Social Justice Tag: Earth

April 2025

Articles from Mercy:

• The cultural battle advances (Ana Siufi, RSM; Institute Justice Team)
• Critical Considerations: What’s going on with tariffs? (Karen Donahue, RSM)
• Water extractivism in Palestine (Marianne Comfort; Institute Justice Team)

Local Justice News & Upcoming Mercy Events:

Justice Resources & Links

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The cultural battle advances

Ana Siufi, RSM; Institute Justice Team

Argentina has a far-right president who presents himself as a defender of “freedom” and follows leaders like Trump, Musk, and Netanyahu, making political decisions marked by violence, authoritarianism, and cruelty. Some youth and other social sectors, disappointed with traditional parties, feel represented by Milei and continue to support him.

For 15 months, he has misruled by controlling the legislative and judicial powers, dismantling essential state institutions and agencies, increasing the unpayable foreign debt with the IMF, destroying the national industry, favoring dubious business deals for the wealthy, handing over territories to extractive corporations like never before, depriving the working class of food, medicine, and other rights, and impoverishing the middle class while fiercely repressing their peaceful protests. All of this is justified by the major disinformation media, which tout the wonders achieved while concealing the socio-economic devastation, as they are funded by the plutocracy that wields power.

Everything is serious, but I want to reflect on what some analysts point out: the cultural revolution plan is an attempt to alter people’s worldview, instill humanist values, and reshape our deepest identity into disvalues that fracture the social fabric, undermine the ability to think independently, and diminish the feeling of being an inclusive and supportive community.

We describe it as a cultural battle because, through their speeches, propaganda, and actions, they assault and attempt to replace: solidarity with cruelty and hatred towards the poor; an attitude of openness to foreigners with discrimination and border closures; respect for life with the idolization of the Market; a sense of community with egocentrism and patriarchal hierarchization; awareness of the common good and shared resources with the absolutization of private property; love and inclusion with hatred for the different and the discarding of minorities; reflection and creativity with mindlessness and the repetition of slogans; awareness of labor rights with newly legalized slavery; faith in work with an immoral pursuit of profit; the valuation of human rights with their validity only for privileged sectors, excluding others deemed subhuman; and the search for memory, truth, and justice with the destruction of monuments or organizations and the false narrative of the military dictatorship.

It gives us hope to know that popular support for this policy is drastically decreasing and that the numerous peaceful mobilizations in the streets throughout the country are driven by a sense of community, democracy, and ethics as expressed in slogans such as: ALL IN DEFENSE OF THE RETIREES; THE HOMELAND IS NOT FOR SALE; THIS GOVERNMENT SHAMES US; DIGNITY IS NOT NEGOTIABLE…

The government responds with slander, violent repression, and the judicialization of protest. It thus demonstrates both its weakness and the impossibility of subjugating, with impunity, those motivated by non-negotiable values. I hope this ethic influences the opposition politicians! It is up to the Mercy community to stand by this struggle in the streets, raise awareness, educate in the communities, and encourage an eco-spirituality that defends life, freedom, equality, and peace.

May the Spirit continue to illuminate our path as a people and grant us the courage to fight, the unity to organize, love for nonviolent resistance, and honest leaders to restore independence and democracy.

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Critical Considerations

What’s going on with tariffs?

Karen Donahue, RSM

On April 2, 2025, Liberation Day, Donald Trump announced his sweeping tariffs plan and sent the global economy into a tailspin. Markets fluctuated wildly as governments, businesses and consumers struggled to make sense of the president’s response to what he sees as the exploitation of the U.S. by the rest of the world. Two recent articles, one posted on the Foreign Policy in Focus website and the other on Common Dreams, put the tariffs question into a broader context and provide some helpful insights on how to respond.

Geostrategic analyst Imran Khalid notes that Trump sees trade as a zero-sum game, one country’s gain is another’s loss. He does not understand the complexity and interdependence of the modern global economy. For example, vehicles manufactured in the U.S. contain many imported components which will be subject to tariffs. These increased costs will be passed on to consumers, significantly raising the sticker price of a new car.

Global response to Trump’s tariff plan has been critical. Some countries are already contemplating retaliatory tariffs that could be devastating, especially to U.S. agriculture and put additional pressure on already struggling rural communities.

Iza Camarillo, Research Director for Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, places the tariff controversy within the larger context of corporate globalization. She says that trade agreements such as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and its successor USMCA (US Mexico Canada) prioritize corporate interests “that made offshoring easier, gutted environmental protections, and prioritized investor rights over worker rights.”

