News Archives » Ecology
Protect the Poor While Caring for God’s Creation April 22nd, 2009
As Americans celebrate Earth Day by leaving our cars at home or volunteering to make the world a greener place, the Catholic Church is making a distinctive contribution to the climate change debate.
A newly unveiled Catholic Climate Covenant calls for action to protect the poor AND care for God’s Creation.
This unprecedented initiative asks Catholics “Who Is Under Your Carbon Footprint?”
The Catholic Climate Covenant asks the nation’s 65 million Catholics to connect their religious values with care for the Earth, to learn how climate change affects poverty-stricken regions, and to lobby legislators on behalf of the poor.
Click here to read more »
The Spring 2009 issue of JPIC Report now available March 18th, 2009
The Spring issue of JPIC Report is now available, with hyperlinks to email addresses and websites mentioned in the text. (Download PDF)
Click here to read more »
Tea Estate Expansion Threatens Bangladeshi Khasi People and Forest March 15th, 2009
In early January 2009, the Zhimai Tea Estate Authority cut-down a number of trees in the Pan-zoom of Zhimai. Thousands of trees have been demarcated to be felled and construction of labor-quarters has begun in an expansion of the tea garden. This activity threatens displacement of the indigenous Khasi people of Zhimai Punji, and directly interferes with their livelihood, which depends on the betel plant which grows on tall trees. Apart from the destruction of the land & livelihood of the Khasi, the tree felling severely affects the bio-diversity, and overall environment of the hills & forest of Sylhet Division, Bangladesh.
Fr. Joseph Gomes, OMI has been working with the Khasi people and APRA (Adibashi Poribesh Roskhya Andolon), the movement administered by BAPA, a national Bangladeshi environmental organization, for the protection & conservation of Bangladeshi forests.
Read report on the forest destruction (Download PDF)
Earth Hour – March 28 – Vote for the Earth! March 3rd, 2009
Send a clear message to politicians that we want action on global warming now. Join millions around the globe who plan to turn off their lights at 8:30pm for an hour on March 28. This simple action of turning off our lights will send the message that we care deeply about the world we will leave for our children.
Join others in cities and towns around the US and across the globe in making Earth Hour a wake-up call for our representatives in Washington!
This is the world’s first global election – a contest between earth and global warming. On March 28 you can VOTE EARTH by switching off your lights for one hour.
Or you can vote for global warming by leaving your lights on.
The results of the election are being presented at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. We want one billion votes for Earth, to tell world leaders that we have to take action against global warming.
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
