CPPS JUSTICE, PEACE & INTEGRITY OF CREATION

2011-09-27T03:49:00.001-07:00

October 2 is the UN International Day of Nonviolence which has been set to coincide with the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Nonviolence is the concept which culturally must have emerged in oriental religions such as Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism. An attitude cultivated in the hearts of men eliminating all desire to harm the other. The spirit of nonviolence in these cultures extend beyond the realm of human life to include all living things and indeed nature. Mahatma Gandhi exhorted all to not resist to evil so that we can be able to build a world of tolerance and peace. Aldo Capitini, the founder of the nonviolence movement in Italy was the first person to write the word Nonviolence without separation of violence and its’ negation (Nonviolence instead of “non violence” or “non-violence”), to underline the fact that nonviolence was an independent value and not a negation of violence.Nonviolence is not a sign of weakness but a virtue of a man who could have used aggression to his adversaries but chose not to do so because he/she feels so strongly armed with love and peace. Jesus is a great teacher of nonviolence and his words are so clear:"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," Jesus recalls. "But I say to you, Do not [violently] resist one who does evil. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other as well. If a person takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away" (Mt.5:38-42). But we need to be careful not to turn our nonviolence into passive acceptance of violence or active complicity in violence. We may well follow the wise advices of Fr. John Dear’s Theology of nonviolence: “Instead of passively accepting the oppressive and humiliating violence which lands on us like the back of a right hand slap across one's face, we are to turn the cheek, look our oppressors in the eye, accept violence without retaliating and all the while show our oppressors that we too are human, so that their hearts and eyes may be opened, the violence stopped and together we are reconciled” .Motivated by the Blood of Christ shed on the cross let us pray and work for a world free of violence. Jesus goes to his death rejecting violence, loving enemies, calling all who come to him to forgive their enemies, returning good for evil. The Eucharist is the sacrament of nonviolence and Christ offering his body and blood for our nourishment is the one who can show how we can build a society without shedding of blood.

2011-09-27T01:23:00.000-07:00

For the International Day of non violence (October 2nd) such a message may be good to reflect upon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IvPIWzQcUY&feature=player_embedded

International day of Prayer for peace

2011-09-15T03:39:00.000-07:00

Background: September 21 was set by the UN an international day of peace since 1982. Nations, communities and individuals are invited to stop and reflect on the causes of violence and hostilities at all levels. Areas where there are wars are invited to observe ceasefire and non-violence. 29 years have passed since this day was proclaimed a global observance, progress have been made on personal and social levels. Obviously there is still a lot to be done. Let us reflect, pray and sponsor initiatives that can promote peace and non-violence in our neighborhoods, communities and societies.

Called to work as ambassadors of reconciliation (2Cor. 5,18-20):

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God”.

Called to be active part of this “new creation” brought about not only by the death of the son of God on the cross but more so of his resurrection, we are commissioned to be aware of, pray for and work for a new creation free of hatred, violence and mutual annihilation. Among the initiatives for this international day for peace, the Cincinnati Province Precious Blood ministry of reconciliation organizes a 100 days of prayer calling people wherever they are to “make their voices heard”. Let us join them, as CPPS world-wide to the campaign.

A Pledge of nonviolence (form the Prayer by John Dear, SJ, 2009)

(Leader) I invite all those who are ready to recite together this pledge of nonviolence, that we will try to practice and live the nonviolence of Jesus for the rest of our lives:

In the name of the God of peace and nonviolent Jesus,

I pledge today to live, practice and teach the nonviolence of Jesus,

• to renounce violence and to non-cooperate with the world's violence;

• to love every one as my sister and brother;

• to respond with love and not to retaliate with violence;

• to forgive those who have hurt me and reconcile with everyone;

• to accept suffering as I work for justice, rather than inflict further suffering;

• to live more simply, at one with all creation;

• to work with others for the abolition of war, poverty, nuclear weapons, global warming and all violence;

• to follow the nonviolent Jesus on the way of the cross into the new life of resurrection, knowing that my life is in God's hands, that life, love and peace are stronger than death, hatred and war;

• to seek God's reign of nonviolence for the rest of my life;

• and to promote and teach the Gospel message of nonviolence.