These agreements also hindered the capacity of governments to support domestic industries, raise labor standards or enforce environmental protections as these measures were seen as impediments to free trade. The result has been stagnant wages, shuttered factory towns and rising income inequality leading to widespread pain and frustration among U.S. workers. She warned that “trade justice requires more than poorly designed tariffs. It demands systemic reform: binding labor rights, climate protections, resilient supply chains, and democratic accountability. Trump offers none of that.”

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Water extractivism in Palestine

Marianne Comfort; Institute Justice Team

Lina Fattom recently spoke with Mercy Global Action and the rest of the UN Extractivism Working Group regarding women’s struggles in Palestine, especially as they relate to water access and extractivism. The video can be viewed by clicking here.

Lina Fattom is a Palestinian human rights lawyer who trained in the U.S. and specializes in public and private international law and corporate litigation, as well as cross-border arbitration and negotiations. She recently served as director of the Innovative Private Sector Development Project, formerly served as a legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team, and previously worked as a human rights attorney with Amnesty International, an advisor with Al-Haq to the Norwegian Refugee Council and Oxfam, and manager of the Diaconia IHL Center in Jerusalem. She currently serves as a director on the board of PALTEL and directs projects to develop enterprises in Gaza and the West Bank.

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Article Archive

2025

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?

(click years to expand)

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

Check back soon!

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 2025. To see the third year action plan click here.

Responding to the Cry of the Earth

The climate sustainability director will:

• Estimate initial annual carbon emissions from utilities (e.g., electricity, gas, and water) and vehicle usage throughout the Institute;
• Work with the solar installation company to implement agreed-upon solar and battery design for the Belmont, NC, solar array project; and 
• Work with a contractor to stabilize the shoreline at Mercy by the Sea Spiritual Retreat and Conference Center to prevent future erosion from coastal storms and sea-level rise.

Responding to the Cry of the Poor

The Justice Team will deepen education and advocacy about the harms of extractivism to communities and the environment through: 

• Engaging communities beyond the Sisters of Mercy in small groups using our Awakening to a New Consciousness on Extractivism resources;
• Accompanying communities most harmed by extractivism, including through local extractivism immersion experiences; and 
• Giving special attention to water injustices experienced by communities on the front lines of extractive industries, in partnership with Mercy Global Action’s water justice initiative. 

• The Justice Team will organize immersion experiences at the U.S.-Mexico border to expand the number of sisters, associates, companions and co-workers who are educated about immigration policy and the reality at the border and connections between immigration and environmental and climate justice.  

• 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 expanding the emerging managers program supporting firms owned or products managed by people with diverse or underrepresented backgrounds; and  
  • Deepening Mercy Partnership Fund’s continued dedication to racial and gender equity as well as those 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  
• Use our position as a faith-based investor to defend the rights of investors to choose investments that care for the Earth.

Sustainable Lifestyles

• The Director of Climate and Sustainability will develop and update flyers to create awareness of and provide practical sustainable lifestyle tips related to meetings and events, office supplies and electronics, health and wellness, emergency management and sustainability on a tight budget. 
• The Justice Team and Climate and Sustainability Director will continue the monthly Mercy Tips to Care for Earth. 

Ecological Education

• Mercy Education System of the Americas plans to:
  • Revamp the environmental science course in its Mercy Learning Online program, specifically the water lesson, to incorporate resources from Mercy Global Action; 
  • Launch a monthly column in its weekly newsletter highlighting sustainability initiatives across Mercy schools;
  • Enhance sustainability efforts at meetings and events by being mindful of supplies ordered and encouraging participants to bring reusable water bottles; and 
  • Promote active participation in Laudato Si pilgrimages across the schools.
• A Mercy associate in Guyana will socialize her guidebook and set of advocacy tools for communities to understand the risks of the growing oil and gas industry in her country, and that will become a template for similar education elsewhere.
• The Climate and Sustainability Director will visit the sisters and staff to discuss concerns related to climate and sustainability as well as ongoing projects, and also serve as a resource for Mercy ministries and other religious congregations.
• The Justice Team will invite Mercy high school, college and university students to submit short videos on reducing consumption to better care for earth and on the positive impact that women have in the world. The winning videos will be showcased on our website.
•  The Justice Team will plan a blog series to highlight the ways in which sisters, associates, companions and co-workers are hearing the cry of Earth and the cry of people who are poor.

