Zimbabwe: Water, sustainable energy for all
Recently, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns staff member Sr. Claris Zwareva visited her homeland of Zimbabwe. Sr. Claris serves as Maryknoll’s representative at the United Nations where the Maryknoll Sisters and the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers have consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Africa: Displacement on the rise
The death and displacement that occurs in the out-migration from Africa and the plight of internally displaced peoples across the continent were the subject of a recent hearing before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. What emerged in the testimony of several governmental and NGO experts was a picture of tragic human suffering.
Malawi: Reflections on Laudato Si’
An excerpt from the article “What does the environment encyclical mean for Malawi?” written by Alex Muyebe, SJ, director of the Jesuit Centre for Ecology and Development, Lilongwe, Malawi, and Peter Henriot, SJ, who works with Loyola Jesuit Secondary School, Kasungu, Malawi, and published in in the August 28 issue of the British Catholic magazine The Tablet.
Climate change: Large-scale dams problematic
With increasing pressure to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, many countries are planning to increase their reliance on hydropower, meaning more dams. However, large-scale hydroelectric dams are a false solution to the climate crisis.
Road to Paris: Climate justice, natural disasters
November 8 marks the second anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded. It devastated portions of Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, more than 6,000 people died and 4.1 million people were displaced. Many of the approximately 16 million Filipinos living in extreme poverty were affected. This article, published by CIDSE as part of their video series “Stories for Climate Justice” tells the story of Dr. Efleda Bautista, a climate activist in the Philippines. Dr. Bautista describes what climate justice means to her.
Road to Paris: Trade deals must protect climate
As countries prepare for the climate negotiations in Paris in December, some experts have called attention to the need for including safeguards to protect nations’ actions to address climate change from legal challenges by trade partners. Without this legal protection, many of the initiatives to decrease climate emissions or to adapt to a changing environment could be overturned by lawsuits.
Road to Paris: Come, renew the face of the earth
The UN Climate Summit in Paris will be an unprecedented opportunity for nearly 200 nations to take bold action on the care for the earth and for all people suffering the adverse effects of climate change.
Development that doesn’t respect human rights isn't ‘aid’
Chloe Schwabe, Faith-Economy-Ecology project coordinator, reports from the 2015 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF in Peru.
MOGC signs letter to Congress urging the U.S. to welcome Syrian refugees of all faith traditions
In a recent letter to Congress, Gerry Lee of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (MOGC) and more than 400 religious leaders called on the United States to welcome Syrian refugees from all faith traditions.
Nepal: Update from Maryknoll (October 2015)
Maryknoll missioners have served in Nepal for many years; currently, Fr. Joe Thaler lives and works in Kathmandu. For five months now, Fr. Joe has been helping the people of Nepal recover from devastating earthquakes and aftershocks.
Maryknoll applauds U.S. - China climate agreement, calls on Congress to support the Green Climate Fund
On September 24, Pope Francis said in his address to a joint meeting of Congress, “I call for a courageous and responsible effort to ‘redirect our steps, and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity.’”
Pope Francis' Historic Speech to Congress - Day Three of Papal Visit 2015
September 24, 2015 - Pope Francis made history today by becoming the first pontiff to address a joint meeting of Congress. He spoke of challenges that are complex, grave, and urgent. And he invoked four historical American figures who have shaped our fundamental values.