Myanmar nuns protect young women from traffickers

Good Shepherd sisters also offer vocational training at center near Thai border for victims of domestic abuse.

Tachileik :  In a remote village near the town of Tachileik on the Myanmar-Thai border, a center run by nuns welcomes girls and women who are at risk of being trafficked or who live in fear of physical or sexual abuse.

Four nuns from a local chapter of the Good Shepherd Sisters launched the center in Yangon Ywar, Shan State, in 2017.

They run a residential program and provide a temporary shelter for vulnerable women while also offering vocational skills for their empowerment.

Sister Eugenia runs the residential center, which is now taking care of five Catholic girls aged 11 to 15, and is responsible for a program aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking.

Two are infected with HIV and one is a victim of domestic violence.

"The program is open to everyone regardless of race and religion," Sister Eugenia said.

The center cannot accept many girls this year due to financial constraints. "We are planning to accept another 15 girls and women next year. We are also conducting an outreach program," she told ucanews.com.

The nun said it is a challenge to deal with girls as many are emotionally damaged. "We need to be very careful when dealing with them as they need psychosocial support and suffer from depression," said Sister Eugenia, who also cooks their meals.

She said the nuns offer life-skills training, teach them about their rights and deliver vocational skills sewing and embroidery.

Those the center cannot accommodate are sent to other Good Shepherd facilities in Loikaw, eastern Myanmar, and Yangon as part of an exchange program.

Poverty, illiteracy, lack of awareness

Sister Eugenia said in 2018 the center helped 19 young women who were trafficked in Malaysia reintegrate with their families.

"The Good Shepherd Sisters in Malaysia contacted us and asked if we could help the trafficked women in collaboration with local police," she said.

As part of a monthly program, the nuns reach out to 12 villages nearby. The villagers are mostly Akha Catholics.

"Poverty, lack of awareness and illiteracy are the main factors behind the human trafficking problem," said Sister Eugenia, adding that many parents send their young children to China in the hope of earning a better living.

Many young people also migrate to Thailand in search of employment.

The main ethnic groups in this region bordering Thailand are Akha, Lahu, Shan and Bamar. Among them are Buddhists, Baptists and Catholics. The ethnic Akha depend largely on traditional slash-and-burn agriculture.

The Good Shepherd nuns also teach dozens of students from nearby villages who visit the convent at night.

"We teach English and other subjects to buttress their school lessons," said Sister Theresa Kham, who also teaches painting.

The nuns also run a kindergarten and provide financial support to 70 students from Grade 1 to university level.

The Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd Congregation was established in France in 1835 by St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier.

The order was introduced to Myanmar in 1866. It now has 51 nuns serving in five dioceses. They also run daycare centers for HIV-positive children and the children of parents living with HIV or drug addiction, and take care of street kids.

Their mission includes prison ministry, social outreach and advocacy on human rights, gender equality, child rights, justice and peace.

Source: UCAN

Layman brings life of Pope Francis to Sri Lanka

Journalist's website and new book allow Sinhala-speaking people to follow the pope's special mission.

Saman Kapila Wijesuriya (right) launches his book Vathikana Sulaga on March 19 in Colombo with Father Benedict Joseph, Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Tot (standing), Father Aloysius Pieris and former Anglican Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe. (ucanews.com photo)

Colombo:  Journalist Saman Kapila Wijesuriya writes about the day-to-day activities and mission of Pope Francis on his news website Vathikana Sulaga (Vatican Winds).

He began a blog in the Sinhala language in February 2015 because he felt the Sinhala Catholic media had limited capacity to report and analyze these events.

The website covers the pope’s views on justice and peace issues, non-discriminatory dialogue and goodwill with other churches, world issues, solemnities and feasts, his reform program, his message of mercy and charity, apostolic visits and his call for the care of our common home — the earth.

"It also shows how he fearlessly challenges the world with a true Christian spirit. My mission is to bring that message to Sinhala-speaking Catholics and non-Catholics in Sri Lanka," says Wijesuriya, who lives in Canada.

“I do this voluntarily and use my free time and after-work hours for the website. For the developed world, time is money. Some argue that if I do a second job, I can earn some extra money too. True. That is the temptation against which I fight time and again, but I know that I am doing this for the Church and it gives me joy.”

Wijesuriya often works on his website until midnight despite being in poor health.

Catholics in Sri Lanka prepared for the apostolic visit of Pope Francis in 2015 — when he canonized St. Joseph Vaz, the first Sri Lankan saint — with a lot of love and expectation. However, during and after the visit, it was observed that Sri Lanka’s Catholics had little or no knowledge about the person and the pope’s heart-warming and renewing message.

Wijesuriya says the pope is challenging the Church and its leaders to shed all the power, money, glory, grandeur and magnificence it has acquired over the last 1,500 years.

He argues that to evangelize the modern world, which is centered on grabbing money, power and glory, the Church must go back to its origins.

“Rather than thinking that the church hierarchy is the center of the universe and all others are revolving around it, it has to accept the reality that Jesus is at the center and the whole Church — bishops, priests, religious and the laity — revolves around Him," Wijesuriya says.

He sees his mission as to inform and educate his Sinhala-speaking readers about the vision, mission and the ministry of Pope Francis.

“I see that even Sinhala Catholic publications do not inform and educate Catholics about the challenging message. For instance, the year of mercy activities, his challenging apostolic exhortations and his encyclical on the environment did not get sufficient coverage,” he says.

Wijesuriya launched a book named Vathikana Sulaga in Colombo on March 19, the sixth anniversary of Francis’ papal inauguration in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

“I wanted to preserve this information for anyone who would like to study the papacy of Pope Francis. That is why I decided to publish the website’s articles in a book,” Wijesuriya says.

“This book is not Catholic or Christian or a book with a religious category. Like Pope Francis, it is addressing everybody of every race and religion.

“It addresses issues important to everyone in every category and every walk of life in society. That is why I would invite all those who are interested in the problems of the world to read this book.”

Wijesuriya says Pope Francis is calling for a “poor Church and a Church for the poor.” He is advising priests to be servants, not lords or administrators. He advises them to leave their comfort zones to seek lost sheep.

Pope Francis is surprising the world and the Church with his Christ-centered and Gospel-based initiatives. He challenges the world with Jesus’ messages of mercy and love and through his style of living and teaching, he says.

Source: UCAN

Disappeared Vietnam blogger accused of abusing power

Police claim Truong Duy Nhat took advantage of his position to buy properties.

Activists believe that Vietnamese blogger Truong Duy Nhat was kidnapped at a Bangkok shopping center in January after applying for refugee status in the Thai capital. (Photo courtesy of Facebooker Huynh Ngoc Chenh)

Hanoi:  Vietnamese police have charged a dissident blogger who disappeared in Thailand two months ago with abusing his position and power to make a financial loss.

Lt. Gen. Tran Van Ve, a spokesman for the Public Security Ministry, said police had determined that Truong Duy Nhat had taken advantage of state-run Dai Doan Ket newspaper’s documents to buy properties without an auction, causing financial loss to the state.

Nhat, 54, worked as the newspaper’s chief representative in his home city of Da Nang from 1995 to 2010.

“The case is still under investigation, so more details are not released,” Lt. Gen. Ve told a press conference on March 25 in capital Hanoi.

He said Nhat was found to be involved in the case of Phan Van Anh Vu, a high-rolling property developer and secret spy who was jailed for 25 years for “divulging state secrets” and “abusing his position and power to appropriate properties” last year.

