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

The Grassroots Social Network Documenting Real-Time Climate Change

October 31, 2017
By Benjamin Powers
Pacific Standard

The LEO Network is bringing together scientists and citizens to monitor climate change and spot trends.

Jordan Water Crisis Worsens as Mideast Tensions Slow Action

October 31, 2017
By The Associated Press
New York Times

SHARHABIL, Jordan — From a hillside in northern Jordan, the Yarmouk River is barely visible in the steep valley below, reduced from a once important water source to a sluggish trickle overgrown with vegetation. Jordan’s reservoirs are only one-fifth full, a record low, and vital winter rains are becoming more erratic....

For Milwaukee Muslims, solar is an act of faith and service

October 30, 2017
By Kari Lydersen and Yana Kunichoff
Midwest Energy News

Burhan Clark points out the young fruit trees planted just above the steep, bramble-covered creek bed next to the Dawah Islamic Center on the North Side of Milwaukee. Planting trees is a form of sadaqah jariyah, or ongoing charity, he explains as his young sons scramble down to the creek and then help...

Battle for the mother land: indigenous people of Colombia fighting for their lands

October 28, 2017
By Jonathan Watts
The Guardian

The 50-year civil war is over but, in the Cauca Valley, indigenous communities are on frontline of fight against drug gangs, riot police and deforestation

A green-and-red flag flies over a cluster of bamboo and tarpaulin tents on the frontline of an increasingly deadly struggle for land and the environment in...

Environmental Destruction, Inequality And Loneliness. Why Capitalism Is Broken.

October 26, 2017
By Jo Confino
Huffington Post

When everything seems to be changing, it becomes increasingly important to know what endures.

A timely reminder of this has come this week thanks to the auction in Israel of a ...

DeChristopher delivers sobering climate talk

October 26, 2017
By Josh Purtell
Yale Daily News

Environmental activist Tim DeChristopher came to the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Science on Tuesday to speak about the current state of the environmental movement.

DeChristopher, the co-founder of the Climate Disobedience Center, spoke about popular perceptions of environmentalism, focusing on the ways in...

Ganges under threat from climate change

October 24, 2017
By Jasvinder Sehgal
Deutsche Welle

The river Ganges holds deep religious and ritualistic significance for India’s million of Hindus. But climate change is endangering the holy river, reports Jasvinder Sehgal.

The sun is setting in Rishikesh, an Indian city in the Himalayan foothills. Hundreds of people have converged on the banks of the Ganges...

Vatican's top diplomat: Water must be available to all, especially the poor

October 24, 2017
By Claire Giangravè
Cruz

ROME – Speaking at a conference in Rome on water and climate, the Vatican’s top diplomat said that while the scarcity of water may create conflict and even war, it could also generate opportunities for partnerships and collaborations to benefit especially the poor.

Faith groups using their investment funds to create a better world

October 24, 2017    
Alliance of Religions and Conservation

ZUG, SWITZERLAND: Financial investors and leaders of more than 30 different faith traditions representing over 500 faith investment groups from eight religions and around three trillion dollars in assets, will meet in Zug this month, together with representatives of the UN and some key ethical “impact” investment funds,...

'Civilize the market' for common good, care of creation, pope says

October 20, 2017
By Cindy Wooden
Crux

ROME - Economic development and growth have never automatically meant a greater gap between the rich and poor, so there is no reason today for people to throw up their hands and simply accept increasing inequality, Pope Francis said.

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