Social Justice Tag: Earth

March 2026

Articles from Mercy:

• • Voting: Threats to this fundamental right in democracies (Rose Marie Tresp, RSM; Institute Justice Team)
• • Nurturing Justice and Living Faith (Br Ryan W Roberts, OLF; Institute Justice Team)
• • Permitting reform and extractivism (Marianne Comfort; Institute Justice Team)
• • High school student’s reflection on advocacy immersion in Washington, D.C. (Agnes Boyer; Assumption High School, Louisville, KY)

Local Justice News & Upcoming Mercy Events

Justice Resources & Links

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Voting: Threats to this fundamental right in democracies

Rose Marie Tresp, RSM; Institute Justice Team

The right to vote is a freedom that is key to American democracy. The right to vote in the United States, until recently, had expanded to allow almost all U.S. citizens over the age of 18 to vote. An exception in some states bars citizens who have been convicted of a felony from voting. In the first presidential election in 1789, only white, property-owning men over 21 could vote. Since then, the struggle to expand the right to vote has resulted first in the inclusion of non–property-owning white men, then all men regardless of race, and eventually women and citizens over 18. Access to voting has been made more accessible by such methods as mail-in voting, early voting, Sunday voting, longer voting hours, and assistance to allow disabled citizens to vote.

More recently, however, increasing efforts are being made to suppress the vote in some states. In 2006, Indiana passed the first strict, photo ID voter requirement, and such laws have since spread to 36 states. The rationale given for strict voter ID was fraud and voting by non-citizens. However, studies by organizations, including the conservative Heritage Center, show minuscule fraud. One such study, covering 25 years of voting in Arizona, showed a minuscule 0.0000845% of votes being fraudulent. Incidents of non-citizens voting are rare as reported in 2020 by the conservative Cato Institute. The penalty for non-citizens voting is severe.

Voter ID laws – especially the strict, government-issued, photo ID laws – do effectively disenfranchise some voters. While proponents argue that this requirement is not burdensome, these laws are partisan and designed to make voting harder for demographic groups who tend to vote for Democrats, including low-income people, People of Color, younger people, and transgender people.

Laws which effectively disenfranchise voters are anti-democratic and may weaken democratic principles and practices. The most stringent effort to disenfranchise voters is the SAVE America Act (and the similar but stalled SAVE Act), passed by the House of Representatives but being held at bay by the Senate’s filibuster. If enacted, it would undermine voter participation in elections, a fundamental tenet of liberal democracies. These bills would block millions of eligible American citizens from voting. The bill would effectively require voters to produce a passport or a birth certificate to register to vote – documents that some 21 million Americans don’t have ready access to. They would also have to show their papers in person, meaning they could no longer register to vote by mail or online. The same process would be required to make any change to a voter’s registration, including name, mailing address, or party affiliation.

One major documentation requirement would be to match your birth certificate with your current photo ID. This would affect transgender persons, married women, some religious sisters, and anyone else who has changed their name since birth. While most middle- and upper-class citizens may not find this burdensome, the process for locating birth certificates and other documents can be difficult, especially for those who move often, do not drive, or have been affected by disasters. The bill’s in-person requirement could disenfranchise 50 million rural voters who would have to travel great distances to register to vote. A detailed explanation of the SAVE Act can be accessed at the Brookings Institution, and the Brennan Center for Justice has published an article on two new versions of the bill being introduced and debated in Congress.

The persistence of misinformation and unproven accusations of fraud in elections have led to mistrust of our election systems. Even credible studies, including one on the 2016 presidential election commissioned by Trump’s Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, have failed to quell growing mistrust in election systems.

Most Americans are ignorant of the processes and protections that make U.S. elections safe, secure, and free from fraud. An article from the American Bar Association, “Understanding American Elections and Why They are Trustworthy,” details how our elections are safe and free of fraud.