He said 21 officials and officers have been tried for their involvement in Vu’s crimes. Vu is still being investigated for other cases.

On March 26, state-run Thanhnien newspaper reported that in 2004 Nhat representing Dai Doan Ket bought a government-controlled house in Da Nang and later transferred the property to Vu’s family.

Activists believe the blogger was kidnapped by Vietnamese agents at the Future Park shopping mall on the outskirts of Bangkok on Jan. 26 after the father of one had applied for refugee status at the UNHCR’s office in Thailand’s capital the previous day.

Last week his wife Cao Thi Xuan Phuong was informed that her husband was arrested on Jan. 28 and has been held at a detention center in Hanoi.

Activists said the communist government did not dare mention the abduction so as to avoid condemnation from the international community.

In 2017, Vietnamese agents kidnapped Trinh Xuan Thanh, a disgraced former official, from a Berlin park, bundled him into a van and took him back to Vietnam, according to German media.

Hanoi said Thanh returned of his own free will to face trial but the case has badly damaged diplomatic relations with Germany. Last year a Vietnamese man was jailed for four years in Germany for taking part in the kidnap.

Activists claim the two kidnaps prove that Vietnam is a lawless state.

Source: UCAN

Arsonists destroy homes of indigenous people in Bangladesh

Awami League politician accused of leading attack after long-running land dispute.

An indigenous Pahan woman sits dumbfounded in the remains of her home after it was attacked by arsonists in the Naogaon district of Bangladesh on March 26. The attack left 37 families homeless. (Photo supplied)

Dhaka:  Dozens of poor and landless people, mostly from the ethnic minority Pahan community, have been left without shelter by an arson attack on their homes in northern Bangladesh.

A gang of thugs allegedly led by a local politician from the ruling Awami League party were behind the arson attack in the early hours of March 26 that stemmed from a long-running land dispute in the Bostabor area of Dhamurhat in Naogaon district.

About 110 people from 37 families including 23 Pahan Hindus and some Bengali Muslims were made homeless by the attack.

The gang, armed with sharp weapons, beat up residents and set fire to houses after pouring inflammable fuel on them, according to activists and a police official.

“Some of the victims filed a case against named and unnamed accused. We arrested Hossain Mosharraf, the prime accused, yesterday. A probe into the incident is ongoing,” Zakir-ul-Islam, officer in charge of the local police station, told ucanews.com on March 27.

Sobin Munda, secretary of National Adivasi Parishad, a rights group for indigenous people in northern Bangladesh, described the attack as “barbaric and condemnable.”

“These people are landless and poor, so they have been living on khas [government-owned] land for years. A leader of the ruling party has been claiming this land and he carried out the arson attack to evict them,” said Munda, who visited the victims on March 26.

“The attackers also beat up people in order to terrorize them. Then they set their homes on fire, but luckily no one got killed. We want justice for the violence and rehabilitation for indigenous and Bengali Muslim families.”

Mizanur Rahman, chief government officer of Naogaon district, visited the area on March 26 and offered 5,000 taka (US$60) and 20 kilograms of rice as aid to each victim family.

“I deplore this inhuman act and have assured the victims that they will get justice and rehabilitation. Police have been deployed to ensure their security and the perpetrators will be nabbed and punished,” Rahman told ucanews.com.

“This is disputed land but we will look into it so that a solution can be found.”

Many people in Bengali-majority Bangladesh consider indigenous people as outcasts and subject them to abuses, said Father Anthony Sen, convener of the Justice and Peace Commission in Dinajpur Diocese, which covers the area.

“The grabbing of land and eviction from homes are common realities for many indigenous peoples as Bengali people often think they don’t belong to this country. If we look back to these poor victims, we will find that once they had their own homes and property, but they lost everything to grabbers who exploited them with political and financial clout,” Father Sen told ucanews.com.

“The arson attack is frustrating. These people deserve justice, rehabilitation and a better life. The government must ensure their rights and protection.”

Source: UCAN

Pope Francis names new bishops for southern Philippines

Newly appointed prelates of Butuan and Isabela dioceses both hail from Bohol province.

Father Leo Dalmao, CMF, left, has become bishop of Isabela, while Father Cosme Almedilla has been named the new prelate in Butuan. (Photos supplied)

Manila:  Pope Francis named this week two new Filipino bishops who will serve in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao.

The pontiff named Father Cosme Almedilla prelate of Butuan and Claretian missionary priest Leo Dalmao bishop of Isabela in Basilan province.

Father Almedilla, who hails from Talibon Diocese in Bohol province, will succeed Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos who died in October 2017.

Father Dalmao, who also comes from Bohol province, will take over the post left by Bishop Martin Jumoad who was named prelate of Ozamiz in 2016.

Father Dalmao currently serves as General Consultor and General Prefect of Formation of the Claretian congregation.

At 49, he becomes the first Filipino Claretian missionary to join the College of Bishops.

Pastor who smells like the flock

Father Elias Ayuban, CMF, superior of the Claretian congregation in the Philippines, said the people of Basilan "deserve a pastor who knows the plight of the faithful."

"I'm so happy for the people of Basilan," said Father Ayuban.

Father Dalmao’s first assignment following his ordination to the priesthood in 1997 was with the Sama-Badjau tribe in the province.

"His years staying there provided him the chance to know and experience the life and mission of the congregation," said Father Ayuban.

Basilan, considered to be the birthplace of the bandit Abu Sayyaf group, has been a hotbed of extremism over the past three decades.

Several members of the clergy, including Claretian missionaries, and church workers have been either killed or abducted.

Father Ayuban said the appointment of Father Dalmao, who once served as superior of the congregation in the Philippines, is consistent with the call of Pope Francis "to leave our comfort zones and to go the geographical peripheries of the Church."

"I consider Basilan as one of the peripheries of the Church ... and there's no better place for a Claretian to be assigned than a place like Basilan," said the priest.

Sons of Bohol province

Both bishops-elect hail from the Bohol province in the central Philippines and are also both products of the Jesuit-run Loyola School of Theology in Manila.

Father Dalmao was born in Tagbilaran and entered the Claretian congregation in 1986. He finished his philosophy studies at St. Anthony Mary Claret College.

After finishing his theology studies, he was ordained a priest by the late Bishop Emeritus Jose Maria Querejeta Mendizabal of Isabela in 1997.

Bishop Mendizabal was a Spanish missionary who served as the first Claretian bishop in the Philippines.

In 2000, Father Dalmao was named Prefect of Students and three years later, became Novice Master while serving as Consultor and Prefect of Formation of the Philippine Province.

In 2010, he was elected superior of the Philippine Province of the Claretian missionaries.

While serving in this post, he was elected co-chairperson of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines until he was transferred to Rome in 2015.

Bishop-elect Almedilla, meanwhile, was born in San Miguel, in Bohol.

He took up philosophy at St. John XXII College Seminary in Malaybalay City and the Loyola School of Theology in Manila.

After his ordination in 1987, he served at the Holy Child Parish in Ubay, Bohol.

He used to be spiritual director at the John XXII College Seminary and director of the Holy Child Academy in Bohol, and chaplain at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City.

Since 2015, Almedill, who is known for his promotion of the Basic Ecclesial Community movement, has been assistant pastoral director of the Diocese of Talibon.

Source: UCAN

Goa's MGP splits, joins BJP ahead of elections

The letter requesting merger into the BJP was handed over to Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo.

Panaji:  In a late but politically significant development, two out of the three Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party legislators early on Wednesday, split from the regional party and merged their two-member legislative unit into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo said.

