Bangladesh Apparel Workers Still at Risk, Investors Say
Concerns about corporate commitments to workplace remediation plans remain as implementation lags.
SOLD, a film about modern slavery
Opening on April 1 in theaters across the U.S. Based on the best selling novel by Patricia McCormick, an unforgettable account of sexual slavery as it exists today in Nepal and India.
Second Sunday of Easter
This week’s reflection is written by Sr. Mary Ann Smith, who spent many years as a missioner in the Philippines.
Nepal: One year after the earthquake
The following article is an update on the work of Maryknoll Father Joe Thaler in Nepal, one year after a massive earthquake struck the country.
Philippines: First environment summit
The “First Philippine Environment Summit: Breakthroughs and Innovations toward Sustainable Development” was held in Manila in February to address environmental issues that impact sustainable development.
Myanmar: Cardinal Bo’s concerns for peace
The following interview with Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the leader of the Catholic Church in Myanmar, was published by the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN) on December 2.
Food security: Golden rice study retracted
On August 8, MASIPAG, a network of farmers’ groups, scientist and non-government organizations in the Philippines, issued a press release about the court decision supporting the retraction of an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on Golden Rice.
Trade: TPP negotiations end
On October 5, the U.S. and 11 other nations finalized negotiations on the biggest trade agreement in history: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Many concerns remain about the potential impact of this trade and investment deal on access to medicines and environmental standards.
Myanmar: Sectarianism threatens democracy
The leader of the Catholic Church in Myanmar, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, speaks out against recent discriminatory voting rules that could lead to violence as the national Election Day on November 8 nears.
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.
Stop U.S. trade with human traffickers
Take action to ensure countries that condone human trafficking are held accountable in trade agreements.
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.
Human trafficking: U.S. upgrades Malaysia
The U.S. Department of State’s 2015 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report has received more than the usual scrutiny due to ongoing negotiations around the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) involving the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim nations, and Malaysia’s changing rank on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) compliance list, compiled by the State Department.
Trade: Bangladesh’s suspension remains
On August 11, the U.S. announced that it would not reinstate Bangladesh to a list of developing countries that receive trade preferences for lower or zero-duty tariffs due to labor rights and workplace safety issues.
Myanmar: Timber demand fuels illegal logging
The problem of illegal logging in forests in the developing world represents a microcosm of the phenomenon of exploitation of natural resources by corrupt governing elites that wreak environmental damage while simultaneously diverting government revenue away from public goods.
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Fr. James Kroeger, MM, who served in the Philippines, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.
Feast of the Assumption
Fr. John Sullivan, MM, who served many years as a missioner in Hong Kong, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sr. Luise Ahrens, MM, who served in Cambodia, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.