May the God of peace give me the grace and strength to fulfill this pledge and make me an instrument of God's peace. Amen.

save the bees for the sake of life

2011-01-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

2010 was declared the International year of biodiversity, all were invited to safeguard life and its variety of species of animals, plans, insects and all other living creatures that the Good Creator endowed the humankind so that he/she might “have life and have it to the full”.

Silently, billions of bees are dying off and our entire food chain is in danger. Bees don't just make honey, they are a giant, humble workforce, pollinating 90% of the plants we grow.

Multiple scientific studies blame one group of toxic pesticides for their rapid demise, and bee populations have soared in four European countries that have banned these products. But powerful chemical companies are lobbying hard to keep selling this poison. Our best chance to save bees now is to push the US and EU to join the ban -- their action is critical and will have a ripple effect on the rest of the world.

Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations -- some bee species are now extinct and others are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for answers. Some studies claim the decline may be due to a combination of factors including disease, habitat loss and toxic chemicals. But new leading independent research has produced strong evidence blaming neonicotinoid pesticides. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee killers. But, Bayer continues to export its poison across the world.

Source: http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/97.php?; www.cbd.int.22010.

Creating a World without Nuclear weapons

2010-11-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation commission of the Major Superiors of Religious congregation of men and women (USG / UISG) organised a seminar on November 12, 2010 with the theme: "Instruments of Peace: Creating a World Without Nuclear Weapons". The following the the press release.

A world without nuclear weapons is something to strive for, was the common denominator that seems to have been agreed upon by all those who participated in Saturday’s JPIC seminar, entitled: “Instruments of Peace: Creating a World Without Nuclear Weapons”, sponsored by the JPIC Commission of the two Unions of Superior Generals at the Generalate of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, but how and how quickly to achieve that goal was the lingering question at the day’s end. His Excellency Dr. Miguel Diaz, the United States Ambassador to the Holy See, spoke about The Audacity to Hope in a World Without Nuclear Weapons and Cardinal Peter K. Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council Iustitia et Pax spoke to the topic as well.
In his address the Ambassador pointed out the shared positions of the Obama government and the Holy See, mainly that nonproliferation is good and that the development and production of arms ties up resources that could be used in development. He then explained the U.S. government’s efforts at Nuclear Non-Proliferation, supporting peaceful uses of nuclear technology – such as nuclear power, food security, water management and promoting global health – transparency about nuclear stockpiles and the new START treaty. “A world with nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We must be steadfast in stating and restating this declaration. “A world with nuclear weapons is unacceptable.”
Cardinal Turkson outlined the Church’s position on the use of nuclear weapons and the policy of nuclear deterrence since Vatican II. He noted that during the Cold War deterrence was based on two suppositions: 1. The existence of ideological blocs; 2. The assumption of a rational behavior that would prevent either bloc from a first strike because of the fear of escalation and mutual destruction. He then analyzed society’s positions on the threat of the use of nuclear arms from the legal, strategic, moral and economic aspects. He too ended his talk with a challenge for all to work for the elimination of nuclear weapons by decreasing demand for them, and ultimately by following the call to be instruments of peace.
During several question and answer sessions the speakers responded to remarks or questions about the policies of the U.S. government and/or the Holy See regarding disarmament and other policies. The discussion was lively and reflected the passionate interest of all involved.
In a prepared response to the presentations, Mercedarian Sister Filo Hirota noted that if we want to be proactive for nuclear disarmament, our action must be well grounded with a deeply ethical and spiritual motivation to deny any will to kill. She also noted the importance of working towards a nuclear weapons convention and asked all the participants to become familiar with various actions for nuclear disarmament. She concluded by reading a message from Archbishop Joseph Takami of Nagasaki, Japan, who stated that “Any weapon, let alone nuclear weapons, destroys the dignity of a person and should never be manufactured. Total abolition of nuclear weapons is an indispensable condition for world peace.”