"MGP MLAs Manohar Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pauskar have merged with the BJP. They first split from the MGP and formed MGP-II and then merged with the BJP," the Deputy Speaker told IANS.

The letter requesting merger into the BJP was handed over to Lobo at 1:45 am on Wednesday.

The development comes on the heels of a growing discomfort between the BJP and the MGP, which surfaced openly after the latter was given only two ministerial berths during last week's government formation, instead of three as demanded by party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Sudin Dhavalikar.

Dhavalikar and Ajgaonkar were sworn in as PWD Minister and Tourism Minister respectively at a swearing in ceremony at Raj Bhavan in the pre-dawn hours of March 19.

The repeated insistence of Dipak Dhavalikar, MGP president and Sudin's brother, to contest the upcoming bypoll from the Shiroda assembly constituency against the BJP, had also led to tension between the two political units, leading to Wednesday's development.

"We, Manohar Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pauskar have agreed to merge with the BJP. In view of sub-clause (2) of clause 4 of the 10th Schedule, and in view of the fact that we constitute 2/3rds of the members of the legislative party, such merger shall be deemed to have taken place," a letter submitted by Ajgaonkar to the Deputy Speaker said.

BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar was present at the state legislative assembly complex, when the duo submitted the letter to Lobo and merged into the BJP in presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.

The merger of the two-member legislative unit into the BJP, brings the saffron party on par with the Congress with 14 seats each.

Speaking to reporters at the state legislative assembly complex Manohar Ajgaonkar said, that both he and Deepak Pauskar were kept away from the decision-making process in the MGP, which was the reason why the duo had decided to quit the regional party.

Ajgaonkar also said, that this week's sacking of a bahujan samaj (OBC) leader from the MGP, which was engineered by the Dhavalikar brothers -- both of whom are Brahmin -- had put his status in the party in question.

"What is happening in MGP, the whole of Goa knows. They have harassed the bahujan samaj. What will happen to a dalit like me? This is the question. After seeing this, I quit the local party and joined the national party," Ajgaonkar said.

Pauskar said, that he had been assured a berth in the ministry by the Chief Minister and that he would be happy with "any ministry of the Chief Minister's choosing". His swearing-in ceremony was expected to be held later on Wednesday, he also said.

When asked if Sudin Dhavalikar would be dropped from the cabinet to make way for Pauskar on Wednesday, Sawant cryptically said: "The decision to drop (a minister) will be taken and after that there will be a swearing in".

Meanwhile in a statement issued here, the state Congress said that the late night drama in Goa should send a signal to NDA parters, that BJP does not care about allies.

"BJP has proved it is a threat to all its allies. This is a clear indication to all NDA partners all over the country just before Lok Sabha elections, that any partnershup with BJP will be detrimental to the existence of their own party," Goa Congress chief spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar said.

On paper, the BJP currently has the support of three MLAs from the Goa Forward party, three Independent legislators and one MGP MLA in form of Sudin Dhavalikar, which takes the tally of the treasury benches to 20 in the 36-member state legislative assembly.

Sudin Dhavalikar could not be contacted for comment.
IANS

Muslim women demand law against mob lynching

They also asked for 33 per cent reservations for women to increase their political representation in the Parliament.

UCAN file photo

New Delhi:  Muslim women from different parts of the country on Wednesday gathered in the national capital urging the "secular" political parties in the country to add in their manifesto the need to have a law against mob lynching.

The women, who launched a detailed 39-point manifesto also demanded that Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019 must be scrapped.

They also asked for 33 per cent reservations for women to increase their political representation in the Parliament. They also wanted an increase budgetary allocations for girls and women-related interventions.

The women from at least 10 states, under the banner of 'Bebaak Collective' (voice of Fearless) came together to release the manifesto listing their demands related to gender equality, minority safeguard and citizenship rights.

Among the women was also Khalida, wife of Umar Khan, who was allegedly lynched in 2017 in Alwar, months after dairy farmer Pehlu Khan was lynched in the area.

The manifesto demanded formulation of a diversity index across public and private sectors to determine the extent of under-representation of Muslims, 10 per cent reservation to Muslims in higher education and government jobs and a gender-just law in Muslim Personal Law.

They also demanded monetary benefits for single women, introduction of a communal violence bill to bring perpetrators to justice and redrafting of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016.

"All anti-conversion laws should be scrapped," it added.

IANS

Religious nationalism, unemployment, top poll issues

Majority of those interviewed said no religious minorities but influential people blocked progress.

New Delhi:  Rising unemployment and nationalism on religious lines are the two key issues bothering citizens ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, revealed a survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS and the Azim Premji University.

"Twenty per cent of those surveyed said unemployment was the biggest issue facing India, and 15 per cent said the top government priority should be a remedy to joblessness," said the survey titled "Politics and Society between Elections 2019", released on Tuesday.

The second and third issues cited were 'development' (15 per cent) and 'law, governance and corruption' (13 per cent).

Sixty per cent of those interviewed for the survey said no minorities and migrants but influential people blocked progress. This sentiment was stronger among the youth. 61 per cent of those below 35 years of age felt about elites blocking development.

Fifty-one per cent of those above 35 years held the same view, said the report.

People also said it was easier to get admission in government schools than a water connection.

The report said though caste identities were prominent, these were overshadowed by religious identities when it came to religious nationalism.

The survey found the Indian Army was the most trusted institution in the country with an effective trust of 88 per cent, followed by courts (60 per cent). Political parties were the least trusted as 55 per cent people expressed their mistrust in them.

People in UP, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Assam sought punishment for those who don't say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' at public functions. But residents of Nagaland, J&K, Kerala, Mizoram, Tripura, Punjab and West Bengal disagreed.

The opinion was almost similar for those who don't get up during the playing of the national anthem at public places.

Barring J&K, Nagaland and Mizoram, majority of those surveyed in other nine states sought punishment for beef eaters.

The survey was aimed at exploring citizens' trust in political institutions, ties across social groups, ease of public service access, citizen-state interfaces and governance, gender roles and relationships, nationalism and political identity, freedom of expressions and populism.

The survey covered 24,092 people in Assam, J&K, Kerala, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, UP, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Delhi.

IANS

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Polling goes ahead on Maundy Thursday

ROBERT JOHN KENNEDY: Polling goes ahead on Maundy Thursday: Polling goes ahead on Maundy Thursday High Court in Tamil Nadu rejects petition to change date but seeks to ensure that Christia...

Polling goes ahead on Maundy Thursday

High Court in Tamil Nadu rejects petition to change date but seeks to ensure that Christians' prayers are not hindered.

Indian nuns display their voter cards at a polling station during municipality elections in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state, on April 16, 2018. India is holding a general election in seven phases in April and May. (Photo by IANS)

New Delhi:  Voters in 13 Indian states will go to polling stations on Maundy Thursday in parliamentary elections after the High Court in Tamil Nadu state dismissed a petition from church officials to reschedule the date.

The federal Election Commission has scheduled polling in 97 constituencies of 13 states on April 18 when Christians observe Maundy Thursday this year, starting their Easter triduum leading to Good Friday and Easter.

Church officials in Tamil Nadu, a southern state with 4.4 million Christians and more than any of the other 12 states, petitioned the state High Court to move polling to another day.

The High Court dismissed the petition but asked the state Election Commission to ensure that polling does not hinder Christians’ prayers.

“Since the polling is fixed on Maundy Thursday, it is expected that the Election Commission will take adequate steps to ensure that people are allowed to pray in churches situated adjacent to polling booths without any hindrance,” the court said in its March 22 verdict.

