ACTIVISM

School of the Americas (WHISC-Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation) Vigil

For the each of the last ten years, John Carroll has sent students down to the School of the Americas, a U.S. military installation in Fort Benning, GA. Originally intended to promote military professionalism and leadership to Latin American soldiers, graduates of this school have been convicted of thousands of humans rights abuses, most notably the shooting of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the El Mozote Massacre in El Salvador. Training manuals from the school have been discovered which detail the instruction of torture techniques, psychological warfare, counter-insurgency, and counter-narcotics tactics. While the School has recently attempted to change its name to divert public attention away from past criticism, “SOA” has left a profound scar on Latin American society. Coming together in solidarity with these victims, the JUSTICE group joins the other 27 Jesuit colleges and many others in their call for the closing of the School.

Fair Trade and Sweat-Free Goods

The J.U.S.T.I.C.E. group is working hard to raise awareness and increase access to fair trade and sweat free goods on campus.  Just this past year, JUSTICE succeeded in getting fair trade coffee to be served in some of the dining retail outlets on campus!  Fair trade certified coffee is coffee that is purchased from farmers who receive a fair and just wage for their coffee beans, are given benefits such as education for their children, and produce the coffee in safe and eco-friendly ways.  JUSTICE also strives to educate the community through information pamphlets, Christmas craft sale, and speakers about other fair trade and sweat free items.  These items are goods (such as crafts or clothing) and foods (such as chocolate and bananas) in which the producer, worker or farmer also gets a fair wage for their goods and works in safe conditions.