In pictures How Manila slum-dwellers cope with pollution and poverty
Issues of Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
As Passionists, we cannot be blind to the fact that the sufferings of Jesus Christ are as closely knit together with the sufferings of people of all time as are the two beams that make up the cross on which Jesus was crucified. To be unconcerned with the sufferings of others is to be unconcerned with the sufferings of Christ. Today we are enveloped in a wide range of justice issues that create so much human suffering. Ever-growing widespread injustices with the growing frustration and anger they generate lead us all the more closer to a possible nuclear catastrophe.
We are also abusing of the resources on earth to such an extent that the very survival of life on this planet as we know it could be become extinct as so many species have already experienced. As Passionists, a concern to bring the message of the Gospel into the middle of this dangerous situation is our responsibility and a duty. Without the gospel values to penetrate the minds and hearts of people of our time, the future doesn't look too promising. That's why I think to have a Passionist representative at the United Nations is a great asset. This is only one of the signs that we Passionists are in a process of restructuring our lives in order to be more effective in the world we live in today. For a greater insight, check out the details in a Passionist guide to understanding JPIC
The following are a few of the many issues present among us today, to help us keep our eyes open and our hearts sensitive and concerned about the plights of others as well as of the different things our planet is facing. Over time new issues will be added.
Centered in the Passion of Christ, nourished by His presence in our life, let us reach out in compassion for others..."May the Passion of Christ be always in our hearts" (St. Paul of the Cross)
In pictures
How Manila slum-dwellers cope with pollution and poverty
Atonement
Guatemala begins search for justice over its bloody history
Driven out
Mexican Americans still haunted by a forced repatriation
Is
this justice? The incredible story of an illegal immigrant
Advocates look to UN on indigenous
peoples' rights
More than 1,000 delegates from 70 countries launched an 11-day forum at the
United Nations Monday in an effort to build support for a General Assembly vote
to endorse a declaration protecting indigenous peoples' land and resource
rights. "With the increasing desire of states for more economic growth,
senseless exploitation of indigenous peoples' territories and resources
continues unabated," said Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, the Philippine chair of the
forum. JapanToday.com/Agence
France-Presse
An example of torture
Iraq torture 'worse after Saddam'
15th Nov. 2006. A quote from Zenit.org
The 80-year-old retired archbishop of Managua, Nicaragua, mentioned in his homily what he considers one of the greatest injustices in the contemporary world:
"It is relatively a few who possess much and many who possess almost nothing. It is injustice resulting from the poor distribution of goods and services destined originally for all."
"Human rights are violated not only by terrorism, repression and murders but also by the existence of conditions of extreme poverty and of unjust economic structures that cause great inequalities."
The Following are examples of the horrific condition of many children around the world.
How can this be possible!?
Underground life
Pictures of the children hiding in the sewers of Ethiopia's capital
Safe havens
The French risking prison to hide illegal immigrant children
Kasisi children
A day in the life of an orphanage in Zambia is captured
Right for children?
New ban on child labour in India raises questions
Call
That Justice
The children around the world who wake up behind bars
Abuse and torture
The terrible plight of Pakistan's powerless prison children
United States: Legislation in 40 states encourages ever harsher regimes for juveniles in prison.
Harrowing journey
Rageh Omaar's search for the realities of modern child slavery
Vatican Decries Fence Planned for U.S. Border (14th.Nov.2006)
The Wall (Passionist Position Guide Series) (a PDF file)
Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees (Pope Benedict XVI- 14th.Nov.2006)
Pope's World Day of Peace Message [ 2006-12-13 ]
Pope's 2007
Address on State of the World [ 2007-01-08 ]
Papal Homily
on New Year's Day [ 2007-01-06 ]
A powerful book worth reading
Imperial Ambitionsby Noam Chomsky
Available now!
A powerful documentary on the conflict in the Middle East
Peace, Propaganda & The Promised Land
What are we doing to our Planet? Are we 'digging our own grave'?
Costing the Earth?
Humanity's impact on the health of the planet - in facts and figures
Global consumption levels could lead to a large-scale ecosystem collapse by 2050, a report warns.
Climate change could end up shrinking the global economy by up to 20% unless action is taken, a key report warns.
Global warning
What climate change means for different parts of the world
From Theory to Practice
It is all very well that we contemplate the many things that affect our world, but we all must ask the question, what are we doing that which is in our power to do? For instance, what are we doing individually and collectively to live in a way that is not destructive to our environment. The following are examples of people who are not just talking but walking the talk.
Green house effect
What is it like to live in a home that is good for the
environment?
24 Dec 2006 - Cuba's government has started a campaign to change all the lightbulbs in the country to an energy-saving bulb.
Billions
earmarked for 16-city energy-saving plan
Aging buildings in 16 of the world's biggest cities will get
energy-saving makeovers under a new initiative unveiled by the
William J. Clinton Foundation Wednesday. Participating banks
will provide up to $1 billion each in loans for cities and
landlords to use for upgrades to heating, cooling and lighting
systems in the hopes of cutting energy use by 20% to 50%. The
plan envisages borrowers paying back the loans with savings
accrued from the improvements.
The New York Times
(5/17-2007)
A lesson to be learnt from children!:
Green teens
Youngsters clean up and green the mean streets of India
Useful Websites
OzSpirit - Caritas Australia - Promoting Spirituality, Justice and Global Education
Still suffering
Food
shortages
In pictures