News Items

The Forum regularly posts news articles of interest here from a variety of sources and news outlets. You can check back here or view the most recent ones from the homepage. We also archive these articles here, for those doing research, with news going back to 2006. Use the menu on the right to explore the archived articles.

News

How dangerously dirty water is threatening one of the world's ancient religions

February 23, 2018
United Nations Environment Programme

On an unseasonably warm winter afternoon in Baghdad, Sheikh Anmar Ayid hitches up his robe and crouches by the Tigris river. Rocking back and forth on his haunches, he flicks the water from side to side – all the while chanting rhythmically in Aramaic. After finishing his ablutions, a two-minute procedure, the young sheikh...

The world will be saved by beauty

February 21, 2018
By Martha A. Kirk
Global Sisters Report

I had been thinking, “Too much poverty, too much pain, too much pollution, I don’t want to look, I don’t want to know. How can we go forward with all this?”

I was helping to lead a study and service trip to Peru with our University of the Incarnate Word students...

Midlands Voices: Let's build consensus for action to promote climate stability

February 22, 2018
By Daniel R. DiLeo and Richard W. Miller
Omaha World Herald

DiLeo is assistant professor and director of the Justice and Peace Studies Program at Creighton University. He is also a consultant to Catholic Climate Covenant. Miller is associate professor of systematic theology and associate professor of sustainability studies at Creighton.

Red Cloud's Revolution: Oglalla Sioux Freeing Themselves From Fossil Fuel

February 21, 2018
By Saul Elbein
Common Dreams

“People don’t like being on the grid here,” Red Cloud says, “because they’ve been coexisting with the earth – the sun, the wind – for most of their history.”

'Administrative chaos' risks sacred site

February 21, 2018
By Wendy Caccetta
National Indigenous Times

An ancient valley in a region of Australia found to hold secrets of Aboriginal occupation dating back to the Ice Age is at risk of being destroyed by a rail line planned by billionaire Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group, according to traditional owners.

Before Tet festival, sisters train Vietnamese to avoid unsafe food

February 19, 2018
By Joachim Pham
National Catholic Reporter

During the Tet or Lunar New Year, Vietnam’s biggest festival, food contamination is a serious threat. 

Vietnamese people say ăn Tết, literally “eat the Lunar New Year.” During the festivities, which were at a peak Feb. 16-18 but traditionally last a full month, food is a central focus and...

The Church of England's Lent challenge: give up plastic

February 19, 2018
By Tara Isabella Burton
Vox

All over the Christian world, the faithful are making sacrifices for the penitential season of Lent, which began last week. Some are giving up chocolate; others are turning away from Twitter. But the Church of England has one slightly...

Indonesian youths plant trees to protect environment

February 14, 2018
By Katharina R. Lestari
UCA News

Interfaith group seek to prevent landslides, retain water at natural sources

The Suburban Interfaith Youth Community of Kupang plant 500 saplings of mahogany in Naitoto, where a spring is located, on Feb. 3. (Photo supplied by Maks Tameno)

Lord Williams: Environmental Crisis Toxic Expression of Humanity's Failures

February 13, 2018
By Catherine Pepinster
The Tablet

Lord Williams of Oystermouth gave an address on Pope Francis’ green encyclical, Laudato Si’ at St Mary’s University

The environmental crisis is a toxic expression of humanity’s failures which Pope Francis has challenged us to tackle, according to the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord (...

Biodiversity Congress to be held in Dehradun

February 10, 2018
Deccan Chronicle

Ms Vandana Shiva said the focal theme of the Congress aimed to showcase Indian philosophy of living in harmony with all living beings.

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