The 13 states holding polls on Maundy Thursday are Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Puducherry.

Archbishop Antony Pappusamy of Madurai, president of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council, had petitioned for rescheduling, arguing that hundreds of Catholic government servants with polling duties will miss prayers.

Several church-run schools near parish churches are also designated polling stations. Church services could be disturbed by voting in these polling stations, the petition argued.

However, the Church is happy with the High Court order, said Father L. Sahayaraj, deputy secretary of the bishops’ council.

“We are happy that the court has directed the Election Commission to ensure our religious activities are not disturbed,” he told ucanews.com.

“We primarily wanted the commission to understand it is not just Good Friday and Easter, but Maundy Thursday is also important for Christians.

“The petition will be a reminder to the federal Election Commission to understand the sentiments of Christians on Maundy Thursday.”

The Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu runs 2,800 schools. Most of these state-funded schools are traditionally used as polling stations, which could affect the use of these premises for Maundy Thursday programs.

The government restricts movement near polling stations, notifying a specified radius as a security zone. “Even on the previous day, these premises will be taken over by security forces and will be under their control,” Father Sahayaraj said.

The archbishop’s petition said it would be very difficult to have prayers and elections simultaneously on Maundy Thursday as services start in the afternoon and run until late evening.

Restrictions on people visiting churches will be a problem, it said, as in some cases the parish and the school polling station have the same gate for entry and exit. “It will be very difficult to totally sanitize the area with foolproof security arrangements,” it said.

The petition also said the voter turnout of Christians will be reduced if polling is held on Maundy Thursday.

Source: UCAN

நிலம் திருடும் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு எதிராக...

வறிய நாடுகளில், இயற்கை வளங்களை, நீதியற்ற முறைகளில் அபகரித்து வரும் பன்னாட்டுத் தொழில் நிறுவனங்களின் கொள்ளை முயற்சிகளை தடுத்து நிறுத்த, Trócaire அமைப்பு, போராடி வருகிறது.

ஜெரோம் லூயிஸ் – வத்திக்கான்
Trócaire என்றழைக்கப்படும் 'அயர்லாந்து கத்தோலிக்க உதவி மற்றும் முன்னேற்ற இயக்கம்' என்ற அமைப்பைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள், 2019ம் ஆண்டின் தவக்காலத்திற்கென, பொருள் நிறைந்ததொரு கொள்கைப்பரப்பு முயற்சியை (Lenten Campaign) மேற்கொண்டுள்ளனர். "கொலையைத் தொழிலாக்குதல்: தொழில் நிறுவனங்களின் நிலம் மற்றும் மனித உரிமை மீறல்களுக்குக் கணக்குக் கேட்பது" என்ற மையக்கருத்துடன், இத்தவக்கால முயற்சி மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளது.
உலகெங்கும், குறிப்பாக, வளர்ந்துவரும் வறிய நாடுகளில், நிலம், நீர், நிலத்தடி கனிமங்கள் என, இயற்கை வளங்களை, நீதியற்ற முறைகளில் அபகரித்து வரும் பெரும் பன்னாட்டுத் தொழில் நிறுவனங்களின் கொள்ளை முயற்சிகளை தடுத்து நிறுத்த, Trócaire அமைப்பு, போராடி வருகிறது. இவ்வமைப்பினர் மேற்கொண்டுள்ள தவக்கால விழிப்புணர்வு முயற்சியில், அயர்லாந்து கத்தோலிக்கர்கள் அனைவரும் இணையுமாறு, அந்நாட்டு ஆயர்கள், தங்கள் தவக்கால அறிக்கை வழியே விண்ணப்பித்துள்ளனர்.
உலகில் இன்று இயங்கிவரும் பன்னாட்டு தொழில் நிறுவனங்களில், முதல் பத்து நிறுவனங்கள் இணைந்து, ஓராண்டில் சம்பாதிக்கும் மொத்த வருமானம், 180 வறிய நாடுகளின் மொத்த ஆண்டு வருமானத்தைவிட கூடுதலாக உள்ளது. பன்னாட்டு நிறுவனங்கள் தங்கள் நாடுகளில் தொழிற்சாலைகளை அமைத்தால், நாட்டில் வேலைவாய்ப்பு கூடும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையில், வறுமைப்பட்ட நாடுகளின் அரசுகள், தங்கள் நாட்டிற்குள் பன்னாட்டு நிறுவனங்களை வரவேற்று, தங்கள் நாட்டின் இயற்கை வளங்களை இந்நிறுவனங்களுக்கு விற்று வருகின்றன. இந்தப் பகல் கொள்ளையைத் தடுக்கும் முயற்சியில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளோர், வெகு எளிதாகக் கொலை செய்யப்படுகின்றனர்; அல்லது, காணாமல் போகின்றனர்.
Trócaire அமைப்பு, இத்தவக்காலத்தின் ஆரம்பத்தில் வெளியிட்ட ஓர் அறிக்கையில் பதிவு செய்துள்ள வேதனையான புள்ளி விவரங்களில், ஒரு சில இதோ:
2018ம் ஆண்டு, தங்கள் நிலத்தையும், மக்களின் உரிமைகளையும் காக்க போராடியவர்களில், 247 பேர் கொல்லப்பட்டனர்.
கடந்த நான்கு ஆண்டுகளில், பன்னாட்டு நிறுவனங்களின் அத்துமீறல்களுக்கு எதிராகப் போராடிய 1400க்கும் அதிகமான மனித உரிமையாளர்கள் தாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.
வறுமைப்பட்ட நாடுகளின் அரசுகள், அயர்லாந்தைப்போல், ஆறு மடங்கு பரப்பளவும், இயற்கை வளங்களும் கொண்ட நல்ல நிலங்களை, பன்னாட்டுத் தொழில் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு விற்பனை செய்துள்ளன.
Trócaire அமைப்பினர் இத்தவக்காலத்தில் மேற்கொண்டுள்ள விழிப்புணர்வுப் போராட்டம், நல்ல பலன்களைத் தரவேண்டுமென வாழ்த்துவோம்.

அஸ்ஸாம் குழந்தைகளின் தேர்தல் அறிக்கை 

அஸ்ஸாமை, கடந்த 50 ஆண்டுகளில் 13 மிகப்பெரிய வெள்ளப்பெருக்குகள் தாக்கியுள்ளன. அவற்றில், 3,093 பேர் இறந்துள்ளனர் மற்றும், 17 கோடியே 10 இலட்சம் பேர் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். அஸ்ஸாமில் ஒரு இலட்சத்திற்கும் அதிகமான குழந்தைகள் முறையாகப் பள்ளிப் படிப்பைக்கூட பெறவில்லை