International Day of Nonviolence 2010

2010-10-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON VIOLENCE

October 2nd is the date that the UN has marked as the International Day dedicated to nonviolence. What does it say to us? Is it an anniversary to remember rituals, such as the anniversary of the dead, or rather as the date that calls on our consciences and our bodies with all their sensitivity, to live differently? In the last century some prophets unveiled to the world the new name for peace: Nonviolence. For Tolstoy living the Christian law of love affirms the universal non-resistance to evil by violence and objection of conscience. That was his response to military spending and challenged the states and members of Churches to take an option to follow God’s command “Thou shalt not kill”. Then Gandhi stated that non-violence was as old as the mountains, showing that it declined in our time and assumed the power of God for the liberation of peoples for independence. He said that the policy of nonviolence was more effective and powerful than nuclear bomb. In Italy, the pedagogy of nonviolence was advocated by Capitini when he began to entrench democracy in the constitution and to enlarge it with the power of all. Only the daily practice of nonviolence in all areas: religious, economic, social and political arena may prevent dictatorships, he said. There have been other people in history who gave their testimony that nonviolence is the new name for peace. People like Martin Luther King Jr., Oscar Romero, Nelson Mandela and others.

We are motivated by the Blood of Christ shed on the cross to pray and work for a world free of violence. Jesus goes to his death rejecting violence, loving enemies, calling all who come to him to forgive their enemies, returning good for evil. The Eucharist is the sacrament of nonviolence and Christ offering his body and blood for our nourishment is the one who can show how we can build a society without shedding of blood.

Can Millenium Development Goals be met in this way?

2010-09-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

What steps your Government has taken to meet with the Millennium Development goals?

Ten years have past since the world community of Nations committed itself to the eradication of extreme poverty; Achieve universal primary education; Promote gender equality and empower women; Reduce child mortality; Improve maternal health; Combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases; Ensure environmental sustainability and Develop a Global Partnership for Development.

Word leaders have been summoned by the UN Secretary General to assess how far this aim is being achieved. Do you know the percentage your government devotes to this goal even after economic recession?

According to UN-WHO statistics , development nations are on track to meet the poverty target because of progress in China. But in Sub-Sahara African and Western Asia the proportion of hungry people has increased. Globally the number of hungry people rose from 842 million in 1990-92, to 1.02 billion people in 2009.

While countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have seen great improvements by abolishing school fees and offering free school lunches, the target is unlikely to be met. The drop-out rate is high, and although there has been some investment in teachers and classrooms, it is not enough.

Gender gaps in education have narrowed, but remain high at university (tertiary) level in some developing countries because of poverty. Employment for women has improved but there are still many more women than men in low-paid jobs. There have been small gains for women in political power.

Child deaths are falling but at the current rate are well short of the two-thirds target. They more than halved in Northern Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean but remain high in parts of Southern Asia. In Sub-Saharan Africa the absolute number of children who have died actually increased.

Although in all regions there are advances in providing pregnant women with antenatal care, the maternal mortality rate is unacceptably high, with progress well short of the decline needed to meet the target. Those at most risk are adolescent girls, yet funding on family planning is falling behind.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has stabilised in most regions, but new infections are rising in some areas and antiretroviral treatment has mushroomed. Global funding has helped control malaria but is still far short of what is needed. On current trends tuberculosis will have been halted and started to reverse.

The world will meet the drinking water target on current trends but half the population of developing regions still lacks basic sanitation. The 2010 target to slow decline in biodiversity has been missed. Improving the lives of 100 million slum dwellers has been achieved but their actual numbers are rising.

Levels of aid continue to rise, but major donors are well below target. In terms of volume the USA, France, Germany, UK and Japan are the largest donors. G8 countries have failed to deliver on a promise to double aid to Africa. Debt burdens have been eased for developing countries.

What are you doing to lobby or influence your government to increase its contribution to speeding the fulfilment of the Millennium Development goals?

