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Darrell Rupiper, OMI – Requiescat in Pace February 12th, 2009
It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved friend and colleague in the work for justice, Fr. Darrell Rupiper, omi. Darrell was a tireless advocate for the poor and passionate about preserving the integrity of God’s creation. In recent years, he led countless of individuals to a greater connection with God and nature through his Eco-Mission workshops. Memories of his consistent good humor and kindness will remain with us as we carry on in his absence. He passed away on February 10th.
“The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man’s heart away from nature becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for humans too.” -Chief Luther Standing Bear
Senator Leahy Calls for Both Sides in the Sri Lanka Conflict to Respect the Rights of Civilians February 12th, 2009
Senator Leahy has issued an important statement to the government and the LTTE in the on-going civil war in Sri Lanka. Detailing the actions of both sides that are causing untold suffering to the people, Senator Leahy calls for an immediate cease-fire, and the need for the government to address, “in negotiations which include all the main Tamil and Muslim parties, the core issues that have fueled the conflict including laws and policies that unfairly discriminate against Sri Lanka’s minorities.”
Read the letter (Download PDF)
Zimbabwe Forms Unity Government February 12th, 2009
The leaders of Zimbabwe’s two main political parties have formed a unity government. Movement for the Democratic Change (MDC) agreed last week to form a unity movement with President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-party. Leader of the opposition MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister on February 11 in Harare while MDC secretary- general assumed the position of Finance Minister in the unity government.
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Support Legislation to Remove Travel Restrictions to Cuba February 10th, 2009
The Oblate JPIC Office joins the US Catholic Conference of Bishops in supporting recently introduced legislation that would allow travel between the United States and Cuba.
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The Integrity of Creation and the Athabasca Oil Sands February 9th, 2009
Luc Bouchard, Bishop of St. Paul in Alberta, Canada has issued a strong statement calling the extraction of oil from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada morally wrong and saying it is causing widespread environmental destruction. He links this extraction to the problems of human consumption of resources and wasteful life styles.
The term “tar sands”, known in the US as oil sands, refers to bitumin, a thick oil that is mixed in with sand, clay, and water. Intensive energy is required to process the sands into crude oil. Tar Sands oil is the world’s most harmful type of oil for the atmosphere, emitting high volumes of greenhouse gases during development, contributing to global warming, as well as other pollutants.
Here are some extracts from the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter, with a link to the Letter in its entirety.:
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