The Need to Speak Up

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Annual Peace Luncheon commemorating the 75th anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Law. Among the distinguished speakers was Dr. Atif Kirbursi, a retired UN official, who underscored the UN's fundamental mission to uphold global peace, a daunting task given the existence of 194 nations worldwide. He recounted numerous instances where the UN's efforts successfully prevented conflicts and averted wars, while acknowledging occasional failures.

Dr. Kirbursi commended the implementation of the sustainable development goals as a yardstick for assessing progress. However, his most poignant message resonated deeply: "No one will give you power; you need to take power yourself." His words emphasized the imperative of proactive engagement against injustices, rather than passivity or indifference.

Image: micheile henderson/Unsplash

This sentiment was echoed by the subsequent speaker, Simin Khaveri, a native of Iran who played a pivotal role in exposing the execution of ten young women, aged 17 to 30, in Iran in 1983. Among these victims was her own sister. These women, adherents of the Bahá’í faith, were put to death for their religious beliefs after enduring months of imprisonment and torture. Despite being offered freedom in exchange for renouncing their faith, they chose martyrdom. Simin's actions in alerting the media shed light on this tragedy, prompting international scrutiny and condemnation of Iran's actions.

Let us remember that when we see injustice, we must speak up.

-Sister Nancy Sullivan, csj

Images: Oleg Laptev/Unsplash

Planet vs. Plastics

Earth Day  -  April 22, 2024        PLANET VS PLASTICS

Image: Amy Shamblen/Unsplash

I remember my first participation in an Earth Day celebration.  It was a lovely simple celebration which helped us welcome spring and new life.  Earth Day was first held on April 22, 1970.  From that first celebration to 2024 we have grown in our understanding of the many ways that our beautiful earth is in crisis.  A wide range of events have taken place and are planned  worldwide with at least 1 billion people in more than 193 counties marking this day.  As we hear more about damages affecting people and planet, the theme for this year is “Planet vs Plastics”.  More than a theme, this effort has become a movement.

Planet vs Plastics unites students, parents, businesses, governments, churches and other faith communities, unions, individuals and NGO’s in an unwavering commitment to call for the end of plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the productions of plastics by 2040 and an ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future for generations to come.

Plastics are not biodegradable.  They break down into smaller and smaller pieces which are ingested by animals, fish, birds and humans.  Eighty-four percent of plastics contain toxins which pass into animals and our food chain.  The oceans are sick, our planet is suffering and life is endangered.

All of us are invited to do something for the care of our only home and to turn to contemplate the creation around us.  This contemplation of creation allows us to discover in each thing a teaching which God wishes to hand on to us, since, “for the believer, to contemplate creation is to hear a message, to listen to a paradoxical and silent voice.”  (Laudate Si, 85) urging us to act.

-Sister Joan Atkinson, CSJ | Office for Systemic Justice

World Water Day 2024

‘Water for Peace’ - World Water Day 2024

Leveraging water for peace - What does this mean?

Because water has become the next commodity on the economic scale, garnering huge profits for countries, organizations, and industries, it is now also a source of conflict across borders. On this day of remembrance and celebration for the sacred gift of water, a human right for all, we cry out against its misuse and abuse.

153 countries share water basins, yet only 24 of these countries have cooperation agreements. Water scarcity is increasing because of overuse and climate crisis. Water and its infrastructures have become targets and weapons of war.

The United Nations’ theme for World Water Day, March 22, 2024, is Leveraging Water for Peace.  Check out the information provided in this UN Factsheet World Water Day | United Nations where water is proclaimed as a tool for peace.

At the UN Water Convention in 2023 some tools for peace were cited:

• At the community level: bring together different water users around a common cause providing an entry point for dialogue, reconciliation, and peacebuilding.

Might I suggest that this is what active Canadians did in creating a dialogue with government over the privatization of water.

•        At the national level: provide a starting point for coordination across interests.

•        At the transboundary level: provide a starting point for communication and broader cooperation. For example, out of approximately 400 internationally shared aquifers there are only 5 where international agreements exist.

An integrated and inclusive approach suggests that “Water can be a catalyst for peace at all governance levels. Water cooperation across borders and sectors will speed up progress across Sustainable Development Goals, including delivering safe drinking water and sanitation, enhancing food security, sustaining healthy livelihoods and ecosystems, helping to address resilience to climate change, contributing to disaster risk reduction, providing renewable energy, supporting cities and industry, and fostering regional integration and peace.” [i]

Knowing the facts awakens us to a path forward. Let’s keep alert to places where power and control of water resources and infrastructure sever relationships and use our voices to leverage equality and bring peace.

