The Ouzel in the Creek
The other day, on my way to work in Geneva, I saw my first ouzel. Also known as a dipper, it’s a cocky black bird with a white chest, that…
Child Soldiers in the Philippines
Reports are coming out of the Philippines concerning the presence of child soldiers with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Humanitarian law proscribes the recruitment, whether voluntary or forced, of…
Friend of the Poor is no longer with Us
Yesterday, October 20th, Madeleine Cinquin, more popularly known as Soeur Emmanuelle, died at the age of 90 at a nursing home in Callian, France. Soeur Emmanuelle was a sister of…
Greed is no longer good
We all remember that famous Michael Douglas character quote from the movie Wall Street: “Greed is good”. Those were days of irresponsible and ruthless disregard for the common good. Unashamed…
DRC: The violence still goes on
A recent Amnesty International Report on human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) draws attention to the continuing perpetration of violence against children and young people…
Franciscans International Statement on recent Violence in India
In recent months there has been an upsurge of violence against Christians in the State of Orissa in India. Churches have been burned. People have been killed. A climate fear…
It is the poor who suffer most
As we experience the impact of climate change in dramatic weather pattern shifts, droughts and devastating hurricanes, one thing is clear. It is the poor of our world who are…
Bishop Gumbleton on the Last shall be First
Bishop Gumbleton, a long-time promoter of peace and justice, writes a regular blog on the National Catholic Reporter website. Last Sunday he preached a homily on the parable from Matthew’s…
United Nations Human Rights Conference
This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the first universal statement on the basic principles of the human rights to which…
Edmund Rice Centre Youth Group Perth
After learning about the Every Human Has Rights campaign and the commitments to stand up for human rights made by members of The Elders and so many others, a group…