News Archives » Global
In Pursuit of Self Sustainability July 5th, 2012
There are now several community gardens in the Oblate world – the original OEI garden in Godfrey, Illinois, the new initiative at the Oblate headquarters in Washington, DC, and a community-oriented agriculture project in Zambia. We wanted to share this story of the Zambia initiative:
Zambia’s Oblate formation community moved to its new location in Makeni only in October last year. After seeing the poultry and the big field of vegetables in the back yard garden, the impression a first time visitor would have of the place is that the occupants may had been settled there for a longer period. The community in Makeni grows vegetables, not only for consumption but also for sale to the people around the community and to the city at large. Produce from the garden is sold at wholesale price in one of the city’s biggest market called Soweto, and in two other densely populated areas namely, Chawama and Kabwata. Efforts are also being made to sell the vegetables in one of the leading chain supermarkets.
Click here to read more »
South African President Zuma Visits Archbishop Denis Hurley’s Tomb July 5th, 2012
South African President, Jacob Zuma visited Durban’s Emmanuel Cathedral on 19 April to pay tribute to Archbishop Denis Hurley’s contribution to South Africa’s liberation struggle by laying a wreath on his tomb. This was part of a national program of visits throughout South Africa to mark the centenary of the ANC’s foundation. The brief ceremony at the Cathedral began with Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, OFM, and other religious leaders greeting the President and his party at the entrance to the Cathedral and then escorting them to the Archbishop’s tomb in the Lady Chapel.
Click here to read more »
Arizona Bishops’ Statement on Immigration law SB 1070 June 29th, 2012
On Monday, June 25, the Supreme Court ruled on the controversial Arizona Immigration law SB1070. The Arizona Catholic Bishops Conference released a statement signed by five bishops in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling on SB1070.
Faith-Based Investors Applaud U.S. Supreme Court’s Reaffirmation of the Affordable Care Act June 28th, 2012
Citing Access and Affordability as an Immutable Human Right, Members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility Welcome Resolution of the Legislation’s Standing
New York – Today members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a faith-based shareholder coalition that has long advocated for health care reform, celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) first enacted in March of 2010.
Click here to read more »
Religious Groups Establish Principles to Promote Food Security June 18th, 2012
The Oblate JPIC office joined thirty development NGOs and faith-based organizations in a letter to the State Department, US AID and the White House celling for adherence to a set of principles to assure food security as the government engages increasingly in overseas agricultural Public Private Partnerships. The groups contend, “Because we know that how donors invest in agriculture is as important as the investments themselves, we urge the U.S. Government, as it partners with the private sector for the purpose of increasing food and nutrition security, to adopt the following principles:”
- Do no harm (to other public investments
- Respect the dignity of the human person
- Provide measurable benefits to smallholders
- Ensure sustainability
- Provide transparency and mechanisms for ongoing civil society participation
- Protect and prioritize local private sector actors
Read the letter for detail on the principles listed above (Download PDF)
