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Quote of the Day. “For us, it was very important to receive the support of the universities. We are impressed by the social conscience of the students in the United States.”   Moises Alvarado, president of the union at a closed plant in Choloma, Honduras, after a succcessful campaign by United Students Against Sweatshops persuaded Russell Athletic to agree to reopen the plant and rehire 1,200 workers. (New York Times)

FAITH IN THE NEWS

Volunteers put Justice Revival spirit to work in projects across Dallas “About 50 parents, students, neighborhood leaders and church volunteers spent the chilly autumn morning laying sod, planting bushes and preparing a community garden. The effort Saturday was one of 10 projects across Dallas that wrapped up Justice Revival.”

Fort Hood shootings: US Muslims feel new heat “After the shootings at Fort Hood, Muslim communities across the US were swift to condemn the attack. But the incident has again raised image issues for Muslims, as well as questions about how to best counter radicalization.”

Hundreds line up to get food for Thanksgiving dinner “Hundreds of people waited hours in the cold outside the Bread of Life food pantry this morning in hopes of securing the makings of a Thanksgiving dinner.”

NEWS AT HOME

Health Care. Release of Reid’s health-care bill could come as early as Wednesday “Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid scrambled Tuesday to lock down votes behind a health-care bill that he may present as early as Wednesday.” 3 Democrats Could Block Health Bill in Senate “Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, says he is not sure he is ready to help a Democratic health-care proposal clear even the most preliminary hurdle: gaining the 60 votes his party’s leaders need to open debate on the measure later this week. Two of his fellow Democrats, Senators Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, are proving tough sells as well.”

Climate Change Legislation. Senate to Put Off Climate Bill Until Spring "Senate Democratic leaders said Tuesday they would put off debate on a big climate-change bill until spring, in a sign of weakening political will to tackle a long-term environmental issue at a time of high unemployment and economic uncertainty.”

Foreign Policy. Obama ‘close’ to Afghan decision “President Barack Obama says he is ‘very close’ to deciding whether to send more troops to Afghanistan and will announce his decision within ’several weeks.’”Obama Says He Is Close to Afghan War Decision “Most important, he said, was that he was asking ‘what’s the end game on this thing, which I think is something that, unless you impose that kind of discipline, could end up leading to a multiyear occupation that won’t serve the interests of the United States.’” Poll finds guarded optimism on Obama’s Afghan plan “Most Americans say they think President Obama will come up with a successful strategy for Afghanistan, but few are ‘very confident’ that he will do so, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.”

Army Suicides. Suicides in Army on track to hit new high in ‘09 “Soldier suicides this year are almost sure to top last year’s grim totals, but a recent decline in the pace of such incidents could mean the Army is starting to make progress in stemming them, officials said Tuesday.” Army’s record suicide rate ‘horrible,’ says Gen. Chiarelli “Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli on Tuesday called the Army’s record suicide rate this year ‘horrible’ and said the problem of soldiers taking their own lives is the toughest he has faced in his 37 years in service.”

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Climate Change. Poor women ‘bear climate burden’ “Women in developing countries will be the most vulnerable to climate change, a report from the UN Population Fund warns.”

Venezuela-Colombia. Chavez’s threats of war against Colombia should raise alarm bells “Reacting to a deal that gives the Pentagon use of seven bases in Colombia for flights to combat drug trafficking and insurgency, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said this month that his country should prepare for war with its neighbor.”

China-U.S. In China, Obama’s hosts show no signs of budging “He came bearing a long shopping list, including Chinese support for tougher sanctions on Iran and more flexibility by Beijing on currency exchange rates, but Obama was met with polite, yet stony, silences.” Obama’s China trip stands in stark contrast to those of past presidents President Obama has emerged from his first trip to China with no big breakthroughs on important issues, such as Iran’s nuclear program or China’s currency.”

Afghanistan. Brown Vows to Continue War Effort in Afghanistan “As President Obama moves closer to a decision on the United States military’s request for more troops in Afghanistan, the British government has made an unflinching commitment to continue its role as the second largest troop provider in the 43-nation coalition fighting the war.” As Karzai starts new term, doubts grow that he’ll finish “On the eve of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s swearing-in for a second term, speculation is growing that he could be forced to step aside before he finishes his next five years in office.”  Poverty and graft ‘fuel Afghan war’ “Corruption and poverty are fuelling the war in Afghanistan, a survey by British charity Oxfam and local organisations released a day before Hamid Karzai’s inauguration for a second presidential term has said.” Taleban ‘must be offered a route to peace’  “Britain is not fighting a war ‘without end’ in Afghanistan but Nato cannot risk leaving a vacuum for the Taleban, David Miliband said yesterday.”

Pakistan. Pakistani army shows off captured Taliban posts “A toy car booby-trapped with explosives, chemistry textbooks and handwritten case files from a Taliban court were among the debris left behind by fleeing Islamist militants in this remote village in the conflicted tribal region of South Waziristan.” Pakistani Successes May Sway U.S. Troop Decision “A month after the Pakistani military began its push into the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan, militants appear to have been dispersed, not eliminated, with most simply fleeing.” Afghan, Pakistani Taliban diverge on goals “Both go by the name "Taliban," but militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan are increasingly diverging in their ultimate goal. The Pakistanis have joined al Qaeda’s campaign to attack Western targets and spread radical Islam while the Afghans want to rid their country of foreign troops but harbor no global ambitions.”  

Ethiopia. Ethiopia tries to cover up a new famine “The UN warns that 6.2 million Ethiopians will need some sort of food aid in the coming months. The Government also seems highly sensitive to the idea that it needs help.”

Jerusalem. U.S. ‘dismayed’ at decision to okay 900 housing units in Gilo “The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee yesterday authorized the construction of 900 new housing units in East Jerusalem’s Gilo neighborhood, prompting an expression of ‘dismay’ from the White House.” Israel defends settlement expansion “The Israeli construction of 900 housing units in occupied East Jerusalem is part of a ‘routine building programme,’ an aide to the prime minister has said in reaction to US criticism.”

Iraq. Iraq VP vetoes new election law "One of Iraq’s two vice-presidents has vetoed part of the country’s new election law, putting the parliamentary polls scheduled for January in doubt."

Interview. Kerry: Afghan handoff may take 4-5 years  “Kerry discussed these and other issues Tuesday with USA TODAY’s editorial board. The following Q&A is adapted from that session and edited for length and clarity.”

OPINION

Hunger in the United States (Editorial, New York Times) “Congress should make a priority of expanding federal nutrition programs that are aimed at helping millions of struggling families feed their children.”

Health reform’s false abortion debate (Ruth Marcus, Washington Post) “Let’s dispense with three fallacies swirling about the question of abortion coverage in health-care reform. Two are being peddled by antiabortion forces. One, perhaps the most relevant, is being pushed by the pro-choice side."

Sojourners’ Daily Digest is a compilation of the top news related to our commitments of life and peace, economic and racial justice, and care of creation, with a special focus on news of the engagement of faith in public life.