Herbs & Plants. Jatropha curcas – A multipurpose plant.
Jatropha curcas (Linnaeus); commonly referred to as Barbados nut, it is a perennial shrub or small tree belonging to the plant family Euphorbiaceae. The genus name Jatropha is derived from two Greek words jatr’os (doctor) and troh’e (food), indicating its valuable use in traditional medicine. The plant grows up to a height of 6m. Leaves […]
Reflection. Redouble Your Sense of Responsibility
Democracy, despite its struggles, offers a balance between truth and order through its diverse and participatory nature. However, modern technology and AI, if misused, could jeopardise this balance. Thus, there is a need for responsible digital governance to preserve democratic values. Yuval Noah Harari, an Israeli historian, philosopher says in his new book Nexus (Penguin, […]
Adiós, Francisco.
Poverty, peace, creation and mercy are the four pillars of the intense adventure of the first Pope, called “from the far side of the world”. Peripheries always at the centre. Preference for the poorest. An outgoing Church. Starting from his choice of name, Bergoglio wanted to give a clear indication of what his pontificate […]
South Sudan. Bishop Carlassare. “His gaze also fell on me.”
“He leaves us at a time when we seem to need him even more, the only firm voice of brotherhood and peace.” Christian Carlassare, bishop of Bentiu, in South Sudan, remembers Pope Francis. The Pope has shown us God’s merciful love from the very beginning and has become a witness to it not only with […]
Witnesses of Jubilee. Maria Ressa. Information that creates hope
“We want to create a federation of international journalistic organisations that collaborate in this effort, starting from the global South,” says Filipino journalist and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa. Sixty-one years old, a former investigative television reporter for CNN from Southeast Asia, since 2011 she has been the soul of Rappler, a Philippine […]
Herbs & Plants. Maytenus senegalensis – The magical plant.
It is used for the treatment of a number of diseases and disorders. In African traditional medicine, it is one of the oldest and dates back many generations. Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Excell: it is commonly called Staff tree and belongs to the plant family Celastraceae. It is a shrub or a tree growing up to […]
Uganda. Atuwa: Celebrating friendship
Atuwa is a celebration among the Karimojong, an ethnic group of agro-pastoral herders living mainly in north-east Uganda. This feast is the most genuine expression of the African sense of brotherhood. In particular, it showcases Karimojong social traditions and lifestyle. The celebrations unfold between the September and November moons, at the end of the rainy […]
Sowing Hope through painting murals
Cristian (“Cris”) Daniel Camargo is a 32-year-old Argentinian artist whose vocation is to bring hope through the murals he paints in and with communities. He has painted 249 murals in the Americas, two in Europe and has now begun painting in Africa. Cris defines himself as an ‘itinerant missionary’ and since October 2021 he has […]
Ethiopia. The Church in Gumuz. Commitment to Peace
Despite the signing of the peace agreement between the regional government and insurgent groups, the situation in the Benishangul-Gumuz region remains very tense. The Church’s commitment to justice and reconciliation. Father Isaiah Sangwera Nyakundi, a Comboni Missionary who lives in the area, writes. Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State is located in the western part of the country, […]
Bishop Pierre Claverie. Being a Christian in a Muslim world
The murder of Pierre Claverie, a Dominican and Bishop of Oran in Algeria, was the latest in a series of tragic murders that plunged the Church in Algeria into mourning between 1994 and 1996. The other victims were seven Trappist monks, four African missionaries, a Marist monk, and several religious of various congregations. Pierre Claverie […]
