Social Justice Issues

How do social justice issues affect people?

Social Justice issues effect people in numerous ways, falling under the category of both mental, physical and financial.

Some motives for social injustice include:

• Racism

• Ageism

• Sexism

• Homophobia

• Prejudice against disabilities

• Prejudice against the lower class

The effects of these motives and social justice issues include:

• Financial Instability

• Mental Instability

• Unemployment

• Poverty

• Bullying

• Etc.

1. Explain 2 Social Justice issues. Ie Poverty, homelessness, Bullying, etc

Capital Punishment:

Capital punishment is the practice of executing someone as punishment for a specific crime after a proper legal trial. It can only be used by a state, so when non-state organizations speak of having 'executed' a person they have actually committed a murder. (BBC, 2014) It is the ultimate denial of human rights, and essentially murder.

Bullying:

Bullying is when one person (or a group of people) with more power than someone else, tries to upset or hurt them. This power can come from being more popular, stronger or part of the group. They might repeatedly try to hurt them physically, try to socially isolate them or say and do mean or humiliating things to them. (Bullying No Way, 2015)

1. What is the issue? Who is affected?

The people who are affected by Capital Punishment predominantly include criminals who have committed serious acts of murder, although other crimes such as treason, fraud, adultery and rape can be counted in some countries.

Anyone can be effected by bullying. The consequences of bullying range from mild to extreme, and can have short term or long term effects on the victims. Some consequences include low self esteem, depression, anxiety, and at the extreme, self harm and suicide.

1. What are the consequences in society?

Research, inquire, discuss

The consequences capital punishment has on society include traumatizing the victim’s families with the grief of a lost loved one. Another consequence is the potential for error in accusing the criminal with a crime they did not commit, and the irreversibility of the death penalty.

The consequences of bullying in society is a ripple effect. With the bullying victim’s possible mental health issues or possible suicide, this has collateral damage on both family members and friends who may try to aid the victim.

1. What ways are people addressing the issues

Action has been made to ban Capital Punishment worldwide. Capital punishment has been abolished in multiple countries but is still legal in 36.

The education system employs lessons against bullying for young children and adolescents which creates awareness of the consequences.

1. Who is helping with these issues?

2. What are they doing to help?

A Company called Amnesty International is helping abolish Capital Punishment.

Amnesty International campaigns to abolish the death penalty in the USA by focusing on individual cases of injustice, supporting work for death penalty repeal efforts in the states, and educating campuses and communities about the fatally flawed nature of our capital punishment system. (Amnesty International, 2016)

Along with schools worldwide educating students on bullying, many free counselling services such as Kids Helpline provides aid and support for people aged 5 to 25 dealing with not only bullying, but mental illnesses.

1. What are the consequences or results of this action?

The results of Amnesty International campaigning against Capital Punishment includes victories such as American states Illinois, Connecticut, and more abolishing the punishment in their states.

Despite the action that has been taken to stop Bullying, according to a a UCLA psychology study in 2014:

• 83 percent of girls, and 79 percent of boys report being bullied either in school or online.

• 75 percent of school shootings have been linked to harassment and bullying against the shooter.

Not shockingly, students who are bullies as young adults continue the trend of abuse and violence into adulthood. By the age of 30, approximately 40 percent of boys who were identified as bullies in middle- and high school had been arrested three or more times.

(nobullying.com, 2015)

1. What element of Catholic social teaching is being affirmed in this action?

The Catholic Social teaching element that is being affirmed in the action taken against both Capital Punishment and bullying is The Dignity of the Human Person. This social teaching believes that No human being should have their dignity or freedom compromised. (Caritas Au, 2016)

1. What other laws protect people affected by this issue in society?

Laws worldwide have abolished Capital Punishment, which protects people affected by this issue.

As Bullying violates a multitude of human rights, it is considered a crime under the Human Rights law.