The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology

Activities

ORCIE Endorses Open Letter by Faith Organizations in Support of Preserving El Salvador’s Historic Ban on Metals Mining

Filed Under: Activities, Advocacy, News, Take Action

The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology (ORCIE) is pleased to share that we have officially endorsed the Open Letter by Faith Organizations in Support of Preserving El Salvador’s Historic Ban on Metals Mining. This collective statement urges governments to uphold the decision of the people of El Salvador and their church institutions to protect their land, water, and communities from the devastating impacts of metallic mining.

We, the undersigned, from a diversity of church structures(representing local, regional, and national expressions of churches and related agencies),express our steadfast support for the people of El Salvador and their religious institutions and leaders who are struggling to maintain their country’s historic ban on metal mining –in place from 2017 to 2024 — so all Salvadorans can enjoy their God-given right to clean water.  We stand in solidarity with civic and religious leaders who are being persecuted and imprisoned for working against injustices, including the devastation that metals mining would cause their communities…”

We encourage our members to join us in this important initiative by signing on behalf of your congregation. Adding your voice amplifies the call from people of faith who are advocating for ecological justice and the defense of communities most at risk.

📅 Deadline to sign: September 1, 2025

👉 Read and sign the open letter here

Together, our collective witness can amplify the moral voice of the people of El Salvador in their call for justice and the care for creation.

Jubilee People’s Forum: A Voice Amid Global Headlines

Filed Under: Activities, Media, Take Action

Media coverage of the G7 events was largely dominated by pressing geopolitical developments, including Trump’s arrival and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Yet ORCIE’s message at the People’s Forum was present and reflected a growing call to recognize ecological debt and lift the burden on low-income countries.

Coverage from The Catholic Register captured our participation in a spirited public demonstration alongside global partners, and CTV News documented the grassroots mobilization that unfolded in Calgary.

A key highlight was deepened collaboration with the Calgary Interfaith Council, a 30-year-strong alliance of diverse religious communities. This relationship opens new pathways for ORCIE to expand its interfaith advocacy work on economic and climate justice.

Hope in Action: A Global Movement

The Forum offered more than analysis—it fostered relationships, re-energized commitments, and created space for a shared vision. As our partners at Development and Peace beautifully reflected in their post-event summary, “Hope was created, nurtured, and shared” through this collective gathering. Their thoughtful reflection captures the spirit of the Jubilee People’s Forum and the momentum it generated.

📖 Read the full reflection by Development and Peace: Creating Hope at the G7 Jubilee People’s Forum

Read and watch more about the Jubilee People’s Forum and the G7 in the media: 
📰 The Catholic Register – March to protest G7 leaders
📰 CTV News Calgary – Protesters Gather at Designated Zones

Let us continue connecting the dots—between faith, finance, and the future—and transforming systems that exploit into systems that heal.

Forging the Path Ahead: Insights from the People’s Forum and ORCIE’s Fall Advocacy

Filed Under: Activities, Communications, Take Action

What are we calling for?

The Global North can make payments on this climate debt by funding climate adaptation and mitigation in the Global South and by contributing to the Loss and Damages fund. The cancellation of unsustainable debts is another way of freeing up money so countries badly impacted by climate change can invest in climate adaptations and mitigation. If the Global North cancelled debt payments to low and lower-middle income countries, it could free up approximately $109 billion for climate action globally (Canada’s Fair Share Platform).”
— Sue Wilson, CSJ

Solutions from the Forum: Advancing ORCIE’s Fall Advocacy

Participants at the Forum went beyond critique to present clear, actionable solutions—many of which will shape ORCIE’s upcoming advocacy with the federal government. These proposals include:

  • Cancelling unjust and unsustainable debt without conditions;
  • Supporting the creation of a UN Global Debt Framework for transparent and fair resolution;
  • Tripling Canada’s climate finance pledge to $15.9 billion/year, with a focus on grants over loans;
  • Enacting windfall taxes on oil and gas companies instead of continuing public subsidies;
  • Reforming trade rules to protect human rights, land, and ecosystems over corporate profit.

Read Sue’s full analysis here: Connecting the Dots: Jubilee People’s Forum and The Debt Cancellation Campaign | Sue Wilson

Join Us for a Global Dialogue on Debt Justice

Filed Under: Activities, Communications, Take Action

Beyond Default: The Liberating Power of Debt Reform
Date: Monday, July 14, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM EDT
Location: Online via Zoom
Register here

ORCIE is proud to co-sponsor the upcoming global webinar Beyond Default: The Liberating Power of Debt Reform, an official side event of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). Hosted by the Congregations of St. Joseph NGO to the United Nations, this timely conversation brings together global voices to explore pathways toward long-term debt sustainability, justice, and ecological accountability.

The event will focus on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 17.4, addressing the urgent need to confront unjust global debt burdens that hinder the flourishing of communities across the Global South. Participants will engage with key themes including health equity (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), and decent work (SDG 8), all through the lens of debt reform and ecological justice.

We’ll hear from inspiring speakers who are working at the intersection of economics, justice, and faith, and who are mobilizing around the Global Jubilee Year Campaign—a call to transform unjust debt structures and reimagine global solidarity.

Co-Sponsors:
Alongside ORCIE, this event is co-sponsored by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary–Loreto Generalate, Caritas Internationalis, and the NGO Committee on Financing for Development. Canadian partners include Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, CSJ Federation Office for Systemic Justice, Centre Oblat, and the Mary Ward Centre.

We encourage all members of congregations, advocacy networks, and justice-seeking communities to attend and spread the word. Let’s come together to reframe the conversation on global debt and embody a new vision rooted in justice, sustainability, and solidarity.

Together, let’s turn debt into hope.
Click here to register.

From Debt to Hope: Watch Our Spring Webinar on Ecological and Financial Justice

Filed Under: Activities, Advocacy, Take Action

Webinar Recap and Recording Available: From Ecological Debt to Ecological Hope

Thank you to everyone who joined our spring 2025 ORCIE webinar, From Ecological Debt to Ecological Hope. We’re grateful for the insightful presentations and the powerful conversations that took place.

We’re pleased to share that the full recording of the webinar is now available for those who were unable to attend or would like to revisit the event. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujh3-bPLyik

During the webinar, speakers explored the deep connections between ecological and financial debt, highlighting how global financial structures contribute to both climate breakdown and economic injustice—especially in communities in the Global South.

As Darelene O’Leary reflected:

“The global financial structures behind the debt crisis are the same structures behind the climate and ecological crises facing the planet… We must move toward new models of economic life that respect human dignity, the common good, and the flourishing of earth systems.”

The voices from Brazil were particularly impactful, sharing the lived realities of ecological and financial harm—especially on women and children—and reminding us of the role of religious communities in bearing witness and speaking out for justice.

This event also highlighted the ongoing work of congregations in Canada and abroad, including the continued advocacy of the Sisters of St. Martha for corporate accountability and extractive industry regulation in line with Indigenous rights and sovereignty.

Coming Soon: English and French Translations

A second recording will soon be available with subtitles translating the original Portuguese presentations into English and French.

The PowerPoint presentations used during the webinar were in Portuguese. Translations of these slides into English and French are available at the following link: Webinar Resources: From Ecological Debt to Ecological Hope – The Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology

Thank you for continuing this journey with us—from ecological debt to ecological hope.