மேரி தெரேசா - வத்திக்கான்
இந்தியாவின் மிகப் பெரிய சனநாயகத் திருவிழாவான மக்களவைத் தேர்தலின் ஆரவாரங்கள் ஆரம்பித்துவிட்டன. தேர்தல் அறிக்கை, வேட்பாளர்கள் பட்டியல்  போன்ற வேலைகளில் ஒவ்வொரு கட்சியும் தீவிரமாக ஈடுபட்டுள்ளது. இந்நிலையில், ``நீர், கல்வி, சுற்றுச்சூழல்" என்ற தலைப்பில், அஸ்ஸாம் மாணவிகள், தேர்தல் அறிக்கை ஒன்றைத் தயாரித்து வெளியிட்டுள்ளனர். 14க்கும் 19 வயதுக்கும் உட்பட்ட ஐந்நூறு மாணவிகள், அஸ்ஸாம் மாநிலத்தில் செயல்பட்டுவரும், 21 தொண்டு நிறுவனங்களை உள்ளடக்கிய, அஸ்ஸாம் மற்றும், இளம்பருவ மற்றும் குழந்தைகள் உரிமை அமைப்பு (ACRNA), மற்றும் யுனிசெப் (UNICEF) அமைப்பு ஆகியவற்றின் வழிகாட்டுதலின்படி, இந்தத் தேர்தல் அறிக்கையைத் தயாரித்துள்ளனர். இது குழந்தைகளின் தேர்தல் அறிக்கை என அழைக்கப்படுகிறது. அந்த அறிக்கை, நலவாழ்வு, நீர், கல்வி, சுற்றுச்சூழல், இயற்கைப் பேரிடர்கள், குழந்தைகளின் பாதுகாப்பு போன்ற, அஸ்ஸாம் மாநிலம் எதிர்கொள்ளும் பல்வேறு பிரச்னைகளை அலசுகிறது. மேலும் அந்த அறிக்கை, பல்வேறு வகையான கோரிக்கைகளையும் வாக்குறுதிகளாக கொடுத்துள்ளது.
அடிக்கடி வெள்ளத்தால் பாதிக்கப்படும் அஸ்ஸாம் மாநிலத்தில் வெள்ளப் பாதிப்பைச் சமாளிக்கக்கூடிய உள்கட்டமைப்புகளை உருவாக்குவது, பேரிடர் பாதிப்பு ஏற்படும் பகுதிகளுக்குச் சென்று சேர்ந்துள்ள அரசின் சேவைகள், வளர்ச்சி மேலாண்மைகள், பாலியல் வன்முறை போன்றவை குறித்தும் மாணவிகள் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளனர். ஏனெனில் அஸ்ஸாம் மாநிலத்தில், வெள்ளப் பாதிப்பு ஏற்படும் காலங்களில், மிக நீண்ட நாள்களுக்குப் பள்ளிக்குச் செல்ல முடியாத நிலை ஏற்படுகிறது. அக்காலங்களில் நூற்றுக்கும் மேற்பட்ட பள்ளிகள் வெள்ளத்தில் மூழ்கிவிடக்கூடியவை. மீதமுள்ள பள்ளிகளும் நிவாரண முகாம்களாக மாற்றப்பட்டுவிடும். வெள்ளப் பாதிப்புகள் எல்லாம் முடிந்து இயல்புநிலைக்குத் திரும்பினாலும், கல்வி ஆண்டில் குழந்தைகளின் இடைநிற்றல் அதிகரிக்கும். மாணவிகள் தங்களது தேர்தல் அறிக்கையை பா.ஜ.க, காங்கிரஸ் மற்றும் அஸ்ஸாம் கன பரிஷித் உட்பட, அஸ்ஸாமின் முக்கிய ஐந்து கட்சிகளுக்கும் கொடுத்துள்ளனர். இது, தேசிய அளவில் மிக முக்கியமான முயற்சியாகவே பார்க்கப்படுகிறது. (நன்றி: விகடன்)

கடந்த 22 ஆண்டுகளில், கடந்த 4 ஆண்டுகள் அதிக வெப்பம்

ஏறக்குறைய 12 ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னர் முடிவுற்ற பனி யுகத்திலிருந்து புவியின் காலநிலை, ஏறக்குறைய நிலையாக இருந்துவந்துள்ளவேளை, கடந்த 22 ஆண்டுகளில் வெப்பம் அதிகரித்துள்ளது

மேரி தெரேசா - வத்திக்கான் செய்திகள்
சூரிய ஒளி குறைவாகக் கிடைத்தால், மனிதரின் மனநிலை மற்றும் உடல்நலம் பாதிக்கப்படுவதுடன், வைட்டமின் D பற்றாக்குறையையும் அதிகரிக்கின்றது, அதேநேரம், அதிகஅளவிலான சூரிய ஒளியும், தோல், கண்கள், மற்றும் நோய் எதிர்ப்புசக்தி அமைப்பில் பாதிப்புகளை ஏற்படுத்துகின்றது என்று, உலக வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் எச்சரித்துள்ளது.
மார்ச் 23, இச்சனிக்கிழமையன்று உலக வானிலை நாள் கடைப்பிடிக்கப்பட்டதை முன்னிட்டு, இப்பூமியில் வாழ்கின்ற அனைத்து உயிரினங்கள் மற்றும் காலநிலையில் சூரிய ஒளி ஏற்படுத்தும் தாக்கம் பற்றி செய்தி வெளியிட்டுள்ள, ஐ.நா.வின் உலக வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் (WMO),  பெருங்கடல்களில் இடம்பெறும் சுழற்சிகள் மற்றும் வானிலையில் உருவாகும் மாற்றங்கள் பற்றியும் தகவல்களை வழங்கியுள்ளது.
கடந்த 22 ஆண்டுகளில், இருபது அதிக வெப்பமான ஆண்டுகள் பதிவாகியுள்ளன என்றும், இவற்றில் அதிக வெப்பமான நான்கு ஆண்டுகள், கடந்த நான்கு ஆண்டுகள் என்றும் இந்த மையம் வெளியிட்டுள்ளதையடுத்து, காலநிலை மாற்றத்தைத் தடுக்கும் நடவடிக்கைகளை தீவிரப்படுத்தியுள்ளார், ஐ.நா. பொதுச் செயலர் அந்தோனியோ கூட்டேரெஸ். வருகிற செப்டம்பர் 23ம் தேதி, நியு யார்க்கில், காலநிலை மாற்றம் குறித்த, உலக உச்சி மாநாடு ஒன்றையும், கூட்டேரெஸ் அவர்கள் நடத்தவுள்ளார்.   
சூரியன், ஏறக்குறைய 15 கோடி மில்லியன் கிலோ மீட்டர் தூரத்தில் உள்ளது,  450 கோடி ஆண்டுகளாக, காலநிலை மற்றும் பூமியின் வாழ்வில் மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்துவதில் முக்கிய காரணியாக உள்ளது, ஏறக்குறைய 12 ஆயிரம் ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னர் முடிவுற்ற பனி யுகத்திலிருந்து புவியின் காலநிலை, ஏறக்குறைய நிலையாக இருந்து வந்துள்ளது என்ற தகவலையும் அந்த மையம் வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. (UN)