Ecological Spirituality

• The Justice Team, along with partner Catholic organizations in the U.S., will promote and provide support to sisters, associates, companions and ministries organizing Laudato Si pilgrimages to celebrate the encyclical’s 10^th anniversary. 
• The Justice Team will promote Laudato Si Animator trainings to equip sisters, associates and co-workers to shift consciousness of their communities around environmental and climate justice. 

Community Participation and Empowerment

• The Justice Team will engage in advocacy and education leading up to COP 30 in Brazil with partners from ecclesial networks (REPAM, REMAM and REGCHAG) and the Churches and Mining Network. 
• The Justice Team will lead U.S. advocacy among congregations of women religious and interfaith partners to stem deforestation, address the harms of mining in the energy transition, and support environmental protections and climate policies.  

By Bailey Woodward, Justice intern 

The food we consume has effects not only on our health but also on the environment. While some common ingredients may seem harmless, they may actually be tied to unsustainable practices that damage ecosystems, contribute to climate change and speed up the loss of biodiversity. Let’s take a look at some common ingredients and their environmental impacts.  

It is important to approach sustainability with mindfulness rather than expecting people to completely abstain from any product that has an environmental impact; that would be incredibly difficult to do long-term. The goal is not to eliminate all of these ingredients from our diets but to make more sustainable choices whenever possible.  

Palm Oil 

Palm oil is used in a lot of products: processed food, cosmetics and even cleaning products. Its large demand has led to large-scale deforestation, most significantly impacting Southeast Asia. This has destroyed the natural habitats the orangutans, tigers and elephants. The deforestation has also significantly contributed to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.  

Beef 

Beef production is driving rampant deforestation. The livestock industry has begun to take over areas, like the Amazon Rainforest, to make room for grazing land. Beef production also consumes a significant amount of water (15,000-20,000 liters per kilogram). It creates greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and causes land degradation. This makes beef one of the least sustainable foods you can eat. 

Avocados 

Avocados have led to massive deforestation in Mexico, affecting ecosystems and wildlife. Additionally, avocado farming requires a substantial amount of water (2,000-2,500 liters per kilogram) in a region that is already facing water scarcity issues and droughts. Avocado farms also contribute to land degradation. 

Almonds 

Growing almonds requires a very large amount of water (about 4,000 liters per kilogram). This is problematic as almonds are commonly grown in California, an area prone to droughts.  

Rice 

Rice farming also requires a lot of water (2,500-5,000 liters per kilogram) and often causes the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas. Rice fields are commonly fertilized with chemicals that can contribute to pollution when they run off into nearby ecosystems. 

Sugar 

Sugar is found in many processed foods, and the demand is wreaking havoc on the environment. Sugarcane farming leads to massive deforestation, especially in Brazil. Sugarcane also requires 1,500-3000 liters of water per kilogram and often uses harmful pesticides that pollute the environment.  

 Seafood 

The seafood industry is a major threat to marine ecosystems. Overfishing depletes marine populations and threatens the survival of fish species. Destructive fishing practices can damage ocean ecosystems such as coral reefs.   

Eating more sustainably 

While the impacts of these ingredients are alarming, there are steps we can take to eat more sustainably.” 

• Opt for more plant-based protein sources instead of beef. Proteins like beans and lentils are not only healthier for your body but they’re better for the environment. 

• If you consume dairy, beef, and other meat products, try searching for options from regenerative farms. Regenerative farming practices help restore soil health and capture carbon emissions. 

• Switch up the oils you use. Instead of palm oil, try olive oil or coconut oil. They are better for your heath, too. 

• Instead of rice, choose quinoa and other grains that require much less water. Quinoa only needs 500-1,000 liters of water per kilogram while rice requires 2,500-5,000 liters of water per kilogram. 

• While shopping for food, look for certifications such as Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance or Organic. These certifications indicate that the product was produced sustainably, minimizing harm to the environment, wildlife and workers. 

• Consider growing some of your own fruits and vegetables. This will give you more control over how the food is produced, making it better for the environment and more cost-effective for you. 

• Choose seafood with MSC or ASC certifications on the packaging. These indicate sustainable fishing practices. 

• Avoid eating fish that are vulnerable to overfishing, such as bluefin tuna and some types of cod.  

• Check out the Monterey Aquarium Seafood Guide, a consumer’s guide to the most sustainable seafood options.  

