News Archives » Peace
Peace and Life Connections; January 4, 2013 January 4th, 2013
CL President Bill Samuel shares this message he sent to President Obama:
“Mr. President, when you spoke about the tragedy at the school in Connecticut today, you captured the feelings of millions. . . . What puzzles me is why you can’t understand that parents in Afghanistan, Pakistan and everywhere around the world feel for their children like you do for yours.
Yet you continue to order actions which kill many times the number of children that deranged man did today. Why are you so wedded to violence? Can’t you see that we must turn from the way of violence in all areas – foreign policy, treatment of the unborn, treatment of offenders, etc. – if we are to have a better world?”
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Indigenous Land Rights Asserted in Bangladesh Conference December 19th, 2012
- Participants in the December 7th Roundtable on Indigenous Land Rights in Bangladesh
Environment and indigenous rights activists demanded the formation of an Indigenous Peoples Commission led by an acceptable person on indigenous peoples’ right of plain lands to identify and solve problems towards protecting their rights.
This demand was raised at a discussion titled “Life and Livelihood Policy of Indigenous People and Legal Rights: Perspective of Khasi Community” organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Adivasi Poribesh Rokkha Andolon (APRA) at Reporters’ Unity in Dhaka.
An English translation of the report of the conference is available here. (Download PDF)
Ms Flora Bably Talang speaking at the Roundtable on Indigenous Peoples' Land Rights
All Creation Reveals the Glory of God December 19th, 2012
All Creation Reveals the Glory of God is a new photo-reflection book designed to encourage meditation on our relationship to creation, and the nourishment offered by its beauty and simplicity. This 36-page book features stunning photographs taken by Oblates mostly at the Oblate Novitiate in Godfrey, Illinois. It also includes quotes from Catholic tradition as well as from well-known ecologists.
It is available for purchase from the OMI JPIC Office for $10, plus $2 to cover shipping. Please email Mary O’Herron to place your order, or call the OMI JPIC Office at 202-529-4505.
World Day of Peace Message 2013: Blessed Are the Peacemakers December 18th, 2012
“Blessed are the peacemakers” is Pope Benedict’s theme for the 46th World Day of Peace, 1 January 2013, according to a Vatican announcement.
The Vatican said in a statement that the message will embrace “the fullness and diversity of the concept of peace” including religious freedom and an ethical reflection on how the world is to handle crises affecting the economy, education, and democracy. The aim of the message, it said, is to “encourage everyone to take responsibility with regard to peacebuilding.”
“The Message will offer, as well, an ethical reflection on some measures the world is going to take to contain the financial and economic crisis, the educational crisis, the crisis of the institutions and politics, which is also – in many cases – a worrying crisis of democracy.”
“The Message will also look at the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and of the encyclical letter by Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, according to which the primacy is always for the human dignity and its freedom, for the building of an earthly city to the service of every person, without any discrimination, and directed to the common good which is based on justice and true peace.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers” will be the eighth Message of Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace. Following are the titles of the previous ones: “In Truth, Peace” (2006), “The Human Person, Heart of Peace” (2007), “The Human Family, a Community of Peace” (2008), “Fighting Poverty to Build peace” (2009), “If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation” (2010), “Religious Freedom, the path to peace” (2011), “Educating young people in justice and peace” (2012).”
Oblates Promote Social Empowerment in Sri Lanka December 13th, 2012
“Social inability” is widely recognized and accepted today as a root cause of poverty. Empowering people to think for themselves, and stand on their own, offers a solid and a permanent way out for people from poverty and social misery. The philosophy that it is better to teach a person to catch a fish than to offer him one is the philosophy behind “The Citizen’s Forum”(CF), which is successfully operating in Sri Lanka under the direction and guidance of the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR). CSR is the Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) institution of the Colombo Province of the Missionary of Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI).
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