August 22, 2009 Meeting Summary

DuPage Glocal AIDS Action Network

S. Rosemary Pint Room, Wheaton Franciscan Campus

Wheaton, Illinois

 

  1. Co-chairs: Dr. Sandra Joireman, Ph.D., Chair of the Dept. of Politics and International Relations, Wheaton College; Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF, D. Min., Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Office, Wheaton Franciscans. 10 persons were present.

 

  1. Sr. Sheila led the reflection on the Our Father.

 

  1. Sr. Glenna Czachor, the new JPIC Coordinator of the Wheaton Franciscans was warmly welcomed to DGAAN.

 

  1. Dr. Joireman introduced Katy Ryan, Program/Advocacy Office for Catholic Relief Service who gave a very informative session on topics surrounding global poverty and HIV/aids. She emphasized the interconnections between debt relief, extractive industries, migration, climate change, international trade, peace building and international assistance. Ms. Ryan asked for specific advocacy efforts around extractive industries in poor countries with Rep. Judy Biggert. (To view Ms. Ryan’s PowerPoint)

 

  1. Jeana Stewart is the Co-Director of Canticle Ministries, an organization which focuses on the community and individual needs of persons with HIV/AIDS in DuPage County. She updated the group on the need for a public policy option for persons with HIV and AIDS. 50% of the persons with HIV and AIDS do not have access to healthcare. She also spoke of the need to reform the Illinois budget because so many of the areas impact each other, such as housing and food.

 

  1. The strategic advocacy plans for 2009 were given updates.

·         Foreign Aid Reform HR 2139. Dr. Joireman updated the members on the progress of this legislation. She was particularly appreciative of the one page summary of the legislation developed by BREAD for the Senate version S. 1524 which is moving forward. There was the fear the bill would be attached to other forms of legislation and so we are happy that the bill now stands alone. For more information please go to the Bread for the World website at www.bread.org   

·         “Stop VULTURE Funds” Act (H.R. 2932). The bill will help preserve the poverty reduction gains achieved through global debt cancellation efforts by making it illegal for so-called “Vulture Funds” to profit at the expense of impoverished citizens of heavily indebted poor nations and U.S. tax payers who have supported international debt cancellation. A case currently in litigation involves the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which is being sued for $105 million, which is more than three times the amount of the original $30 million loaned incurred.

·         Members were encouraged to become involved in the Stand up for the MDG’s:  Cancel the Debt for Human Development—October 16-18, sponsored by Jubilee USA Network.

·         Members were encouraged to sign the ONE Petition for Climate Change bill to allocate 5% of revenue to begin helping the world’s poorest people to overcome the threats posed by climate change.

·          Moved by Faith: A Call for Peace in Sudan will be observed the weekend of August 28th-30th. The events in Sudan are dire and it is important for faith communities to be involved in this action. DGAAN has been following the developments in Darfur for a number of years.

 

  1. Mr. Roger Thurow, Senior Reporter for the Wall Street Journal, has published his book. Enough: why the world’s poorest starve in an Age of Plenty. New York: Public Affairs.  Dr. Joireman, Sr. Sheila and DGAAN are included in this book.

 

  1. Sr. Sheila and John St. Laurent were blessed by the members of DGAAN for their committed and important service to the work of DGAAN. Both expressed deep gratitude for their blessings.

DGAAN Members Actions as they relate to HIV/AIDS:

 

Ron Durbin, St. Joan of Arc

·         Sent letters to Senators Durbin, Burris and Rep Biggert asking for support for Universal healthcare

·         Oktoberfest @ St. Joan of Arc on the 26 from 5:00pm-10:30pm. All proceeds go to Upendo Village

·         Sent email supporting efforts by One Campaign to get IMF to increase their lending to poor countries. IMF increase lending by 8 billion over the next two years.


Sandra Joireman, Dept. of Politics and International Relations at Wheaton College

·         Called Rep Roskam’s office regarding co-sponsoring of HR 2139. Spoke to his DC office staff personnel.

·         Wrote a book review for Christian Century on the Mayo and the Thurow; Kilma books about looking for assistance. (click here to read)

·         Met with editor for Christianity Today regarding writing articles about Foreign Aid.

·         Called Roskam’s office regarding healthcare reform

·         Attended Upendo Village Board Meeting

 

S. Sheila Kinsey, OSF-JPIC Office Wheaton Franciscan Sisters

·         Efforts to bring BONO to Wheaton College; to be considered at a later time.

·         Urge Rep. Roskam, Rep. Biggert and Sec. State Clinton to prioritize ending brutal LRA-violence-- LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act (S. 1067/H.R.2478); Sen. Burris is a co-sponsor

·         Advocated for the Stop Vulture Funds Act (HR 2932) Rep. Biggert

Betty Bradshaw, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

·         Congregation hosted free HIV/AIDS testing at their church and invited neighborhood churches to participated

·         Church also contributed regularly to the PRC Food Pantry which provided for persons with HIV/AIDS

Joy Townsend, Canticle Place

·         Our Fellowship group has birthed a desire of our residents to “give back”. They continue to serve a hot meal to PADS clients each month as a way to express gratitude for their food bank grogram. They are now known for their meals which they try to make very special & not the usual fare (There are usually lines waiting out the door on the 2nd Thursday of each month. 7 of our 12 apartments have adopted families to assist with food boxes and support. Our residents are so grateful to be able to give. They organized a yard sale and raised one thousand dollars for the Northern Illinois Food Bank Program in order to bring this full circle. Our folks have verbalized that they know they are not as affected as others by this economy and so rejoice in their ability to do something for others. They even use vegetables from their now annual veggie garden. Also this year we gathered unused/unopened medical supplies and send them off to an organization that recycles them. We also gathered eyeglasses for the Lions Club.

John St. Laurent, St. Joan of Ark, Diocese of Joliet

·         Working on offering of letters for Wesley Methodist Church for August 23.

·         Working on Catholics Confront Global Poverty Campaign at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Naperville

 

The next meeting is schedule for October 24, 2009 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Wheaton Franciscan Campus.

 

 

 

Thanks for all that you are doing to make this world a safer and better place of persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.