INTERNATIONAL EARTH DAY 2010

2010-04-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

10 Things You Can do to Care for the Earth
1. Plan car trips ahead of time
If you are like most people who live in their car, take
stock of the number of unnecessary trips you make in a
given week. Plan your errands, meetings, pick-ups and
routes ahead of time in order to cut back on your
contribution to CO2 car emissions and gas use.
Catholic Social teaching calls us to take responsibility for our use and care of the earth. The
decisions we make can make a positive difference by heeding the call to be better stewards and
care about our impact on the earth. Global climate change hasbeen a major topic in the public
spotlight these days. While everyone from scientists to politicians are joining forces to address
this reality, there are numerous simple things each one of us can do to make a difference.
4. Look for the Energy Star
When making purchases of new appliances, check to
see that they are carrying the Energy Star symbol
indicating that they are designed to be more energy
efficient than other models. Appliances with this label
not only use less power but can also greatly reduce
your energy bill.
2. Use Earth-friendly cleaners
The products that you use to clean your home may
actually be harmful for the earth, containing damaging
chemicals and upsetting the ecological balance. Seek
“green” cleaning products that are biodegradable and
designed with the earth in mind.
3. Use your bike
More and more cities are jumping on the bandwagon of
cutting gas emissions by promoting bike paths for
commuters. Consider using your bike to get to or from
work, or if that is impractical, consider increasing bike
use on the weekends to make those shorter trips to the
store, The earth will benefit and so will your overall
health.
5. Plant extra veggies
As the gardening season gets underway, consider
adding an extra plot of vegetables to provide fresh
produce for a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter.
The garden will be bountiful and others will reap what
you sow.
6. Conserve Water
Water tends to be something we take for granted, but it
is quickly becoming one of the precious resources of
the earth that needs our care and conservation. Be
more mindful of unnecessary water use and don’t leave
the faucet running.
7. Change your light bulbs
One significant place to curb energy use is in the light
bulb socket. Compact florescent light bulbs (CPL) are
the newest way a small purchase can make a big
change. These spiral shaped bulbs may cost more, but
they use one-fourth the energy and can be found
anywhere light bulbs are sold.
8. Hang a Clothes line
This may sound like a return to the 1950’s but using a
clothes line instead of your heated dryer can cut back
drastically on energy use. Additional benefits include
that fresh clothesline scent and a smaller electric bill.
9. Consume less, Share more
Unbridled consumption is part of the dynamic putting an
increased demand on the need for energy and fuels.
Assess your own buying habits and consumerist
tendencies cut back where you can, sharing unused or
unneeded items with others. As the saying goes, “Have
less, be more.”
10. Support a local farmer
Most of the food we eat travels hundreds and sometimes
even thousands of miles to reach our grocery
stores and markets. Do your part to reduce our dependency
on oil and fossil fuels and buy locally from a
farmer in your region. Find a farmers market in your
area through the internet or yellow pages

Justice for a Roman Catholic nun who was raped

2010-04-06T00:49:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the case reported by media two years ago of a nun who was forced to parade half naked and gang-raped by Hindu fundamentalist in Orissa India?

The High Court of Orissa decided to move an infamous case from a court in Phulbani, Kandhamal District, Orissa to the city of Cuttack. The transfer decision, given on March 30, 2010, has rekindled dwindling hope for justice for all victims of the unprecedented anti-Christian riots in 2008.

One of the lead lawyers in the case, Ms. Lansinglu Rongmei, said, "The best part is that the court instructed that all the witnesses who turned hostile should be recalled. This means the trial will essentially get a fresh start." Rongmei has a private practice based in Delhi but has also served as the National Legal Secretary for the All India Christian Council (aicc) since October 2008.

Let us hope and pray that those who committed the crime may be held accountable so that this can serve to the re-establishment of just relationship in that reagion.

Source: Fr. Amaladoss Mariasussai, CPPS
Sr. Kusumam, SAB
The Executive Secretary, KRCR
KRCR Secretariat
C/o. The Brother's of Holy Cross
# 47 St. Mark's Road
Bangalore - 560 001.

The International Year of Biodiversity

2010-04-05T03:51:00.000-07:00

What are you doing in the year of Biodiversity?

