historic funding levels to secure environmental justice for communities that have been left behind.

A budget is a statement of values. It is good to see a budget more in line with our values of caring for Creation, loving our neighbors, and being good stewards of God’s precious creation, but now we need Congress to begin the process of taking up this budget proposal and passing it into law. Click here to let your representatives hear from you.

What is Juneteenth?
While many Black Americans have celebrated Juneteenth for years, it has sadly been minimized in most history books. Click here for an explanation of our “Second Independence Day” from The National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian.

The Washington Post is presenting a series of webinars on race in America as part of its Juneteenth observance. They are open to the public.

• History Matters – “Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer”
  June 17 – 2:00 p.m. ET
  Click here to register
• History Matters with Annette Gordon-Reed
  June 18 – 12:00 p.m. ET
  Click here to register
• Black Economic Mobility
  June 18 – 2:00 p.m. ET
  Click here to register

How Religious Sisters Work for Racial Justice
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange featured their racial justice efforts in a recent episode of their podcast, Sister Storylab. Click here to listen

Racism as Soul Sickness
June 14 – June 16, the Oblate School of Theology will present a series of lectures and discussions examining the issue of racism by drawing upon the experience of Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans. Featured speakers will be Rev. Dr. Bryan Massingale, Dr. Teresa Maya, CCVI, and Dr. KimOanh Nguyen-Lam. For more information or to register, click here. 

Black Americans in the Church
Father Bryan Massingale presents the findings of a recent Pew Research Center on the state of Black faith in America. He says that we are witnessing an exodus of African Americans from the Catholic Church – and he thinks he knows why. Click here to read the article from US Catholic.

Week of Action to Eliminate Child Labor Trafficking – June 12 – 17
USCSAHT is committed to ending all forms of human trafficking, including child labor trafficking. We join with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and International Labour Organization (ILO) during the week of action to Eliminate Child Labor Trafficking June 12 – 17.
Child labor trafficking can be seen in many forms ranging from bricklayers in India, to the cocoa fields in Africa, to homeless youth forced to work as street beggars or roving magazine sales in the States. USCSAHT, as an organization, has made a Pledge to End Child Labor and we encourage you to take ACTION of your own.  

To mark this week of action, the USCSAHT offers these learning opportunities.

Members’ Sponsored Webinars:

• Wednesday, June 9 at 1:00 p.m. EST
  In honor of the World Day Against Child Labor (June 12), join us on for a 60 minute Interactive Webinar on the problem of child labor and the work of Sr. Mary Vertucci, MM, and her colleagues at the the Emusoi Centre in Tanzania, which focuses on educating young women to provide pathways out of poverty and early marriage. The webinar is being organized by the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Lay Missioners, Sisters, and the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. Click HERE for more information and to register for the webinar.
• Monday, June 14 at 8-10am EST 
  To celebrate the World Day Against Child Labour, the Good Shepherd International Foundation and Bon Pasteur Kolwezi present: “What works in eliminating child labour in artisanal mining?” We will share lessons and results from our mission, since 2013, to eliminate child labour in the artisanal mines in and around Kolwezi, the DR Congo’s copper and cobalt belt. REGISTER HERE.
• Monday, June 14 from 11:00AM-12:30PM EST
  You are invited to join the NGO Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons and the NGO Committee on Migration for our event in commemoration of World Day against Child Labor: “Improving Outcomes for Migrant Children at Risk of Trafficking.” The event will take place virtually on Zoom on . Register for the event at this link.

Attend Wear Orange 2021
We participate in Wear Orange events to remember lives lost to gun violence and to raise awareness about this public health crisis.  Every day, more than 100 Americans are killed with guns and more than 230 are shot and wounded.  These survivors are faced with a life-long process of physical and emotional healing.

Gun suicide claims the lives of over 23,000 people in the United States each year.  More than 14,000 people die in gun homicides.  The United States gun homicide rate is 25 times higher than that of other high-income countries.

Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States.  Every year, more than 3,000 children and teens are shot and killed, and another 15,000 are shot and wounded – an average of nine children and teens shot and killed and 42 shot and wounded every day.

Fifty-eight percent of American adults or someone they care for have experienced gun violence in their lifetime.  Approximately three million American children witness gun violence every year.

Together, we can build a future free from gun violence.  Stand up, speak out, and participate in Wear Orange events to raise awareness.

Join us as we honor survivors of gun violence this National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange weekend from June 4-6.

Click here to find a Wear Orange event near you.

GOING GREEN IN SUMMER, Part 2

MEALS

1. As you say grace before and after meals include thanking not only God but the EARTH and all who till and care for her, for the food you have.
2. Use a cloth napkin and remember why you do so. Be grateful for the trees saved by not using disposables.
3. Choose locally-grown foods whenever possible—shopping at Farmers’ Markets, or buying through a CSA or buying club. Buy responsibly grown fruits and vegetables, ethically raised meat, chicken, eggs, and fish.
4. Plan your meals ahead. Increase plant-based items and reduce meat. Reduce processed foods, use leftovers.  Compost food waste.  Animal products use massive amounts of energy as do processed foods and foods shipped around the world.
5. If you eat meals prepared by others—whether a food service, in-house cafeteria, or even a local restaurant, ask kitchen staff/manager to utilize fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Be sure to compliment them when they do—and eat heartily!
6. Read labels—note country of origin, number of long-syllable chemical ingredients, whether it contains GMO ingredients (or proclaims that it doesn’t since the US doesn’t demand fair labeling), as well as looking for Organic items.
7. Don’t buy products with excess packaging (eg. wrapped “single-serving” items) or use single-use paper and plastic ware, etc. Avoid Styrofoam always. If you must use disposables, take the time to locate recycled and compostable products—then do it!
8. Barbecuing – Use propane which burns cleaner than wood or charcoal. a. If you’re wedded to charcoal try a more natural charcoal product. b. When you’re done grilling, use natural cleaning products such as an organic grill cleaner
9. Perhaps consider a solar oven.
10. Never use hot, running water to defrost frozen foods. Plan ahead and place frozen items in the refrigerator overnight or use the microwave oven.
11. Rinse vegetables and fruits in a sink or a pan filled with water instead of under running water.
12. Share your meals and celebrate the gifts of the Earth.

LAWN/YARD CARE

1. Use EARTH Friendly products on your lawn and garden. Run-off water with fertilizers contaminates the rivers.
2. If installing a lawn, select a turf mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
3. Set lawn mower blades one notch higher since longer grass reduces evaporation. Leave grass clippings on your grass because it cools the ground and holds in moisture.
4. If you’re still using an old mower that is spitting harmful gasses into the environment, it’s time to upgrade to a newer model, such as an electric mower, that spews fewer or no emissions and benefits the earth and increases safety and performance.
5. Put water hoses in lawns, gardens, and orchards on timers and be sure they are in good working condition.
6. Avoid using sprinklers if possible. If you must, adjust them so they don’t spray on sidewalks, driveway, or street.
7. Don’t water the lawn on windy days. There’s too much evaporation.
8. Never hose down your driveway, sidewalk, patio, or balcony, always use a broom or blower.
9. Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back, when you lift your foot, it doesn’t need water. So set your sprinklers for more days in between watering or avoid watering it.
10. Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller water drops and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.
11. Cut down watering on cool and overcast days and don’t water in the rain!! Adjust or deactivate automatic sprinklers.
12. Use a rain gauge, or empty tuna can, to track rainfall on your lawn. Then reduce your watering accordingly.
13. Let your lawn go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks or less if it rains.
14. Aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
15. Best of all, convert all of your lawn (except areas used for playing, walking, or other outdoor activities) to native vegetation such as ground covers, shrubs, trees, and flowers.
16. Buy solar lights for outdoor lighting of pathways or other areas.
17. When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
18. Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs it the most.