hope in an age of crisis
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Hope in An Age of Crisis. Student Network. SOUL. An Age of Crisis. Where We Are Today:. A Land Whose Leaders Have Turned Against the Will of God. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Hope in An Age of Crisis
SOUL STUDENT NETWORK
Where We Are Today:An Age of Crisis
A Land Whose Leaders Have Turned Against the
Will of God[The land’s] officials … are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Its prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the LORD says’—when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.Ezekiel 22:27-30
Economic Crisis:The Poor & Working
ClassAre Under Attack
High Unemployment
Cuts to Education& the Safety Net
Cuts to Schools:$200 million cut in Illinois in 2012$400 million cut threatened this
yearOther cuts:
Mental health services, Medicaid, addiction prevention and
counseling, youth programs, public transportation
Record Corporate Profits
Rising Income Inequality
Source: http://www.cbpp.org/files/11-28-11pov.pdf
Behold, the wages of the laborerswho mowed your fields,which you kept back by fraud,are crying out against you,and the cries of the harvestershave reached the ears of the Lordof hosts.James 5:4
Declining Tax Revenue
Environmental Crisis:
Endangering Our Planet& Our Communities
Where We’re Heading
Predicted Impacts Permanent Dust Bowl conditions over
the U.S. Southwest, large parts of Africa, and other populous areas
Massive species loss on land and sea More extreme weather, more frequently Large Scale Food Insecurity – Affecting
up to 4 billion people by the end of the next century
EXTREME POLITICAL INSTABILITYSource: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2011/09/28/330109/science-of-global-warming-impacts/
Social Crisis:Structural Racism& Scapegoating
Violence &
Poverty
Mass Incarceration of Black and Latino
Men
Immigrants
Political Crisis:Government Held
Hostage
Case Study:Illinois SB 282
Unequivocal Public Support
Source: PPP Poll, Dec. 18-19, 2012
Outcome: Killed by Democrats
Michael J. Zalewski
Frank J. Mautino
Michael Madigan
Corporate Control of Elections
How does this crisis impact our communities and
families?
A Brief History:Crisis & Social Change
The Great Depression
Labor Movement & New Deal
Civil Rights Movement
IIRON’s Vision:
OrganizingFor a New Movement
Getting at the Root Causes
Naming Our Crisis
Neo-liberalism(Reaganomics)
A War of Values IIRON’s Values Economic Justice The Common
Good Protect
Democracy Living Wage &
Workers’ Rights Environmental
Sustainability
Neoliberalism’s Values Individualism Structural
Greed Regressive
Taxes Deregulation of
Banks & Businesses
Privatization of Public Services
Specific Issues Enact Corporate Tax Disclosure Close Corporate Loopholes Protect Social Security,
Medicare, Medicaid, and other Human Services
Force Banks to Reduce Loan Debt for Underwater Homeowners
Stop Corporatization of Schools
How Do We Make Systemic
Change?
Public Meetings
Direct Action
Organizing Statewide Power
Lobbying for the 99%
Building Electoral Power
A Divine Challenge
A Divine PromiseIf you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.And the LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong;and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters fail not.And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. Isaiah 58:9-12