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

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...

Forest Monks

January 15, 2010
By Lucky Severson
Religion & Ethics Newsweekly

News video: 

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-15-2010/forest-monks/5472/

Transcript of video:

LUCKY SEVERSON, correspondent: This ragtag parade in...

US cult of greed is now a global environmental threat

January 13, 2010
By Suzanne Goldenberg
The Guardian

Hindus urged to consider environment as they wash away sins

January 13, 2010
By Harmeet Shah Singh
CNN

New Delhi, India (CNN) – The small print in Tuesday’s full-page newspaper advertisements for a key Hindu event reflects one of India’s biggest worries – dirty water.

“Avoid using pollutants such as detergents and soaps in the holy Ganga,” reads one of the don’ts at the bottom of the government ad.

It comes as hundreds of...

Pope denounces failure to forge new climate treaty

January 11, 2010
By Nicole Winfield
Associated Press

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI denounced the failure of world leaders to agree to a new climate change treaty in Copenhagen last month, saying Monday that world peace depends on safeguarding God’s creation.

He issued the admonition in a speech to ambassadors accredited to the Vatican, an annual appointment during...

Boosting Biodiversity Can Boost Global Economy

Full title:

Boosting Biodiversity Can Boost Global Economy: 2010 is Litmus Test of International Community’s Resolve to Conserve and Enhance Planet’s Natural Assets

January 11, 2010
United Nations Environment Programme

UN’s International Year of Biodiversity Kicks Off in Berlin

Berlin/Nairobi - A new and more intelligent pact between humanity...

Churches urged to protect biodiversity in their churchyards

January 7, 2010
By Charlie Boyd
Christian Today

The Church of England is advising churches to protect biodiversity by managing rather than mowing their churchyards.

An estimated two thirds of the Church of England’s churches – around 10,000 – have churchyards, which collectively cover the space of a small national park.

David Shreeve, the Church of England’s...

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...

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