• Reduce waste whenever possible. Food waste that ends up in landfills contributes to methane emissions. Plan your meals carefully to use leftovers, and compost food scraps.  

By Jason Giovannettone, Climate and Sustainability Director 

Canned water is often recommended to minimize the consumption of single-use plastic products.  A quick introduction of potential alternatives to bottled water can be found in the following video: 

Aluminum is great because it is not made from fossil fuels and can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality. Plastic relies heavily on fossil fuels and can only be recycled a limited number of times. Glass requires large amounts of materials and energy during production, and due to its higher weight, it causes more emissions during transportation. Recycling glass also requires more energy than recycling aluminum and plastic. 

The recycling rate of aluminum is higher than for plastic bottles (43% vs. 20%, respectively), with nearly 97% of recycled aluminum becoming new cans.  Though some plastic bottles are recycled into new bottles, most end up in other types of products (e.g., polyester in clothing) as lower-quality plastic. The conversion of recycled aluminum into a new can requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce a new can, which is much less than plastic and glass. 

Additionally, aluminum scrap is more valuable at $1,388 per ton; recycled plastic is $215 per ton and glass is $23 Therefore, by recycling aluminum you are essentially subsidizing the recycling of other materials. 

One major concern with aluminum cans is that they require an inner liner to prevent metal corrosion and food contamination. These liners commonly contained bisphenol A (BPA), which is a hazardous chemical that can lead to multiple types of health issues. Luckily, many companies now sell drinks in cans containing a BPA-free liner. 

Helpful Hint 

If you need to purchase packaged water, consider purchasing a brand that comes in a BPA-free aluminum can composed of a high percentage of recycled material (i.e., post-consumer waste).  Examples include Open Water (75%; Climate Neutral certified), Blue Can (45-70%), RAIN (up to 100%), and Proud Source (75%).  

Sources: The Aluminum Association; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

By Marianne Comfort 

From the time we started dating, my now-husband, Ted, has had one firm rule: Remove your shoes upon entering the house. It turns out that his health concerns are aligned with science. 

Medical experts have determined that our footwear regularly brings bacteria, lead, hazardous chemicals and allergens into our homes. A University of Arizona study showed that there are more than 421,000 bacteria on the soles of our shoes, including strains that can cause diarrhea, meningitis and pneumonia. And a visual inspection doesn’t catch much of it. 

Just imagine the germs from indoor public spaces, pesticides from perfect looking lawns and industrial salts from winter roads and parking lots. They’re all dirtying your floors and carpets, polluting your indoor air and sometimes getting in the mouths of crawling babies. 

An internist at the Cleveland Clinic compared wearing your shoes in the house to not washing your hands; they’re both examples of poor hygiene practices. 

We have found that most guests are very accommodating to our request. Regular visitors know to bring slippers or heavy socks. Some have foot issues requiring them to wear shoes inside and, of course, we grant exemptions for those cases. 

Ted owns a pair of indoor shoes, with medically necessary orthotics, that he never wears outside. And he carries them with him when we’re visiting others. 

Sister Mary-Paula Cancienne & Jason Giovannettone

Taking time to become as informed as possible about concerns related to sustainability, especially those that affect our lifestyle, is a wise practice; many actions that initially appear to have a positive effect on the planet may cause harm and/or have harmful social implications.  

For example, installing solar panels on your roof is great for the planet because solar is one of the cleanest sources of energy available. But we also know that many companies source the panel materials from countries or regions of the world that are considered conflict zones where unfair labor practices are common, and/or where the  local communities are negatively impacted by the extraction of raw materials.  

As a second example, electric vehicles (EVs) may seem like a great way to reduce our carbon footprint, but the extent to which that is true depends on where you live and how much of your electricity is sourced from fossil fuels. Many of the metals used to create EV batteries  are sourced from regions where child labor is rampant, where there is deforestation due to mining, or where groundwater quality and quantity are depleted to a level that cannot sustain human or animal life.  

Purchasing toothbrushes or utensils made from bamboo may sound like a more environmental-friendly option when compared to plastic, but they may be causing significant harm to critical habitats if the bamboo is not certified to have been grown and harvested in a sustainable manner (certified by the FSC or Forest Stewardship Council).  