There are several ways that individuals can help themselves and others to learn the processes and protections of the election system in their state. You might attend your county Board of Elections meetings. These are open meetings: ask questions, talk to the members of the election board. You could volunteer to work at the polls. You could volunteer to be a poll observer inside of a voting place. (Depending on your state regulations, you may have to be appointed by one of the political parties, since a limited number of viewers can be in the room.)

Finally, mentally review the steps you went through the last time you voted. Try to imagine how a person could vote fraudulently. Remember that your ballot is linked to your address, since there is not a uniform ballot shared by all voters in your state. North Carolina, for example, has over 2000 different ballots. All the ballots in your state will have the same national and statewide sections, but the ballot diverges after that so your ballot reflects what electoral district you are in, what school district, what county, what city and the people running for these offices.

Other articles next month will discuss ways to be involved in the election and protections in our electoral system to prevent fraud.

“The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.”

—Lyndon B. Johnson, remarks at signing of Voting Rights Act, 06 August 1965

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Nurturing Justice and Living Faith

Br Ryan W Roberts, OLF; Institute Justice Team

As part of LCWR’s Another 100 Days of Prayer, Fasting, and Advocacy, the Mercy Justice Team has created a one-week Spirituality Integration Resource for Justice (SIRJ) for reflection on the inextricable connection between faith and justice. While some may claim that the work of justice is an optional addition to the life of faith, this SIRJ helps the reader to delve into the spiritual roots of justice work and to illuminate how justice work flows into and nurtures a deep faith.

This resource, “Nurturing Justice and Living Faith” (Español), comprises a week of focus on the Critical Concern of Women. The Mercy community is encouraged to make use of this guide during March, Women’s History Month. Open the SIRJ once a day for a week to guide a brief time of reflection, perhaps 5 to 10 minutes, on various aspects of the spiritual work of justice for women. Pray by observing a painting by Sister Eva Lallo; read stories of working for justice, receiving mercy, and taking rest; consider the questions of an examen; and practice creativity in telling a story of women.

This one-week SIRJ is the first part of a planned seven-week reflection guide that will expand to cover all of the Critical Concerns. By participating in this week of prayer, fasting, and advocacy, you can also be of assistance to the Institute Justice Team. After spending a week with the SIRJ, we encourage you to reach out with constructive feedback to help us shape future sections as we work toward a complete and revised SIRJ.

May your week for women be blessed, that you may be a blessing in your work for justice!

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Permitting reform and extractivism

Marianne Comfort; Institute Justice Team

The Trump Administration and many members of Congress are determined to make it easier to build new energy infrastructure and mine on public land.  

One pathway is under the banner of “permitting reform.” While sounding like benign bureaucratic changes, in practice, this approach could reduce public input, weaken environmental protections and limit the ability of communities to sue over projects they fear threaten their health, culture and livelihoods.

A permitting reform bill in 2024 earned bipartisan support for aiming to reduce the time needed to get approvals for fossil fuel projects and solar and wind projects alike. Congress failed to pass the bill.

The current administration and Congress are prioritizing speeding up permitting for fossil fuel projects, while renewable energy projects are being held up or scrapped altogether. That has made many Democratic legislators skeptical of any bills introduced, and negotiations in the Senate stalled until recently.

Similarly, the Trump Administration has taken steps to expand mining on public lands. They seek to overhaul public land management to prioritize mineral exploration, extraction, and processing above all other uses, including recreation and conservation.

Congress is looking to put these directives into law through a variety of mechanisms. One is the Congressional Review Act, which allows legislators to overturn regulations within a certain time period of them being issued. This is being used now to open up land for mining that previous administrations had ruled was off limits.

Congress is also introducing bills to expand mining of minerals deemed “critical” for national security and advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI). In previous years, these minerals were mostly touted as key for the transition from fossil fuels to a renewable energy economy, but those talking points largely have been replaced by narratives around the need to have secure supply chains for the military and to lessen dependence on China.

