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

Do we need to say our prayers?

January 5, 2010
By Greig Whitehead
BBC News

For millions of people in Africa, climate change is a reality, says Greig Whitehead. However, as he explains in this week’s Green Room, in religious nations such as Kenya, many believe that tackling global warming is beyond their control.

Kenya is a deeply religious country.

Shrinking religious orders take up land conservation

January 2, 2010
By Bridget MacDonald
Washington Post

Looking over the wooded parcel her Catholic order sold in 1992, Sister Chris Loughlin stood with arms folded, the regret on her face plain to see.

But Loughlin and her fellow Dominican sisters in Plainville, Mass., about 30 miles southwest of Boston, have more than made up for the loss of 10 acres from the former...

Lutherans Reflect on Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen

December 31, 2009
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America News Service

CHICAGO – While many who attended or observed the proceedings of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this month expressed disappointment in the outcome, others saw the proceedings as an important first step in addressing the effects of climate change – which may lead to more effective...

Climate change and the providence of God: A Christian Science perspective

December 30, 2009
By Beverly Beddoes-Mills
Christian Science Monitor

Now that the representatives of 192 nations have met in Copenhagen to try to negotiate a treaty on curbing greenhouse-gas emissions, there is a great deal of pessimism about the outcome. Developing nations like India and China joined with others to block mandatory requirements that they felt were unfair,...

Nations Seal a Deal on Climate Change at UN Talks

December 19, 2009
UNEP

Copenhagen - After a marathon all night session, talks aimed at injecting new and more wide-ranging momentum into the international effort to combat climate change ended with a positive outcome.

Countries attending the UN climate convention’s summit in the Danish capital agreed to ‘take note’ of a document entitled the Copenhagen...

The Way Humanity Treats the Environment Influences the Way it Treats Itself

December 18, 2009
Vatican Radio

On Thursday Archbishop Celestino Migliore Apostolic Nuncio - Head of the Vatican’s Delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen - called for clear and firm political will to adopt common binding measures and adequate budgets for an effective mitigation of ongoing climate change. ...

Hindus laud Pope for environmental stand

December 16, 2009
Merinews

Religion was the most powerful and far-reaching force in our society and could prove very influential in handling concerns like ecological responsibility. Faiths coming out together in support of the environment would be a remarkable signal. 

Hindus have applauded Pope Benedict for...

Ecological protection fits well with core Catholic values

December 15, 2009
Irish Times

RITE & REASON: THE LIKELIHOOD of a climate change deal at Copenhagen is, unfortunately, receding mainly because neither the US nor China is willing to make the required cuts. While President Barack Obama has agreed to attend, the US offer to reduce carbon emissions by 17 per cent on 2005 figures by 2020 is derisory, writes Fr Sean...

Rich nations must assume environmental duties: pope

December 15, 2009
By Philip Pullella
Reuters

VATICAN CITY - Industrialized nations must recognize their responsibility for the environmental crisis, shed their consumerism and embrace more sober lifestyles, Pope Benedict said on Tuesday.

The pope’s call for more environmental commitments came in his message for the Roman Catholic Church’s annual World Day of Peace, to...

Faith Groups Build Giant Ark on National Mall

December 14, 2009
By Michelle A. Vu
Christian Post

WASHINGTON – A diverse group of religious people unveiled a giant ark on the National Mall Saturday to press world leaders in Copenhagen to create a strong, binding proposal to tackle climate change.

Organizers say the 19-foot-high ark is a warning that if world leaders do not come up with a strong plan to deal with the...

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