News Archives » Ecology
Fall Harvest Feast: 39I Michigan Vegetable Garden October 30th, 2014
Volunteers plant garlic in the grade at 391 Michigan Ave, across from the USCCB headquarters in Washington, DC.
The abundance of the 391 Michigan Avenue Vegetable Garden was celebrated in a Fall Harvest party last Saturday, 25 October at the garden itself. The pictures below say it all beautifully and thoroughly! The weather was perfect. There were about 65 people in attendance, who prayed, did a little Tai Chi, and feasted on a scrumptious four-course farm fresh vegan menu prepared by Tambra from NativeSol Kitchen, with a variety of libations.
We were blessed with a live jazz performance organized by Violet Marley that featured some familiar Bob Marley tunes as well as some original pieces from the performers themselves. Garlic was planted in abundance and some general preparations for winter were made easier by volunteering hands.
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CMSM J/P Alert – October 2014 Issue October 30th, 2014
We would like to share the latest issue of the E-Newsletter of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM). If you would like to subscribe your email to receive this newsletter, please email Eli McCarthy PhD, CMSM Justice and Peace Director at emccarthy@cmsm.org
In This Issue:
- Syria / Iraq
- Palestine / Israel
- Ferguson
- Immigration
- Restorative Justice
- Climate Change
- Money in Politics
- Respect Life
- Ignatian Solidarity
- Interfaith Conference on Drones
- Ecumenical Advocacy Days
- Catholic Social Ministry
- Year of Consecrated Life
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Biodiversity Preservation Lagging October 6th, 2014
Pipevine Swallowtail and Thistle
Photo credit: Fr. Kevin McLaughlin, OMI
The world is severely lagging behind targets set in 2010 to preserve biodiversity, according to a new report issued by the United Nations. The report said in addition to high profile campaigns to save certain animals, preserving biodiversity also means pursuing goals like reducing nutrient pollution in rivers. Much more efficient use of land, water, energy and materials are needed to meet globally-agreed targets by 2020.
“Bold and innovative action is urgently required if governments are to meet the globally-agreed Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its Aichi Targets by 2020,” the Montreal-based Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) said referring to the 20 biodiversity goals agreed upon in 2010 in the Japanese city of Nagoya in Aichi prefecture.
“The challenge of achievement of many of these targets stem from the reality that based on current trends, pressures on biodiversity will continue to increase at least until 2020 and that the status of biodiversity will continue to decline,” according to this latest progress report by the CBD. The report cautioned “that continuing with ‘business as usual’ in our present patterns of behaviour, consumption, production and economic incentives will not allow us to realize the vision of a world with ecosystems capable of meeting human needs into the future.”
The report, Global Diversity Outlook 4 was released today at the start of the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP-12, in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea.
La Vista Celebrates Autumn Equinox September 23rd, 2014
On Saturday, September 20, thirty people gathered at La Vista to learn about the fall Monarch migration and to celebrate the beginning of autumn.
To introduce themselves, participants told about the last time they spotted a Monarch. Maxine Pohlman, Director of the Oblate Ecological Initiative at Godfrey said, “We learned much about one another, our country or state of origin, and the presence and absence of Monarchs in our areas. Our sharing whetted our appetites for viewing the YouTube video “Plight of the Monarchs”, a twenty minute informative presentation filmed in central Illinois. We became aware of the threats to the endangered phenomenon of the annual Monarch migration, such as habitat loss, use of pesticides, and disappearance of the valuable milkweed plant.”
She added, “Next we headed outside to a patch of milkweed that has been cordoned off and allowed to grow throughout the season. As we stood there listening to a reading about the Monarch, one beautiful butterfly showed up to delight us – right on cue!”
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Oblate Garden Featured in the Washington Post September 23rd, 2014
Gail Taylor, farmer on the Oblate property in Washington, DC
An article in the Sunday Washington Post featured the garden at the Oblate Headquarters in Washington in a piece on the DC Urban Agriculture bill under consideration by the City Council.
Roberto De Jesus Silva OMI, our visitor from Brazil, is featured in the photo attached to the article and has been a regular volunteer with the Saturday group.