Environmental justice is the term used to describe the disproportionate burden caused by pollution and other harms and placed on People of Color and people with low incomes. Organizations and communities concerned about environmental justice fear that these attempts to speed up permitting and mining approvals will gut the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA is a bedrock environmental law that allows federal agencies to analyze the full range of impacts of major federal government actions and projects before issuing approvals.

For more information on the harms of mining, oil and gas drilling and other forms of extractivism, please check out Mercy’s Awakening to a New Consciousness on Extractivism resources.

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Featured Guest Writer

High school student’s reflection on advocacy immersion in Washington, D.C.

Agnes Boyer, student at Assumption High School in Louisville, KY

The Institute Justice Team hosted students from Louisville, Kentucky’s Assumption High School February 23–26 in Washington, D.C. Over four packed days, the students met with the Institute Leadership Team; attended a presentation by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC); participated in Faithful Resistance, an interfaith public witness on Capitol Hill; and met with staffers from the offices of Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Morgan McGarvey.

Assumption High School student Agnes Boyer wrote to express the students’ gratitude for their time with the Sisters of Mercy and the lasting impact this trip will have on them.

We are seven students from Assumption High School in Louisville, Kentucky. This week, we visited Washington D.C. to learn about the current status of immigration in the U.S. The Sisters of Mercy shared their experiences at the southern border and in cities around the country. Stories of families being afraid to go to grocery stores forced us to face the violence that terrorizes our communities.

Institute Justice Coordinator Jean Stokan introduced us to immigration lawyer Tania Guerrero, who informed us how the current policies affect all migrants. Even when they follow legal procedures, people are still vulnerable to being detained because of how the system is organized. We then heard from Abel Nuñez, executive director at CARECEN. This organization provides direct support and civic engagement in support of the Latino population. He explained the history of Latino immigration to the U.S., specifically in regard to D.C., as well as how it’s becoming increasingly harder to become a naturalized citizen.

On Wednesday, we participated in the faithful resistance led by the United Methodist Church. Moved by words from bishops and reverends who urged us to reclaim our faith as we fight for human rights, we marched to ensure mercy for migrants. On Thursday, we spoke with [staff members from the offices of] Representative Morgan McGarvey and Senator Mitch McConnell in order to urge them to stop funding ICE.

We are extremely grateful to the Sisters of Mercy who welcomed us and provided us with valuable information and contacts. We have had the opportunity to learn and take a stand for an important issue, and we will continue fighting for human decency.

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Article Archive

2026

March

Voting: Threats to this fundamental right in democracies

Nurturing Justice and Living Faith

Permitting reform and extractivism

High School student’s reflection on advocacy immersion in Washington, D.C.

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February

Critical Considerations:

We have a choice: oligarchy or democracy?

Critical Concerns in Focus: Immigration (español)

Names and naming make a difference in perceptions of reality

Reflections on Honduras

January

Critical Considerations:

Is history repeating itself in Venezuela?

U.S. withdraws from UNFCCC

(click years to expand)

2025

December

The Catholic Church responds to the threat of authoritarianism

Post—COP 30 report

Critical Considerations:

The United States: global citizen or global pariah?

November

Critical Considerations:

NSPM-7: Countering or perpetrating political violence?

Advocating on harms of extractive industries

Argentina y el avance del colonialismo / Argentina and the advance of colonialism

Countering misinformation

October

Critical Considerations:

Is it time to reform the Insurrection Act?

COP 30 in the Amazon & Raising Hope in Rome

The dangers of falsely linking Tylenol to autism

September

Mercy sisters call for urgent defense of immigrants

Social extractivism

Critical Considerations:

What is Posse Comitatus all about?

Everyday pilgrimages: the Earth is the Lord’s

August

Critical Considerations:

Are we doomed to a perpetual nuclear arms race?

Love and care of creation in local ecologies

Church document ahead of COP30

July

Critical Considerations:

What’s at stake in Israel’s destruction of Gaza?

