The Encyclical Launch, an Appeal to be Heard
The following commentary was written by Fr. John T. Brinkman, MM, who attended the launch of the encyclical Laudato Si’ on June 18 at the Vatican.
Pause for Peace 2015
The following reflection and prayer is a collaborative effort of members of Religious at the UN (RUN), which includes the Maryknoll Sisters.
UN: Reports from CSW59, “Change is coming”
Held two decades after the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, which took place in Beijing, a repeated theme at this year’s Commission on the Status of Women was that, in too many places, not enough progress has been made.
My World: The UN global survey for a better world
MY World is a global survey for citizens led by the United Nations and partners. It aims to capture people’s voices, priorities and views, so that global leaders can be informed as they begin the process of defining the new development agenda for the world.
Add your name to petition “Catholic morality and nuclear abolition”
In December, during the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, the Holy See contributed a ground-breaking paper entitled Nuclear Disarmament: Time for Abolition, which presents a compelling argument to move beyond limits set by political realism: “Now is the time to affirm not only the immorality of the use of nuclear weapons, but the immorality of their possession, thereby clearing the road to nuclear abolition.”
Peace & Planet Mobilization
On April 26, the day before the 2015 NPT Review Conference begins, thousands will gather in New York City for an international rally and march to the United Nations to call for a nuclear-free, peaceful, just, and sustainable world.
UN: CSocD holds 53rd session
In early February, civil society held a preliminary panel before the Commission for Social Development’s 53rd session (CSocD53), “Rethinking and strengthening social development in the contemporary world.
COP20: Struggle for climate justice
The much anticipated 20th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP20) in Lima, Peru, closed on December 14 with less-than-hoped-for outcomes.
World AIDS Day
The following reflection on the readings for World AIDS Day, December 1, was prepared by Susan Weissert, a former lay missioner who coordinated the Maryknoll AIDS Task Force.
U.S. walks fine line in climate talks
As the effects of climate change become more pronounced, the eyes of the world are on international negotiators as they prepare for the 20th Conference of Parties (COP20) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Lima, Peru in early December.
Time to act on climate change
Activists, scientists and concerned citizens around the world are calling on their governments to act decisively to prevent disastrous climate change.
Food security: Report on CFS Session 41
The following article, published in the November-December NewsNotes, was written by Fr. Ken Thesing, MM, who lives and works in Rome.
Sustainability and nuclear weapons
From August 27-29, the UN’s Department of Public Information held its 65th annual conference.
Call for faithful leadership at the UN Climate Summit
Sign this petition to President Obama and Congress urging the U.S.’s moral leadership at the UN climate summit in September 2014.
Nuclear disarmament: Urgent and possible
The following article was prepared by Marie Dennis and published in the September-October 2014 NewsNotes.
International Day for Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Established by the United Nations General Assembly, the aim of the day is to enhance “public awareness and education about the threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination, in order to mobilize international efforts towards achieving the common goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.”
UN: Report on fifth biennial meeting on SALW
The following article, written by Sr. Claris Zwareva, was published in the July-August 2014 NewsNotes.
CSW58: Implementing the MDGs
Sr. Meg Gallagher, MM attended the 58th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), held in March at UN headquarters in New York; its priority theme was “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] for women and girls.” Following are excerpts from her report.