உலக காசநோய் விழிப்புணர்வு நாள் மார்ச் 24

குணப்படுத்தக்கூடிய காசநோயை ஒழிப்பதற்கு உலக அளவில் எடுக்கப்பட்டுவரும் நடவடிக்கைகளால், இரண்டாயிரமாம் ஆண்டிலிருந்து, 5 கோடியே 40 இலட்சம் பேரின் வாழ்வு காப்பாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மேரி தெரேசா - வத்திக்கான் செய்திகள்
உடல்நலம், சமூக மற்றும் பொருளாதாரத்தில் காசநோய் ஏற்படுத்தும் எதிர்மறை விளைவுகள் குறித்து, பொது மக்களுக்கு விழிப்புணர்வை உருவாக்கவும், உலக அளவில் இந்நோயை ஒழிப்பதற்கு முயற்சிகளை ஊக்குவிக்கவுமென, ஒவ்வோர் ஆண்டும் மார்ச் 24ம் தேதி உலக காசநோய் விழிப்புணர்வு நாள் கடைப்பிடிக்கப்படுகிறது.
மருத்துவர் இராபர்ட் கோக் அவர்கள், காசநோய்க்குக் காரணமான மைக்ரோபாக்டீரியம் என்ற கிருமிகளை, 1882ம் ஆண்டு மார்ச் 24ம் தேதி கண்டுபிடித்தார். அக்கண்டுபிடிப்பு, இந்நோயைக் குணமாக்குவதற்கு முயற்சிகளும், இந்நோய் பற்றிய ஆய்வுகளும் இடம்பெறுவதற்கு வழியமைத்தது. அந்த மார்ச் 24ம் நாளை, ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் நிறுவனத்தின் நலவாழ்வு அமைப்பு, உலக காசநோய் விழிப்புணர்வு நாளாக அறிவித்து, கடைப்பிடித்து வருகின்றது.
உலகில் இடம்பெறும் மரணங்களுக்கு முக்கிய காரணிகளில் ஒன்றான, ஷயரோகம் எனவும் சொல்லப்படும் காசநோயால், உலகில் ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் ஏறக்குறைய 4,500 பேர் இறக்கின்றனர். தடுத்துநிறுத்தக்கூடிய மற்றும் குணப்படுத்தக்கூடிய காசநோயை ஒழிப்பதற்கு உலக அளவில் எடுக்கப்பட்டுவரும் நடவடிக்கைகளால், இரண்டாயிரமாம் ஆண்டிலிருந்து 5 கோடியே 40 இலட்சம் பேரின் வாழ்வு காப்பாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்நோயால் இடம்பெறும் இறப்பு விகிதமும், 42 விழுக்காடாகக் குறைந்துள்ளது என, உலக நலவாழ்வு அமைப்பின் புள்ளி விவரங்கள் கூறுகின்றன.
காசநோயை ஒழிப்பதற்கு ‘இதுவே நேரம்’ என்ற தலைப்பில், மார்ச் 24, இஞ்ஞாயிறன்று இவ்வாண்டு உலக காச நோய் விழிப்புணர்வு நாள் கடைப்பிடிக்கப்படுகிறது. (UN)

அழிந்து வரும் பறவை இனங்கள்

பறவைகள் அழிவதை, ஓர் உயிரினம் அழிவதாக மட்டும் நினைத்தால், அது அறியாமையாகும். அழிந்து வரும் ஒவ்வோர் உயிரினமும், உலகம் அழிவை நோக்கி பயணிப்பதை உணர்த்துகிறது.

கிறிஸ்டோபர் பிரான்சிஸ் - வத்திக்கான்
ஆனைமலை சுற்றுப்பகுதிகளில், நெல் சாகுபடி செய்த நிலங்களில், அழிந்து வரும் பறவை இனமான, வெண் கழுத்து நாரை அதிக அளவில் காணப்படுகிறது. விளைநிலங்கள், நீர் நிலைகளில் காணப்படும் மீன், தவளை, நத்தை, புழுக்கள், நண்டு, பூச்சிகள், வெட்டுக்கிளி உள்ளிட்டவற்றை உண்டு, உயிர் வாழும் இப்பறவை, வேட்டையாடுதல், சுருங்கி வரும் விளைநிலங்கள், ஆக்கிரமிப்புகளால் காணாமல் போகும் நீர் நிலைகள் உள்ளிட்ட காரணங்களால், நாளுக்கு நாள் அழிந்துவருகிறது. அண்மைக் காலமாக விவசாயத்தில் பயன்படுத்தும் வேதியியல் பூச்சிக்கொல்லி உரங்களால் விவசாய நிலங்களில், மீன், தவளை, வெட்டுக்கிளி உள்ளிட்டவை மரணிக்கின்றன. இது, வெண் கழுத்து நாரை உள்ளிட்ட பலவகை பறவைகளுக்கும் உணவில்லாத நிலையை ஏற்படுத்துகிறது. அதுமட்டுமின்றி, வேதியியலால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட பூச்சிகளை உட்கொள்ளும் பறவைகளுக்கு, மரபணுவில் பாதிப்பு ஏற்பட்டு, அதன் இனமே அழிவுக்கு உள்ளாகிறது. பறவைகள் அழிவதை, ஓர் உயிரினம் அழிவதாக மட்டும் நினைத்தால், அது அறியாமையாகும். அழிந்து வரும் ஒவ்வோர் உயிரினமும், உலகம் அழிவை நோக்கி பயணிப்பதை உணர்த்துகிறது.
எடுத்துக்காட்டாக, நீலகிரியில் வாழ்கின்ற இருவாசிப் பறவை அழிந்து போனால், அதோடு தொடர்புடைய பத்து வகை மரங்களும் அழிந்து போகும். காரணம், இருவாசிப் பறவைகள் சாப்பிட்டு வெறியேற்றுகிற விதைகளுக்குத்தான் முளைக்கும் திறன் இருக்கிறது. அதனால் தான், மரங்கள் செழித்து வளர்கின்றன என்கின்றனர் வல்லுனர்கள்.
இந்தியாவிலுள்ள பறவைகளில் 88 வகையான பறவைகள் அழிவை எதிர்கொண்டுள்ளனவாம். மனிதனின் நாகரிக வளர்ச்சியும், அறிவியல் முன்னேற்றமும் ஏனைய உயிரினங்களுக்கு முற்றுப் புள்ளி வைக்கத்தான் உதவியிருக்கின்றன.

சோலையாகும் புலம்பெயர்ந்தோர் முகாம்

உலக லூத்தரன் சபை கூட்டமைப்பு ஆரம்பித்த, ‘Minawao முகாமை மீண்டும் பசுமையாக்குங்கள்’ என்ற திட்டத்தில், இதுவரை அறநூறு ஹெக்டேர் அளவுக்கு, ஏறக்குறைய ஐம்பதாயிரம் மரங்கள் நடப்பட்டுள்ளன