Have you heard of Black August?

DEI—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mercy Life Gathering in Panama

June

Vampires, Sharecropping, and the Real History of Juneteenth

Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults from Abuse in the Philippines

Critical Considerations:

What’s really driving border enforcement?

May

A letter to Pope Francis

Critical Considerations:

Is this really an emergency?

Trump’s attacks on women

April

The cultural battle advances

Critical Considerations:

What’s going on with tariffs?

Water extractivism in Palestine

March

Hope for Panama in truth

Deportation stigma in Jamaica

Critical Considerations:

Who benefits from tax cuts? Who pays?

April is SWANA Heritage Month

NETWORK webinar on U.S. federal policy

February

National declaration of emergency in Bajo Aguán

Critical Considerations:

Has the United States declared war on immigrants?

What energy emergency?

January

If you make a mess, clean it up! (Advocacy success in NY)

Youth claim climate victory in Montana court

Critical Considerations:

Was January 1, 2025 a wake-up call?

2024

December

Gender and climate justice

Critical Considerations:

Is the United States becoming a plutocracy?

Making nuclear weapons taboo

November

Critical Considerations:

What happened on November 5, 2024?

The Ecological Debt

October

Overturning the Chevron deference

Critical Considerations:

Who are the Israeli settlers and what motivates them?

Assassination of Honduran water protector deeply grieves Sisters of Mercy

September

God walks with his people: National Migration Week September 23–29

Critical Considerations:

What does CEO compensation say about corporate priorities?

Anxiety – election season can heighten it!

August

Critical Considerations:

What is Project 2025 all about?

Working to stop weapon exports to Haiti

Beyond Voting:

Participating in Elections, part 2

July

Critical Considerations:

Is there a better way to spend $91 billion?

Education, Agriculture, & Emigration in the Philippines

Beyond Voting:

Participating in Elections, part 1

June

Critical Considerations:

Are we creating a prison-industrial complex?

Conscience

Mercy student videos address the Critical Concerns

May

Critical Considerations:

Degrowth is the only sane survival plan

Argentina and the government of hate

Listening to a chorus of voices

April

Critical Considerations:

An Israeli Jesuit reflects on war in the Holy Land

Advocacy Success! Expanded Background Checks for Gun Sales

March

Military spending and national (in)security

February

The challenge Gaza war presents for American Jews

January

Gaza war threatens credibility of West’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law

2023

December

Climate Summit fails to adequately respond to gravity of climate crisis

November

Critical Considerations:

The dangers of conflating Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism

Red flag laws in jeopardy: faith voices speak to save them

October

Jewish and Palestinian perspectives on Gaza crisis

September

U.S. China tensions impact efforts to address climate change

August

When Good Economic Policy Isn’t Enough

July

States Move to Weaken Protections for Child Workers

June

Corporate Lobbyists at Climate Talks

May

Electric Vehicle Transition Challenges

April

Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery

March

Misrepresenting War

February

The Rise of Christian Nationalism

January

How the News is Reported Affects What We Know

2022

December

How Corporations Took Over the Government

November

The Independent State Legislature Theory Explained

October

The Next Phase in the Voting Wars

Local Justice News & Upcoming Events

Justice Resources & Links

Mercy Justice Resource Pages

• Resources for Immigrants
• Advocacy Amplified! (Mercy Justice Videos on advocacy tools)
• Mercy Walks with Migrants (interviews with Mercy sisters on immigration work)
• Mercy Tips to Care for the Earth

Peace & Justice Calendars

These are some of the ways in which the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas will more fully live Laudato Si’ in 2026. To see the fourth year action plan click here.

