News Archives » Global
Hans Rosling’s 200 Countries, 200 Years: The Joy of Stats January 28th, 2011
This wonderfully creative four-minute graphic lecture combines enormous quantities of public data with an entertaining style to reveal the story of the world’s past, present and future development. In this video, Hans Rosling, a Swedish medical doctor, academic, statistician and global health activist, explores statistics in an appealing way – using augmented reality animation.
In the ‘The Joy of Stats’ Dr. Rosling tells the story of the world in 200 countries over 200 years using 120,000 numbers – in just four minutes. Plotting life expectancy against income for every country since 1810, Dr. Rosling shows how the world we live in is radically different from the world most of us imagine.
Oblates at the 2011 World Social Forum in Senegal January 26th, 2011
Fr. Walter Butor OMI, Ms Patti Radle and Fr. Jose Ponce OMI will represent the U.S. Oblate JPIC Committee at the upcoming 2011 World Social Forum (WSF) in Dakar, Senegal which will run from February 6 to 11. The three will join other Oblates from around the world who will be attending the Forum.
The World Social Forum is an annual summit held by non-governmental organizations, civil society members and religious leaders who believe that “another world is possible”. Participants meet to coordinate global campaigns and share organizing strategies in panels and workshops through which participants will exchange experiences, best practices and networking action. The World Social Forum meets at the beginning of each year to offer an alternative platform to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
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Eco-tip: Prevent Litter, Protect Animals January 26th, 2011
Flickr Creative Commons license: epSos.de
Cigarette butts, snack wrappers, take-out boxes, and drink containers are our most common liter. Each one can hurt animals in a different way. Little animals like squirrels and skunks sometimes stick their heads in small plastic containers (especially yogurt containers) trying to get the food that’s left, and get stuck there. Deer and other animals often cut their tongues on half-opened cans. Six-pack rings of soda cans can trap and strangle birds, fish, and other animals. Animals mistake cigarette butts which are made of plastic and eat them, which can kill them.
So, when you go hiking take a trash bag to collect your trash and other trash along the way. The animals from the forest will greatly appreciate it.
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U.S. Bishops Outline Legislative ‘Principles and Priorities’ For New Congress January 26th, 2011
The poor and vulnerable must not be neglected in times of difficult choices
Respect for the dignity of all human life an underlying principle
Subsequent letter on health care reform reflects bishops’ principles at work
In a letter to Congress dated January 14th, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), outlined the “principles and priorities that will guide the public policy efforts” of the Bishops’ Conference during the new legislature.
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March for Life Rally January 24th, 2011
The annual March for Life rally and demonstration in Washington, D.C. is underway, with thousands of pro-life activists filling the National Mall and the streets to the Supreme Court. Many have included visits to their House and Senate representatives in their plans. Saturday marked the 38th anniversary of the landmark Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion.
House Republican leaders are eager to move on a vote to put more restrictions on federal abortion funding.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and other key members of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus last week introduced the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which would prohibit federal agencies and programs from spending tax money to fund abortions. The USCCB strongly supports this measure. Read the letter to Congress signed by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo Archbishop of Galveston/Houston, Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
At present, Smith’s measure has 161 co-sponsors and the public backing of the top GOP leadership. Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has has directed that the legislation be designed as H.R. 3 and called it “one of our highest legislative priorities.” The Senate is not expected to take up the measure, however.