The UN declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). Throughout the year countless initiatives will be organized to disseminate information, promote the protection of biodiversity and encourage organizations, institutions, companies and individuals to take direct action to reduce the constant loss of biological diversity worldwide.

Biodiversity is an all encompassing term to describe the variety of all life and natural processes on Earth. It is “the variability among living organisms from all sources [...] this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems”. (Article 2, CBD).

Have you ever considered that the glass of clear, cold, clean water drawn from your faucet may have been purified for you by a wetland or perhaps the root system of an entire forest? Too often people take the availability of products and goods for granted. If we follow the chain of production for many products back to the source, more often than not we arrive back at biodiversity.
Continued loss of biodiversity will result in a rapid decline of the Earth’s natural wealth and a dramatic reduction of future ecosystem services. Agricultural production will dramatically decrease if bacteria and fungi, which make soil fertile and breakdown wastes disappear. The same will happen if insects, bats and birds – which ensure flower pollination – reduce in numbers. With 42% of anti-cancer drugs coming from natural sources, biodiversity loss will force us to face unprecedented challenges.
We are losing both the beauty and richness of our natural environment as well as destabilising the very ecological processes on which we depend. There can be no life on Earth without biodiversity.
To fight the continuous loss of biodiversity which is threatening the survival of the world as a whole, in 2002 world leaders committed to reduce this loss by 2010, following the pledge EU countries had already made in 2001. Find out more on the 2010 Biodiversity Target.

What you can do?
•Raise awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity for human well-being and promote understanding of the economic value of biodiversity
•Enhance public knowledge of the threats to biodiversity and means to conserve it
•Encourage organizations (and through them individuals) to take direct or indirect biodiversity conservation activities
•Celebrate the achievements of Countdown 2010 partners and other stakeholders
•Reporting on the possible failures for not achieving the Target
•Prepare the ground for communicating the post-2010 target(s)
For further information contact: Email: info [at] countdown2010.net

Copenhagen COP15

2009-12-21T14:24:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER CPPS – JPIC NEWSLETTER

2009-12-11T21:57:00.000-08:00

Seminar on Justice and Reconciliation:
A seminar organized by USG-UISG Justice and peace commission in conjunction with AEFJN took place in Rome at the Brothers of Christian Instruction on November 23. About 140 participants from various religious congregations residing in Rome attended. Fr. Bob Schreiter a Missionary of the Precious Blood Cincinnati province and a renown expert in theology of Reconciliation was a main presenter. After his presentation two religious, one from Burundi and another from Togo gave their testimonies on the theme. Fr. Bob Schreiters presentation is available at: http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/EN_Justice.

The International climate change conference in Copenhagen.
From December 7-18 this year world leaders will be meeting in the Denmark capital to discuss a new agreement on global climate change. For many now it is not difficult to realize why such a meeting is important for the survivor of our planet. If world leaders fail to reach an agreement, “it won't just mean less snow on ski slopes, but millions of families in Africa will see their farms turn to dust as the desert advances, many in Asia will die in worsening floods and storms, and some island nations will be threatened by rising seas -- all within 10-15 years”. During this week and always in your ministry remember the cry of the blood of mother Earth and of so many victims of climate change. Think of doing something to bring about climate and environmental conversion.

Candle Light Vigils against Climate Change:
To highlight the importance of the upcoming Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and to bring pressure on the delegates Avaaz.org is encouraging the organization of candle light vigils around the world. Perhaps members of your institute might be interested. For further information go to: http://www.avaaz.org/en/real_deal_hosts

Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC):
It is a secular body that helps the major religions of the world to develop their own environmental programs, based on their own core teachings, beliefs and practices. They recently held a conference in Windsor to launch a collection of 7 year plans. Ban Ki-moon acknowledged religion’s vital role in protecting the environment in his keynote address. For more information go to their web page at: http://www.arcworld.org/

Es hora de hacer justicia climática en Copenhaguen

2009-12-11T21:28:00.000-08:00

Miembros de Caritas de todo el mundo viajan a Copenhague para presionar a los gobiernos en una reunión clave sobre cambio climático.