Responding to the Cry of the Earth

The Department of Climate and Sustainability commits to:

• Estimate 2025 carbon emissions from utilities (e.g., electricity, gas) and vehicle usage throughout the Institute and compare to 2024 emissions to determine the impact of energy efficiency initiatives implemented over the past year;

• Finalize the development of a Sustainability Dashboard to assess, monitor, and effectively communicate the implementation of sustainability initiatives at major properties throughout the Institute;

• Complete construction of the Belmont, NC, solar array project;

• Finalize details of a strategy to stabilize the shoreline and prevent future erosion from coastal storms and sea-level rise at the Mercy by the Sea Spiritual Retreat and Conference Center; and

• Continue engaging in research that fosters awareness of potential environmental and social justice concerns related to plastic/paper consumption alternatives, renewable energy, and fuel-efficient vehicles. A dynamic webpage or app will be developed to share the results of this research within and external to the Sisters of Mercy.

Mercy Volunteer Corps will continue to partner with Mercy Ecology/Mercy Ecospirituality Center with hopes to place four volunteers in a short-term summer opportunity focused on care of the land and animals and sustainability practices.

Responding to the Cry of the Poor

The Justice Team will launch its extractivism map to showcase examples of Mercy sisters, associates and co-workers educating about, advocating on and resisting extractivism projects around the world.

 Mercy Volunteer Corps will:

• add a short-term placement at ARISE Adelante, a ministry that focuses on women’s empowerment, immigration and the environment in the Rio Grande Valley near the Texas-Mexico border.

• continue its partnership with Sanctuary Farm Philadelphia by offering a yearlong volunteer placement opportunity focused on supporting healthy communities in an economically deprived neighborhood and healing through a relationship with the Earth.

Mercy Investment Services will expand and deepen the integration of environmental, social and governance investment strategies by:

• actively allocating capital to address diversity gaps amongst decision-makers and financial access within the Inclusive Opportunities Fund;

• continuing to expand the emerging managers program supporting firms being shut out of traditional capital markets and overlooked by mainstream investors;

• discouraging companies from being involved in activities that identify and exclude immigrants from full participation in society; and

• deepening Mercy Partnership Fund’s continued dedication to racial and gender equity as well as those investment strategies that emphasize international opportunities.

Ecological Economics

Mercy Investment Services will:

• Continue to ground our investment actions in seeking prophetic change in climate action and solutions;

• Partner with other investors to engage corporations on water stewardship, greenhouse gas emissions, plastics use, biodiversity and other important issues; and  

• Speak out against regulatory and legislative changes that negatively impact creation.

Sustainable Lifestyles

The Department of Climate and Sustainability will:

• visit sisters and staff at various locations throughout the Institute to discuss concerns related to climate and sustainability as well as ongoing projects and also to continue to serve as a resource for Mercy ministries and other religious congregations around more sustainable lifestyles.

• continue providing articles on  sustainability topics to the Mercy Tips to Care for Earth, with the Justice Team and Communications Department, and to the Mercy schools’ newsletter on a monthly basis.

Mercy Volunteer Corps will:

• Collect utility usage data for volunteer residences located throughout the United States and investigate renewable energy options.

• Invite the Institute Justice Team and Climate and Sustainability Director to volunteer formation retreats to promote awareness about current work and to motivate/empower for personal lifestyle changes.

• Include monthly “Care for Creation” reflections (offered by the Cincinnati Mercy Community) as a regular resource in our monthly newsletter.

Ecological Education

Mercy Education, building on progress made in 2025, will continue to deepen our ministry’s commitment to ecological awareness and sustainable practices in these ways:

• Continue publishing the monthly column in our Flash newsletter, sharing practical sustainability insights from Jason Giovannettone, Director of Climate & Sustainability, to help schools put Mercy values into environmental action;

• Issue a special edition of Mercy Impact to spotlight major sustainability projects across its network, celebrating how Mercy schools are leading by example in caring for our common home;

• Explore and implement alternatives to traditional lanyards for events, since they cannot be reused for sanitary reasons. We estimate this change will keep approximately 400 lanyards out of landfills each year; and

• Engage in education around the environmental cost of technology use, including email, artificial intelligence, and digital storage. We will explore practical steps—such as adding an optional note in email signatures encouraging thoughtful communication—to reduce unnecessary digital energy consumption.