மேரி தெரேசா - வத்திக்கான்
நைஜீரிய நாட்டின் போக்கோ ஹராம் பயங்கரவாத அமைப்பு, காமரூன் நாட்டின் எல்லையிலுள்ள கிராமங்களை, கடந்த பல ஆண்டுகளாகத் தாக்கி வருகின்றது. இந்த அமைப்பின் வன்முறைகளுக்கு அஞ்சி, ஏறக்குறைய 56 ஆயிரம் நைஜீரிய மக்கள், காமரூன் நாட்டில் அடைக்கலம் தேடியுள்ளனர். நைஜீரியாவிலிருந்து முப்பது கிலோ மீட்டர் தூரத்திலுள்ள, Minawao புலம்பெயர்ந்தோர் முகாமில் இவர்கள் தங்க வைக்கப்பட்டனர். 2013ம் ஆண்டு மே மாதத்திலிருந்து இந்த முகாமுக்கு வரத்தொடங்கிய இம்மக்களில் பலர், இரண்டு அல்லது மூன்று மாதங்கள்தானே தங்கியிருக்கப்போகிறோம் என்ற எண்ணத்தில், அப்பகுதியிலிருந்த மரங்களை வெட்டி அடுப்பு எரிப்பதற்குப் பயன்படுத்தி விட்டனர். அதனால் அந்தப் பகுதியில் வெறும் மண்ணும், பாறைகளுமே காணப்பட்டன. காமரூன் நாட்டின் வடகிழக்குப் பகுதி, பாலைநிலமாக மாறி வருவதற்கு, புலம்பெயர்ந்தோரின் இச்செயலும் ஒரு காரணம். மேலும், இந்த முகாம், சஹாரா பாலைவனத்திற்கு வடக்கே அமைந்துள்ள சஹெல் பகுதியின் கடும் வெப்பத்தால் மேலும் வறட்சியடைந்துள்ளது. தற்போது அம்மக்களின் எண்ணிக்கை ஏறக்குறைய அறுபதாயிரமாக உயர்ந்துள்ளது. இந்நிலை, அப்பகுதியில் ஏற்கனவே, இயற்கை வளங்கள் அற்றுப்போய், நிலம் பாலைநிலமாக மாறிவருவதற்கு, மேலும் ஆபத்தாக அமைந்துள்ளது. புலம்பெயர்ந்தோரின் வாழ்வும் மிகவும் நெருக்கடிக்கு உள்ளாகியுள்ளது. இதனால் Minawao முகாம் பகுதி மற்றும் அதைச் சுற்றியுள்ள கிராமங்களை மீண்டும் பசுமையாக்குவதற்கு, உலக லூத்தரன் கிறிஸ்தவ சபை கூட்டமைப்பு (LWF), ஈராண்டுக்குமுன்னர், ‘Minawao முகாமை மீண்டும் பசுமையாக்குங்கள்’ என்ற திட்டத்தை ஆரம்பித்தது. இத்திட்டத்தில், ஐ.நா. புலம்பெயர்ந்தோர் அமைப்பின் ஆதரவுடன், அறநூறு ஹெக்டேர் அளவுக்கு, ஏறக்குறைய ஐம்பதாயிரம் மரங்கள் நடப்பட்டுள்ளன. ஒவ்வோர் ஆண்டும் மேலும் ஐந்தாயிரம் மரங்களை நடும் திட்டத்தையும்  இக்கூட்டமைப்பு கொண்டிருக்கின்றது. வேப்பமரம், கருவேலமரம், முருங்கை மரம், leucaena பூ மரம் உட்பட சிறு மரங்கள் நடப்பட்டுள்ளன. வருங்காலத்தில் பழமரங்கள் நடுவதற்கும் அந்த அமைப்பு திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது. இதன் வழியாக அப்பகுதி மக்கள் உடல்நலத்துடன் வாழ்வதோடு, உயிர் வாழவும் ஆதாரங்களைப் பெறுவார்கள், இவர்கள் முகாமிலிருந்து தங்கள் கிராமங்களுக்குத் திரும்புகையில், பசுமையான மற்றும் வளர்ச்சியடைந்த கிராமங்களைக் காண்பார்கள் என்று ஐ.நா. கூறியுள்ளது.

விலங்குகளின் காதலன்

வனவிலங்கு என்றால் கொடூரமானது, வேட்டையாடி உண்பது என்ற செவி வழி செய்தி நம் மனதில் ஆழமாக பதிந்துபோன நிலையில், வனவிலங்குகளை அன்புகூர்ந்து, இயற்கையை மனிதனுக்கு மிக நெருக்கமாகக் கொண்டு வந்தார் ஸ்டீவ் இர்வின்

கிறிஸ்டோபர் பிரான்சிஸ் – வத்திக்கான்
1962-ம் ஆண்டு ஆஸ்திரேலியாவின் மெல்பர்ன் நகருக்கு அருகில் உள்ள எஸ்ஸென்டென் என்ற ஊரில் பிறந்தார் ஸ்டீவ் இர்வின். தாய், தந்தை இரண்டு பேருக்கும் வனவிலங்குகள் மீது இருந்த ஆர்வம், குழந்தைக்கும் தொற்றிக் கொண்டது. ஆறு வயதிலிருந்தே, தன் உயரத்தைவிட பலமடங்கு நீளம் கொண்ட விஷத்தன்மை வாய்ந்த பாம்புகளுடன் விளையாடத் தொடங்கிய ஸ்டீவ் இர்வினை, பின்னாளில், விலங்குகளின் காதலனாகவும், விலங்கின ஆர்வலராகவும் வளர்த்தெடுத்தது இயற்கை. முதலைகளோடும், பாம்புகளோடும், உடும்புகளோடும் ஸ்டீவ் இர்வின் விளையாடும் நிகழ்ச்சிகள் உலகம் முழுவதும் மிகவும் பிரபலம். வனவிலங்கு என்றால் கொடூரமானது, வேட்டையாடி உண்பது என்ற செவிவழி செய்தி நம் மனதில் ஆழமாகப் பதிந்துபோன நிலையில், முதலை மற்றும், பாம்புகளைக் கட்டிப்பிடித்து விளையாடி மகிழ்ந்து, இயற்கையை மனிதருக்கு மிக நெருக்கமாகக் கொண்டுவந்தார் ஸ்டீவ் இர்வின். அவர் பிடித்த அந்த வனவிலங்கைக் கொஞ்சி, அதன் சிறப்பம்சங்களை விளக்கிவிட்டு, பின்னர் அதன் போக்கில் அதை விட்டுவிடுவார் என்பதுதான் சிறப்பு. அந்த விலங்குகளை அவர் கையாளும்போது, தனக்கு ஏதும் ஆகிவிடக் கூடாது என்பதைவிட, அந்த விலங்குகளுக்கு எதுவும் ஆகிவிடக்கூடாது என்ற கவனமே அதில் அதிகளவு காணப்படும். இவர் திருமணம் செய்துகொண்ட பெண்ணும் விலங்குகள் மீது ஆர்வம் கொண்டவர்தான். ஸ்டீவ் மற்றும் அவரது மனைவி டெர்ரி இர்வின் ஆகிய இருவரும் இணைந்து பங்கேற்ற நிகழ்ச்சிகள், அனைத்து மக்களாலும் விரும்பப்பட்டன.
 ' கடலுக்கு அடியில்' என்ற பெயரில் ஆவணப்படம் ஒன்றை தயாரித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தபோது,  சிறிய வகை விஷ மீனின் தாக்குதலால் அவர் மரணமடைந்தார். இதனால், விலங்குகளை வெறுக்கவில்லை அவரின் குடும்பம். தற்போது அவரின் மனைவி டெர்ரி இர்வின் மற்றும் அவரது இரண்டு குழந்தைகளும் சேர்ந்து,   இர்வின் அன்புகூர்ந்த விலங்குகளை சிறப்பாகப் பாதுகாத்து, பராமரித்து வருகின்றனர்.

மார்ச் 20, சிட்டுக்குருவிகள் உலக நாள்

'எப்போதும் இயற்கை இயக்கம்' (Nature Forever Society) என்ற ஓர் அமைப்பைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் முன்மொழிந்த பரிந்துரையின் பேரில், 2009ம் ஆண்டு, 'சிட்டுக்குருவி உலக நாள்' உருவானது.