La cumbre de la ONU (denominada CMNUCC) debe fijar objetivos para recortar las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero que causan el cambio climático.

También debe fijar la financiación a aportar a las comunidades pobres para abordar los impactos de una meteorología extrema e imprevisible, así como para un desarrollo futuro sostenible y bajo en carbono.

Acontecimientos

Caritas participará en la reunión y también en una serie de acontecimientos programados en la ciudad para conseguir un acuerdo más justo para las personas pobres.

19.00 horas, viernes 11 de diciembre – Invitación abierta a una “Misa por la Justicia Climática” en la Catedral de San Ansgar, presidida por Mons. Cyprian Lwanga de Kampala, Presidente de Caritas África. Para más información, ir a www.sanktansgar.dk.

13.00 horas, sábado 12 de diciembre – Representantes de Caritas participarán en la marcha Planet First, People First (El planeta primero, Las personas primero) que discurrirá por las calles de Copenhague.

11.30 horas, domingo 13 de diciembre – Representantes de Caritas entregarán compromisos de sus colaboradores, y de colaboradores de otras iglesias, a ejecutivos de la CMNUCC en la Radhuspladsen (plaza del ayuntamiento).

14.00 horas, domingo 13 de diciembre – Celebración ecuménica en la Catedral de Copenhague, con el Arzobispo de Canterbury, la Familia Real danesa y dirigentes religiosos y políticos. La iglesia católica estará representada por Mons. Gustavo Rodríguez Vega, presidente de Caritas México.

15.00 horas, domingo 13 de diciembre – Sonarán 350 repiques de campana en un acto interreligioso en Copenhague y en el mundo entero, para simbolizar el nivel seguro de CO2 en la atmósfera, en ppm.

11.00 horas, lunes 14 de diciembre – Caritas Internationalis y el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias organizan un evento paralelo en el Centro de Congresos de la CMNUCC, con la finalidad de aportar principios éticos y una perspectiva religiosa a las negociaciones sobre cambio climático. Este acontecimiento estudiará diversas perspectivas basadas en la fe sobre políticas y actuaciones para promover la justicia climática.

Peticiones

CIDSE y Caritas Internationalis instan a que se consiga un acuerdo justo, eficaz y vinculante en Copenhague, en base a una serie de criterios fundamentales.
• Los países desarrollados deben comprometer al menos 195.000 millones de dólares (131.000 millones de euros) en fondos públicos adicionales cada año para 2020, a través de instrumentos de financiación seguros y previsibles, para apoyar los esfuerzos de adaptación ante los impactos del cambio climático de los países en desarrollo, así como su desarrollo sostenible.
• Un compromiso global para mantener el calentamiento del planeta sustancialmente por debajo de los 2 ºC, alcanzar la cota máxima de emisiones entre 2013 y 2017, y llegar a conseguir unas concentraciones atmosféricas estables de CO2 de 350 ppm.
• Los países industrializados en su conjunto deben fijar un objetivo de reducción superior al 40% del nivel de emisiones de 1990 para 2020; el grueso de esta cifra debe conseguirse mediante reducciones en las emisiones a nivel.
• Los resultados acordados en Copenhague deben ser legalmente vinculantes y aplicables: un segundo periodo de compromiso del Protocolo de Kyoto; con un acuerdo complementario y actuaciones y aplicación parecidos para Estados Unidos, y actuaciones también por parte de los países en desarrollo.

Caritas en Copenhague
La delegación de Caritas Internationalis incluye a Lesley-Anne Knight, su Secretaria General.

Europa: Jann Sjursen, Secretario General de Caritas Dinamarca; José Luis Pérez Larios, Director de Caritas España; Padre Erny Gillen, Presidente de Caritas Europa.

África: Janet Mangera, Ejecutiva Nacional de Caritas Kenia; Aine Hughes de Caritas Sudáfrica; Mons. Joao Silota de Mozambique; Samuel Mulafulafu de Caritas Zambia; Firmin Adjahossou, SECAM; y Mons. Cyprian Lwanga de Kampala, Presidente de Caritas África.