The Justice Team will plan a series of educational programs to deepen understanding of the root causes of our critical concerns of Earth, immigration, nonviolence, racism and women.

Mercy Volunteer Corps will collaborate with the Justice Team to host an online session for volunteers to more clearly draw links between care for the Earth, earth justice and spirituality.

Ecological Spirituality

The Justice Team will:

• promote Laudato Si Animator training to equip sisters, associates and co-workers to shift consciousness of their communities around environmental and climate justice.

• continue Friday reflections sent out to our 6,000 advocates that offer spiritual nourishment and encouragement amidst the struggles for social and environmental justice and nonviolence.

Community Resilience and Empowerment

The Justice Team will:

• begin to plan for targeted state-level advocacy on issues related to our critical concerns. 

• begin planning for building out a Mercy justice network to more intentionally reach out to others in Mercy beyond the sisters to engage them in education, advocacy, public witness and solidarity.

By Jason Giovannettone, Climate and Sustainability Director

According to The Nature Conservancy, approximately 10 million artificial Christmas trees are purchased each year in the United States, a vast majority of which are shipped from China. The greenhouse gas emissions from shipping alone are significant as are the emissions created to obtain the materials required to manufacture the trees. Artificial trees are typically made from PVC plastic (#3), which helps to make them more fire-retardant; the issue is that this type of plastic is one of the most harmful for the environment for the following reasons:  

1. PVC (#3) is one of the most difficult types of plastic to recycle, so much so that less than 1% ends up being recycled after use. Therefore, the landfill is the final resting place for nearly all artificial Christmas trees. 

2. Almost all products made from PVC (#3) plastic are made from virgin material that requires extraction of raw materials from the Earth. 

3. PVC (#3) plastic is considered the most toxic form of plastic as it contains a variety of chemicals that can leach out throughout its life cycle. 

4. PVC (#3) never breaks down and remains in the environment indefinitely. 

So, does purchasing a reusable, artificial tree make up for the fact that real trees need to be cut down every year?  

Yes! Purchasing a real Christmas tree supports local landowners and provides them with the income to effectively maintain the health of the forest land.  

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, farmers on average plant 1 to 3 seedlings for every Christmas tree that is purchased and cut down. The result is a healthy forest that produces a greater number of high-quality trees, which results in more carbon dioxide being taken out of the atmosphere. 

Also, because real Christmas trees end up being disposed of in the same landfill as artificial ones, they release their stored carbon into the atmosphere as they decompose. Many organizations will give used Christmas trees a second life as part of a conservation or habitat restoration project. Look for local organizations that are involved in such projects! 

Mercy Tip 

Get a real tree this Christmas. And when the holidays are over, consider donating it to a local organization focused on habitat conservation or restoration. 

By Jason Giovannettone, Climate and Sustainability Director

Leaf blowers have become more popular and affordable over the last few decades. Leaf blowers alleviate the physical demands of raking, making them a popular choice for many homeowners and landscapers. Though leaf blowers save much time and effort, they are extremely harmful to the environment (particularly gas-powered blowers) in multiple ways: 

1.     Air Pollution: Gas-powered leaf blowers use a two-stroke engine. In 2017, California’s State Air Resources Board found that one hour of use of the most popular gas-powered leaf blower released as much emissions as driving a new Toyota Camry 1,100 miles (source). They also estimated that total emissions from gas-powered equipment would soon outpace emissions from all cars within the state. This is not only due to increasing popularity, but also because small off-road engines have fewer regulations than automotive engines. 

2.     Destroys Insect & Worm Winter Homes: Brown leaves may appear dead, but they are full of life and provide an indispensable winter habitat in which pollinators, caterpillars, fireflies, worms, ants, beetles, snails, and a host of other organisms live and lay their eggs. The high winds that emanate from a leaf blower decimate this habitat, including both leaves and topsoil. Preserving ground cover will protect myriad organisms, increasing the biodiversity of your yard, which is a very good thing! . 