-Sister Loretta Manzara, CSJ

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[i] UNECE and UNESCO (2023), Concept paper for interactive dialogue 4 at the UN 2023 Water Conference: Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Cross Sectoral Cooperation, including Scientific Cooperation, and Water across the 2030 Agenda: https;//sdgs.um.org/conferences/watr2023/events/interactive-dialogue-4.

Civic Pride in Peril: Confronting the Issue of Waste in Our City

Our beautiful city, London Ontario, has numerous parks and a network of trails. I frequently walk on nearby trails where I encounter people of all ages, including groups of school children (and their teachers) joggers, cyclists, and children accompanied by parents, who feed ducks or catch and release frogs. But I am often saddened by the plastic bags and bottles, beer cans, coffee cups, styrofoam containers, candy wrappers, rotting food, empty snack bags, cardboard, paper, kleenex, cardboard boxes, and scrap paper that line our streets, spoil our trails and clog our parks. The amount of litter thrown on public property exceeds the capacity of City staff and ordinary Londoners who voluntarily pick up debris. 

Sister Pat with Jerry Pribil, London Council Member

A week ago, I spoke to Jerry Pribil, the Council member responsible for London’s parks and recreation departments, about the problem of trash in our city.  Mr. Pribil suggested that he accompany me on a walk. Accordingly, we walked along streets and the connecting North London trail adjacent to Ross Park. Mr. Pribil pulled a large garbage bag out of his pocket and proceeded to pick up garbage, hopping over the barrier along the ravine and reaching through bushes.  We mourned this regrettable garbage situation and discussed possible remedies.  I learned that Mr. Pribil, a member of Antler River Rally, participates in their monthly cleanups.  In these events, large groups of volunteers gather at an area in London bordering the Thames River to pick up and dispose of large amounts of trash. Information about this amazing organization may be found here. You may even want to join the group.

During our walk, we discussed the deplorable problem of garbage littering London’s parks, trails, and streets. Removing trash is essential but prevention is far more desirable than a cure; we need both. Occasional letters to the London Free Press indicate that Londoners are disturbed by the lack of cleanliness on our streets, trails, and parks. We require a culture shift. How, as a community, can we develop a mindset that views littering on our streets as unacceptable? How might organizations, businesses, and home or apartment owners help with the litter problem?  What constraints deter action and how can they be overcome?

I invite anyone reading this blog to respond by choosing to take one action towards resolving the problem of litter in our city.

-Sister Patricia McKeon, csj

Image: Markus Spiske/Unsplash

An Unexpected Encounter

Image: Unsplash/Matt Collamer

This is a story of a friend and his wife who have taken a chance in their town to reach out to the homeless community.  Upon finding there were 20 folks who camped in the subway station each evening seeking warmth and shelter, they decided that they would purchase Tim Hortons gift cards and give them out each morning, so the folks are able to purchase a hot breakfast.  As they continued their morning ritual over many months, the folks began to talk with them, and one gentleman asked about getting a Bible and inquired about seeing a Priest. 

Image: Steve Knutson/Unsplash

My friend obliged on both counts, giving his new friend a Bible, and inviting him to his parish and arranging a time that the gentleman could talk with the Priest.  There was a comfortableness growing between both parties and each morning they looked for each other so they could greet them and wish their new friends ‘a good day’ knowing they would meet again the following morning.  This had become a pattern for my friend and his wife and getting up at 4 am was not a hardship for them.

Feeling more comfortable the gentleman made his way to the Parish and spoke with the Priest a couple more times.  An unexpected thing happened for my friends.  On a morning as usual they went to the subway station ‘cards in hand’ only to be told their friend died in the night.  There was not any further information given.  Imagine the sadness of my friends and the shock they are continuing to live with.

As my friends told me this story, I couldn’t help but think ‘you took a chance with a stranger” and it changed your lives.  This homeless man had received respect and concern from them, and they granted his last wishes for a Bible and a meeting with the Priest.  There is a mystery here of God working within us if we but take a chance and engage with folks we meet on our streets each day.

I read a recent quote from Mirabai Starr:

“Our task is to mend our broken world.  We do this through acts of loving kindness, generosity and hospitality. Our actions count, but our loving thoughts make a difference.  They help mend the world.”

— Adapted from Living School Symposium, Albuquerque NW Center for Action and Contemplation

-Sister Ann MacDonald, CSJ