Asia: Sunil Simon, de Caritas India; Mons. Theotonius Gomes, Presidente de Caritas Bangladesh; Mons. Martinus Dogma Situmorang, Presidente de Caritas Indonesia; Kim Rattana, Director Ejecutivo de Caritas Camboya.

América Latina: Mons. Gustavo Rodríguez Vega, Presidente de Caritas México; Roberto Urbina de Caritas Chile; Manuel de Jesús Morán Hidalgo de Caritas El Salvador; José Cervantes Rubio de Caritas Honduras.

Oceanía: Padre Michael Mackenzie de Kiribati. América del Norte: Walter Grazer de la Sociedad Religiosa Nacional para el Medio Ambiente.

América del Norte: Walter Grazer de la Sociedad Religiosa Nacional para el Medio Ambiente.

GLOBAL WARMING IN A MAN MADE OVEN

2009-08-14T01:52:00.000-07:00

The most powerful and deadly typhoon to hit the Philippines, Taiwan and China one after another this past week left hundreds dead and million of dollars in damage. Landslides in Taiwan buried entire villages. In the Philippines, highways were swept away by floods as if nature was wiping down a table. The ferocity and magnitude of the storms that repeatedly sweep in from the ever warmer oceans in greater frequency are truly shocking. The runaway melting of huge sections of the ice caps at the poles and the resulting rise in sea levels are causing irreversible damage and eventual disappearance of low lying islands like the Maldives.

Gloom and doom? Yes! That's the stark reality and the enormity of the task facing the community of nations that will meet in Copenhagen this December 7 to 18 this year. The leaders have to agree to massively reduce the burning of fossil fuels and stop the emissions of CO2 and change to wind and solar power and other non-polluting, non-nuclear means to generate electricity. Besides this, humans have to adopt to simpler, less wasteful and environmentally destructive lifestyles. We should be recycling nearly everything and turning to organic food production in a massive scale.

The United Nations-sponsored meeting has to create strong enforceable global contracts to stop CO2 production, end forest destruction, replant billions of trees, promote organic farming and reverse the poisoned march of chemical farming.
We, the public need to support these UN-brokered planet-saving measures and help reduce global warming that is so destructive to life. If humans are in biblical terms “stewards” of the beauty and magnificence of God’s creation, we are failing miserably.

Making these changes in our way of inhabiting the planet and spending lots of money, that burden lies mostly on the developed world, China and India that burn most of the fossil fuel in coal and oil-fired plants to generate electricity.

For those who deny that the planet is heating up for the first time in 11,000 years need only to see the resulting natural disasters. This is what scientists are calling a new unprecedented geological epoch in the history of the planet, the first ever caused by living creatures. In the past earthquakes, volcanoes, meteors, crashing asteroids and planetary realignments brought about geological change.

Humankind is now an agent of change in the geological and environmental history of the evolving planet. It is change that is not good for humanity, the planet’s food supply has evolved and thrived in a cooler climate. If the temperature keeps rising with all that CO2 and methane and other greenhouse gases we are pumping into the sky, there will be massive crop failure, draughts and price increases that will cause food riots and massive social unrest.
What bothers me the most is that a lot for that CO2 is absorbed by the oceans, they are more acidic now than they have been for millions of years, life just can’t survive in acidic waters. The sensitive corals die and then the plankton and the bigger fish and then people. Millions of poor coastal dwellers around the world depend on fish. Besides the massive irresponsible commercial fishing fleets are over fishing the oceans with kilometer wide nets and fishing lines and are driving many species to extinction.

The once great forests that girdled the planet were great absorbers of CO2 that helped grow more trees but they are not there as before. They have been cut down to provide land to grow corn and grass for millions of cud chewing cows so the rich can eat beef. The cows pass millions tons of smelly methane gas into the atmosphere adding to the thick blanket of gas around the earth that is blocking the escape of heat from the earth’s sun scorched surface. The growing of more crops like corn, means millions of tons of nitrogen are used and the run off into the oceans is a poison killing off all life. Dead zones now affect 245,000 sq. km of ocean waters.