3.     Noise Pollution: Leaf blowers can produce low-frequency sounds of 100 decibels or more; the low frequency makes the sound especially penetrating. For this reason, Washington, DC, phased out the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers with the passing of the Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act of 2018, which took effect on January 1, 2022. 

4.     Tree Health: Leaves provide a natural protective cover for tree roots and release valuable nutrients into the soil. Maintaining a layer of leaves alleviates the need to purchase mulch, increases the health of your trees, and reduces the costs of hiring someone to remove your leaves.  

For more information on the negative impacts of leaf blowers, including a detailed comparison between gas and electric leaf blowers, refer to this article provided by the Montgomery County (MD) Department of Environmental Protection. 

Try to avoid or at least reduce the use of leaf blowers throughout the fall . If you need to remove leaves from your yard, consider investing in an electric leaf blower or doing it the old-fashioned way. Also, instead of disposing of the leaves, consider adding them to your compost pile or using them as natural mulch around your trees and other plants. They can also be very effective at preparing portions of your lawn for future vegetables and native gardens.

Purpose

For this year’s contest we are seeking short, PSA style videos (30 to 90 seconds) that are suitable for sharing on social media platforms such as TikTok or Reels. In an increasingly divided and polarized world, your video should reflect the charism of Mercy and connect to one or more of the Mercy Critical Concerns. Videos could focus on:

Who Can Enter

Any student or group of students, high school age or older, enrolled in Mercy high schools, colleges/universities, or involved in a Mercy-affiliated ministry.

Use this tip-sheet to help you as you begin the process of creating your video.

Format

Read the complete rules

Length: 30 to 90 seconds

Language: English or Spanish

Other Requirements

1. Title. Each video must have a title. The title must be indicated on the submission form. The title does not need to be included in the video itself.

2. Credits. Credits must include the name of those involved in the creation of the video. The credits must also include citations for any images, audio, or text used in the video that is not original. The credits do not need to be included in the video itself, but must be included in the submission form.

The Sisters of Mercy may delete title and credit screens before posting videos on social media.

Entrants are strongly encouraged to use original footage and graphics as much as possible.

Important Note on Rules: In order to honor copyright protections, rules regarding use of images and music were updated for the 2022 contest and remain in effect for 2026. See the complete rules for details.

Deadline

All entries must be received by April 1, 2026.

Prizes

A panel of judges will use these criteria to select the winning video. Individual winners will receive financial awards. The Grand Prize Winner receives $500.

Winning entries may be featured on the Sisters of Mercy Institute web site and social media channels. Winners and their winning institution will be formally announced.

Interested?

If you think you might be interested in entering this contest, fill out this form to receive contest information and updates.

Past Winners

Click here to view all of our past winners.

By Marianne Comfort, member of the Mercy Justice Team

Mercy schools in Jamaica offer inspiration for how educational institutions can adopt environmentally sustainable practices in response to our critical concern for Earth. 

Alpha Primary School, Jessie Primary School, Alpha Academy and the Alpha Vocational Training Centre share one campus in the capital city of Kingston. 

This year 10 clearly marked recycling bins were installed on the property to engender a culture of recycling and sustainable waste management among students and staff.  

Guided by two gardening experts, students from the four schools planted a variety of trees and other plants in a memorial garden that honors sisters who had been instrumental to the schools’ success. Throughout this process, students learned the plants’ features, names, uses and more.  

Older students formed groups in which they designed and planned campaigns to tackle water shortage, waste management, deforestation and other issues.  

Finally, students took turns making personal pledges to engage in actions that mitigate the effects of climate change. 

The schools look forward to creating more opportunities for students and staff to care for the Earth, including through a compost heap now being planned.