{"id":6056,"date":"2021-12-15T11:45:17","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T17:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=6056"},"modified":"2021-12-15T11:45:17","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T17:45:17","slug":"december-update-un-and-state-edition-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/december-update-un-and-state-edition-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"December Update: UN and State Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

U.N.<\/a> | Arizona<\/a> | Colorado<\/a> | Minnesota<\/a> | Texas<\/a> | Washington<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

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U.N.<\/h4>\n

Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), United Nations, New York, N.Y. –\u00a0ELCA.org\/lowc<\/a><\/h4>\n

Dennis Frado, Director<\/h4>\n

Global Reports<\/strong><\/p>\n

Several global reports of interest were issued in November:<\/p>\n

The Global Report on Internal Displacement 2021<\/a> focuses on \u201cthe relationship between climate change, disasters and displacement, and presents good practices from across the globe in advancing policy, displacement risk reduction and effective response.\u201d The report summarized the global situation stating, \u201cIn 2020, conflict and disasters triggered 40.5 million new internal displacements across 149 countries and territories.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Congressional Research Service outlined the Global Economic Effects of COVID-19<\/a> in an update issued on November 10.<\/p>\n

The Global State of Democracy Report 2021<\/a> lamented the facts that the \u201c\u2026 world is becoming more authoritarian as non-democratic regimes become even more brazen in their repression and many democratic governments suffer from backsliding by adopting their tactics of restricting free speech and weakening the rule of law, exacerbated by what threatens to become a \u2018new normal\u2019 of Covid-19 restrictions. For the fifth consecutive year, the number of countries moving in an authoritarian direction exceeds the number of countries moving in a democratic direction. In fact, the number moving in the direction of authoritarianism is three times the number moving towards democracy.\u201d
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Arizona<\/h4>\n

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) – lamaz.org<\/a><\/h4>\n

Solveig Muus, Director<\/h4>\n

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The LAMA policy council met in retreat this month to discern legislative policy priorities for 2022. The committee agreed the priorities for the coming year will be to continue building on LAMA\u2019s early efforts in (1) Food Insecurity<\/strong> as it relates to the root causes of hunger, as well as (2) Civic Engagement<\/strong> as it relates to the ELCA being a publicly engaged church<\/a> and the ELCA\u2019s social teachings on educating, advocating, and engaging in our political process. The group was blessed, and the conversation enriched by the presence of the Rev. Amy Reumann, ELCA Senior Director, Witness in Society, who brought experience and insight, and helped the council to identify a framework for discernment in the future. Pr. Reumann also energized the participants at the LAMA Summit on Sunday, December 5 with her speech on \u201cThe 12 Things I know For Sure about Advocacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

LAMA looks ahead to the Arizona State Legislature convening on January 10. With a record number of shifts in the Arizona state house mid-term, the LAMA team has been busy connecting with Arizona\u2019s 18 new and returning elected officials. Lutheran Advocacy Day at the legislature is set for Tuesday, February 1 from 8:30 \u2013 10:30am in the Capitol Rose Garden. Many invitations have been extended, and LAMA expects to have several Arizona legislators on hand for its first advocacy day at the Capitol in more than 15 years. We pray for all government leaders as the 2022 session convenes, that they might work as one for the benefit of all God\u2019s people.
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Colorado<\/h4>\n

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado (LAM-CO) –\u00a0lam-co.org<\/a><\/h4>\n

Peter Severson, Director<\/h4>\n

2022 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ADOPTED: The Policy Committee of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado has adopted its agenda for the 2022 legislative session. When the Colorado General Assembly returns in early January, LAM-CO will be prioritizing six key areas:<\/p>\n