There are always trade-offs, but some are wiser than others; Information and awareness are important. As you consider sustainability in your life, ask the following questions: 

What are the practices that shape my own formation around love and care of Earth? What do we need to form ourselves into people who have sincere concern for the environment, who are willing to take informed actions to conserve Earth’s environment, and who have the passion to spread a message in a way that is not confrontational and not righteous, but whose attitude and practices lean more toward invitations to address problems as equal members of a community. Not necessarily easy, risk and sacrifice are always possibilities. 

Consider implementing these sustainable practices: 

• Purchase a bamboo toothbrush. 
• Purchase a native plant (maybe wait for the spring for this one). 
• Try a shampoo bar. 
• Select “no” each time you are asked whether you would like a receipt at the gas pump. 
• Identify the trees and plants growing in your yard using an app such as “Picture This.” 
• Remove the vines from one of your trees. (This really helped me realize what a negative impact invasive vines have on tree growth.) 
• Use laundry and/or dishwasher tablets. 
• Refrain from using straws with your drinks when dining out. 
• Purchase “pasture raised” or “free range” organic eggs that come in a cardboard carton.
• Brain-storm with friends for other ideas and investigate their pros and cons. 
• With a friend or as a family/group, choose an idea to enact and be mutually supportive. 

By Bailey Woodward, Justice intern 

As the holidays approach, you may already be planning your family celebrations. Traditions look different from home to home, but one unifying factor seems to be a shared meal. Gathering around the table with your loved ones and breaking bread fosters an atmosphere of love and community.    

This year, as we celebrate togetherness, we can also embrace the idea of sustainability in our holiday meals. A great place to start is with the source of your ingredients. You may consider shopping from local businesses or farmers’ markets over large-chain grocery stores. By doing this, not only are you supporting small local businesses, but you are also reducing the carbon footprint associated with transporting food long distances. If your meal typically includes meat, you may also consider purchasing from a local farm that practices humane and sustainable farming.    

Another way to have a more sustainable holiday dinner is to reduce your food waste. Be creative about using leftovers and food scraps. In my own home, we use leftover turkey to make a turkey-noodle soup. By using up all of your leftovers, you are reducing waste and saving yourself money too.    

These mindful choices can help us celebrate the holidays in a way that honors Christ, our loved ones and the planet, making our holiday celebrations even more meaningful. Happy holidays! 

By Jason Giovannettone, Climate and Sustainability Director 

One common sustainability concern that I hear (and often think about personally) is whether there are options for purchasing sustainable candy (in terms of both ingredients and packaging) or other packaged snacks to hand out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Much of the packaging of candy and other snacks is not recyclable, which adds to plastic waste. Passing out unpackaged candy will likely result in it being thrown away immediately by caring parents, adding to food waste.   

Why are most candy and snack wrappers and bags unrecyclable? Such packaging is often made of a mix of individually recyclable materials such as plastic, tin, aluminum, and others.  The problem is that when you mix these together, they are extremely time-consuming and expensive to separate, and, as such, considered non-recyclable.  Therefore, when tempted to recycle your empty chip bag with other recyclable bags, it should go in the trash; otherwise, it may contaminate the other bags and cause everything to end up in the landfill. 

There are a few more sustainable options available when purchasing treats for Halloween.  Look for candies packaged in cardboard boxes or wrapped in aluminum foil such as Junior Mints, Milk Duds and Nerds.  Many types of chocolate are individually wrapped in foil.  When ordering any type of candy online, try to verify whether it is shipped in a box or some type of plastic packaging.  There are many options for foil-wrapped candy, especially Halloween chocolates, available online through the Natural Candy Store website. Some of the chocolates sold through the website (e.g., chocolates made by Thompson) are also listed as being Fair Trade Certified, which means that they were made in a way that supports the livelihoods of the producers, their communities and the surrounding environment. 

If you much prefer treats that are packaged in difficult-to-recycle mixed packaging, some of the packaging can be recycled through Terracycle; you just need to print a free shipping label, collect the items in a box and mail them in.  A full list of companies with packaging that can be recycled can be found here.   

Green Tip 

During the next few weeks, try substituting one candy or snack that you typically purchase with one that is either unpackaged or comes in packaging other than plastic.  For an extra challenge, look for snacks that are Fair Trade Certified and/or come in cardboard or paper packaging that is FSC-certified (i.e., certified by the Forest Stewardship Council that the trees or other plants used to make the packaging were sustainably grown and harvested). 

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. Video entries must focus on one of these topics:

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 2025. See the complete rules for details.

Deadline

All entries must be received by April 1, 2025.

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.