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

India's Holy Ganges to Get a Cleanup

February 13, 2010

Full Title:

India’s Holy Ganges to Get a Cleanup
Government Embarks on $4 Billion Campaign to Treat Heavily Polluted Waters; Devout Hindus Revere River as ‘Goddess’

By Krishna Pokharel
India News

VARANASI, India—More than a million devout Hindus bathed in the Ganges River Friday, braving the risk of terrorist attack, stampede and petty...

India's Tribe Appeals Avatar's Cameron to Defend Their Sacred Mountain

February 9, 2010
News Blaze

Dongria Kondh tribe of Orissa (India), in an advertisement in the prestigious Variety magazine, asked Oscar winner “Avatar” director James Cameron for help in their struggle to defend their sacred mountain.

Use religious leaders for climate change awareness: Nobel laureate

February 7, 2010
Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi - Countries should take help from religious leaders to create mass understanding about global warming and thus help curb it, according to Wangari Maathai, Nobel laureate from Kenya.

“We should solicit the support of religious groups,” Maathai, a 2004 Nobel peace prize winner said late Saturday at...

Major environmental issues arising for Haiti recovery

January 28, 2010
United Nations Environment Programme

Port-Au-Prince – Two weeks after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January, a massive humanitarian operation is underway and aid is beginning to reach those who desperately need it in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas. The most urgent priorities remain water, health care, shelter and...

Minister Preaches a Green Message

Full Title:

Minister Preaches a Green Message
Groups, Politicians Reach Out to Priest Who Works to Improve Environment

January 27, 2010
By Yukari Iwatani Kane
The Wall Street Journal

When a San Francisco nonprofit was pushing a controversial California bill last year to remove the restrictions on energy that residents can generate from solar and wind...

Papal Message on Peace and Environment Emphasizes Humanity's Responsibility

Full title: Papal Message on Peace and the Environment Emphasizes Humanity’s Responsibility to Safeguard the Environment

January 26, 2010
United Nations Environment Programme

Nairobi - The Vatican’s permanent diplomatic representative to Kenya on Tuesday re-emphasized humanity’s intrinsic connection to the environment and the well being of the planet.

Keeping the eco-faith

January 25, 2010
By James Catford
The Washington Post

Copenhagen, just over one month ago, was a success - both for myself and the Bible Society in the UK. I’m not referring to the climate conference itself with its disappointing political outcomes. What I refer to is the success of those who made their voices heard in the build-up to the conference.

Religious talk to fight climate change

January 25, 2010
By Helen Grady
Analysis, BBC Radio 4

If the case for tackling climate change is backed by science, why do so many green campaigners rely on the language of religion?

I am looking at a clock that is counting down the months, days, hours and minutes until planet Earth reaches “the point of no return”.

As I type, we have 83 months...

Indians keep faith with Ganges despite pollution

By Yasmeen Mohiuddin 
AFP

KANPUR, India – For India’s devout Hindus, the sacred River Ganges is always clean and always pure – even if its waters are a toxic stew of human sewage, discarded garbage and factory waste.

The belief that the Ganges washes away sin entices millions of Hindus into the river each year, and huge crowds of pilgrims are currently passing through the...

Pastors in Northwest Find Focus in 'Green'

January 16, 2010
By William Yardley
The New York Times

MILLWOOD, Wash. — State auditors told Millwood Community Presbyterian Church last summer to close its farmers’ market on the church parking lot or the lot could no longer be claimed as tax-exempt. Without hesitation, the church kept the market and paid the $700 in annual taxes.

Money is tight, but the locally...

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