Europe: Mixed Results For Legislation On “Conflict Minerals”
After three years of negotiations, the European Union has finally got round to legislating on conflict minerals – definitely a step forward, but not going far enough. This legislation is designed to prevent the financing of conflicts and human rights violations through minerals imported into the European Union. The term “conflict minerals” refers to the […]
UN Genocide Adviser Concerned Over Continued Violence In South Sudan
The Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, has recently expressed grave concern at the continued level of violence in several areas of South Sudan. In a statement, the UN adviser said he is particularly alarmed at the situation in Kajo-Keji, in Central Equatoria south of Juba, where civilians […]
Pope Francis: “Women Bring Harmony That Makes The World Beautiful”
“Without women, there is no harmony in the world”. That was the message of Pope Francis in his recent homily at the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. Pope Francis was continuing his reflections on creation, the subject of the readings for the past few days, taken from the Book of Genesis. The Lord […]
China: Jade – The Essence of Heaven and Earth
The word “jade” communicates a sense of mystery. In Chinese, jade refers to a fine, beautiful stone with a warm colour and rich luster, that is skilfully and delicately carved. In Chinese culture, jade symbolises nobility, perfection, constancy, and immortality. For millennia, jade has been an intimate part of the lives of Chinese of all […]
EU – Council and Parliament: “2018 will be the European Year of Cultural Heritage”
The leaders of the European Parliament and Council have reached a temporary agreement that proposes 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage. “Cultural heritage includes assets of the past, in many different forms and dimensions. They include monuments, sites, traditions, knowledge and expressions of human creativity, as well as the collections guarded and run […]
Chad and Catholic Bishops: “The future of the country belongs to everybody”
In a strong message, the catholic bishops call on the population to “resist the temptation of violence and discouragement”. Chad is going through a very difficult time because of “disputes on the presidential election management, the non-payment of wages and the austerity measures taken by the government to tackle the economic and financial crisis”, wrote […]
Vatican City: To Protect The Dignity Of Human Beings
After a conference on organ trafficking at the Vatican on February 7th-8th, participants signed a statement agreeing to unite in fighting the crime of organ trafficking – submitting 11 proposals for implementation by healthcare and law enforcement professionals around the world. The creation of the statement was one of the main objectives of the Summit […]
South Sudan: The Lokoya – A People’s Comunity Life
The Lokoya people are situated in Eastern Equatoria in the Southern Sudan. They are estimated to be around thirty thousand people. The economic activities of the community are carried out in accordance with the season of the year. They have four seasons, dry season, wet season, mid-rainy season and harvest season. The Lokoya way of […]
Colombia: The Road To Peace Will Not Be Easy
More than 6,000 guerrilla fighters have recently traveled by foot, truck, jeep, boat and mule through the thick Colombian jungle towards Puerto Asís, a town deep in the Amazon. A UN deployment is there, ready to collect their arms and fulfill their side of the recent peace deal. After 52 years of bloodshed, they are disarming and […]
New Head of Church in Sudan and South Sudan: Prioritising Return To Peace
Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala has been named as the new President of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC). Bishop Hiiboro took over from HE Gabriel Cardinal Zubeir Wako Archbishop Emeritus of Khartoum who has just retired. Bishop Eduardo has been a vocal proponent of peace and reconciliation, against a back drop of continuing violence, as […]