We have created poisoned oceans and an atmospheric oven in which we are cooking ourselves and the planet to death. END.
By: Father Shay Cullen
Published by
http://www.preda.org/archives/2009/r09081201.html

ARZOBISPO DE HUANCAYO AMENAZADO

2009-08-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

Arzobispo de Huancayo denuncia amenazas
Monseñor Barreto dice que pese a todo está dispuesto a proteger al pueblo. Comunidad eclesiástica pide garantías por la vida del prelado
La tensión continúa en La Oroya, y esta vez alcanza las altas esferas católicas. Monseñor Pedro Barreto Jimeno, arzobispo de la Arquidiócesis de Huancayo, denunció que ha sido amenazado por exigir el cumplimiento del Programa de Adecuación y Manejo Ambiental (PAMA) de la empresa minera Doe Run, pero que se mantendrá firme y dispuesto a todo con tal de luchar por la salud de los pobladores de La Oroya.
Tal advertencia es parte de un comunicado firmado por dirigentes de los tres sindicatos de trabajadores metalúrgicos de Doe Run, la cual se publicó el pasado 2 de agosto. En ella, se llama a “cerrar filas ante los enemigos de la clase trabajadora [...]supuestos defensores de la salud” y señalan a monseñor Pedro Barreto, advirtiendo que “se atengan a las consecuencias porque todo tiene su límite”.
PIDEN GARANTÍAS
Ante este hecho, la comunidad eclesiástica y los pobladores de la región rechazaron la amenaza. En un comunicado, el vicario general, vicarios episcopales, sacerdotes, religiosos, hermandades, movimientos de laicos, asociaciones religiosas, Cáritas de la Arquidiócesis de Huancayo y diversos representantes de la sociedad anunciaron que habían solicitado garantías a la gobernación regional y responsabilizan a los dirigentes de los sindicatos de Doe Run por lo que pudiera ocurrir al prelado.
A esta manifestación se sumó el presidente regional de Junín, Vladimiro Huaroc, quien expresó su solidaridad al pastor católico.
Monseñor Barreto agradeció el apoyo y reiteró que no cambiará de posición. “La vida de un solo hombre no es nada cuando de trata de toda una población”, dijo.
Refirió que hace quince días los mismos dirigentes habían dialogado con él en forma pacífica. “No creo que sean todos los trabajadores los que tengan animadversión contra mí, sino algunos malos dirigentes que, frustrados por no llevar bien la representación de sus sindicatos, tratan de justificarse con actitudes reprobables”, aseguró.
“Me declaran como terrorista blanco por decir la verdad. Existe gente interesada en fomentar la violencia, pero para mí primero están la dignidad, la salud y la estabilidad laboral”, añadió.
Mientras tanto, la suspensión de labores de Doe Run significa una importante merma económica para La Oroya. Según el Gobierno Regional de Junín, el desarrollo de esta se encuentra afectado en 60%.

CPPS Monthly Bulletin for JPIC

2009-07-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

Monthly issue for discussion and information
Fr. Felix Mushobozi, cpps

Dear friend, welcome to this newly born bulletin. The aim of this page is to create a little room for conversation regarding the relevance of issues of Justice, peace and Integrity of creation (JPIC) to our CPPS charism in particular and the missionary vocation of the church in general.

The former moderator General Barry Fisher used to remind us: “Yet, as missionary communities we are called to live as a pilgrim people, to travel light, to always have the mental disposition of "letting go" and to travel on whenever God calls us or whenever the signs of the times beckon a response from us. The Blood of Jesus calls us to witness to his presence, to be living arks, reminding the outcasts and the downtrodden that God's love is unfailing and that they are never alone. God journeys with them. Our Pilgrim God wishes to be with the suffering, with those pushed out to the fringes of society and with those whose lives are threatened showing his love and concern to them, through our missionary presence. We walk with the people to show them that their pilgrimage isn't just a wandering without a destiny, but a road which others have already walked. We will be a Sign for them. We are members of the new alliance, sealed in the Blood of the Lamb!”.