ஜெரோம் லூயிஸ் - வத்திக்கான்
சீனாவின் முன்னேற்றத்தைத் துரிதப்படுத்தும் நோக்கத்துடன், அந்நாட்டு தலைவர், மாவோ-சே-துங் அவர்கள், 1958ம் ஆண்டு, அந்நாட்டிலிருந்த, எலிகள், ஈக்கள், கொசுக்கள் மற்றும் சிட்டுக்குருவிகளைக் கொல்லுமாறு ஆணையிட்டார். சிட்டுக்குருவிகள், இலட்சக்கணக்கில் கொல்லப்பட்டதால், அவை உண்டுவந்த பூச்சிகளும், புழுக்களும் பெருகவே, பயிர்கள் அழிந்தன. இதனால், 1960ம் ஆண்டு, சீனாவில் பெரும் பஞ்சம் உருவானது. எனவே, மாவோ அவர்கள் சிட்டுக்குருவிகளைக் கொல்வதை நிறுத்தும்படி கட்டளையிட்டார். சிட்டுக்குருவிகள் குறைந்தால், அழிந்தால், இயற்கையில் விபரீதங்கள் உருவாகும் என்பதற்கு, சீனாவின் பெரும் பஞ்சம் ஒரு வரலாற்று சான்று.
இன்று, நாம் வாழும் உலகில், எந்த ஓர் அரசாணையும் இன்றி, சிட்டுக்குருவிகள், தாங்களாகவே அழிந்து வருகின்றன. வயல்கள் நகரமயமாகி வருவதன் விளைவாக, பூச்சி, புழுக்களும், தானிய வகைகளும் பெருமளவு குறைந்துவருவது, சுற்றுச்சூழலில் வெளியிடப்படும் கார்பன்-டை-ஆக்ஸைடு ஆகியவை, சிட்டுக்குருவிகளின் அழிவுக்கு முக்கிய காரணங்கள்.
இந்தியாவைச் சேர்ந்த சுற்றுச்சூழலியல் பேராசிரியர், முகம்மது திலாவார் (Mohammed Dilawar) அவர்கள், சிட்டுக்குருவிகளை பாதுகாக்க மேற்கொண்ட முயற்சி, 'எப்போதும் இயற்கை இயக்கம்' (Nature Forever Society) என்ற ஓர் அமைப்பாக உருவெடுத்தது. இந்த அமைப்பினர் முன்மொழிந்த பரிந்துரையின் பேரில், 2009ம் ஆண்டு, 'சிட்டுக்குருவி உலக நாள்' (World Sparrow Day) உருவானது. 2010ம் ஆண்டு முதல், உலகெங்கும், மார்ச் 20ம் தேதி, சிட்டுக்குருவி உலக நாள் சிறப்பிக்கப்படுகிறது.
வானகத் தந்தை அனைத்து உயிர்களையும், நம்மையும் காப்பவர் என்பதை உணர்த்த, இயேசு பயன்படுத்திய ஓர் அழகிய உருவகத்தில், காசுக்கு இரண்டு சிட்டுக்குருவிகள் விற்பதில்லையா? எனினும் அவற்றுள் ஒன்று கூட உங்கள் தந்தையின் விருப்பமின்றித் தரையில் விழாது. (மத்தேயு 10:29) என்று, கூறியுள்ள சொற்கள் நம் நினைவி்ல் நிழலாடுகின்றன.
50களிலும், 60களிலும், நம்மைச் சுற்றி நெருக்கமாகப் பறந்து திரிந்த சிட்டுக்குருவிகளும், அவை எழுப்பிய, இதமான, துடிப்பான ஒலியும், இன்று கேட்பதற்கு அரிதாகி வருகின்றன. அன்று, நம்மைக் கண்விழிக்கச் செய்த ஒலிகள், கோழியின் கூவுதலும், சிட்டுக்குருவிகளின் பாடலும். இன்றோ, நம்மைத் தூக்கத்திலிருந்து எழுப்பும் ஒலிகள் அனைத்தும், இயந்திர ஒலிகள்.
மனதுக்கு இதம் தரும் இயற்கைச் சூழலை கற்பனையில் காண்பதற்கு, நாம், ஒலிவடிவில், அடிக்கடி பயன்படுத்துவது, சிட்டுக்குருவிகளின் 'மழலைக் குரல்'. மார்ச் 20ம் தேதி நாம் சிறப்பிக்கும் 'சிட்டுக்குருவி உலக நாளன்று' இந்த 'மழலைக் குரலை' நேரடியாகக் கேட்டு மகிழ, நகரச் சூழலைவிட்டு, இயற்கையைத் தேடி வாருங்கள் என்று சிட்டுக்குருவிகள் நம்மை அழைக்கின்றன.

Indonesian nun dedicates life to making elderly people happy

Sister Veronica Indrawati says she wants to bring some joy back to those abandoned by their families.

Sister Veronica Indrawati says what elderly people need is some love. (Photo supplied)

Jakarta:  Sister Veronica Indrawati who turns 71 this year is not thinking about slowing down.

Despite her advancing years and having to walk with the aid of a stick, she continues to help dozens of lonely elderly people from various religious backgrounds at a home she runs in Purwokerto, in Central Java.

Sister Indrawati of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph established the Panti Wreda Catur Nugraha home more than a decade ago to create some love and help elderly people abandoned by their families.

From just a few people, it now cares for 52 senior citizens from across Indonesia. Most were hardly able to look after themselves.

“The trauma of being rejected by their relatives is a heavy burden to carry through the last stages of their life,” Sister Indrawati said.

“All they need is love.”

She says it's her mission to make them as happy as they can, even though to fulfill their daily needs, she has to knock on people’s doors for support.

“Other people have to help,” she said, saying she actively seeks donations and volunteers to come to the home to provide some of the residents some much-needed company.

Caring for people like them was a goal even before she became a nun, Sister Indrawati says.

“Since joining my congregation in 1971, I have cared for marginalized people, particularly the elderly,” she said.

Prior to setting up the home, Sister Indrawati worked at several care homes run by the Soegijapranata Social Foundation, which was named after the first native-born Indonesian prelate, Jesuit Bishop Albert Soegijapranata.

This gave her invaluable experience in taking care of the elderly and knowing what makes them happy.

To eliminate boredom and loneliness she organizes various group activities, such as sewing, handicrafts, making rosaries and souvenirs, cooking, sports, and praying.

She said it hurts her a lot when people just drop their parents or older relatives at the center and never return — not even to say hello.

“It hurts when residents here keep calling the names of their children, but no one shows up,” she said.

She said since it opened in 2006, 30 people have died at the center.

“Even with their deaths, none of their children bothered coming to take care of matters,” she said.

Besides helping residents at the center, Sister Indrawati, also regularly visits elderly people in their homes, to pray with them.

Helping widows and disabled people

Sister Indrawati said her commitment to helping elderly people was also sharpened by 15 years of helping widows of the 1965-66 communist purge, in which more that half a million people perished.

She said and other nuns helped 30 widows, left stigmatized as a result of the purge, from 1979 to 1993 in Semarang, Central Java, teaching them basic skills, such as sewing and handicraft making.

The situation the widows found themselves in was not much different from that experienced by people at the center she manages now.

Basically they all were victims of discrimination, she says.

The nun says she helped the widows because at that time they were not only growing old but were also being ostracized by society. They could not get jobs because anything connected to communism at that time was considered taboo, according to Sister Indrawati.

The widows earned money from selling their own handcrafted products. A similar scheme is in operation at the center, however, it does not bring in enough money to make the home self-sufficient.

Recognition

Her efforts to care for and serve marginalized people regardless of their ethnic or religious background has not gone unrecognized.

In 2015, Sister Indrawati received the Srikandi Pemuda Pancasila Award from Pemuda Pancasila, a non-profit group named after Indonesia’s secular ideology that promotes pluralism and an inclusive society.

The organization said the award was for the nun’s dedication in helping less fortune people.

Father Valentinus Sumanto, the local parish priest said the nun has a special gift of making people feel that they are loved.

He also said Catholics from his parish often help the center financially or donate food.

Mia, 64, a Muslim widow who has been living at the home for three years, said she feels lucky having been accepted into the home.

“It’s amazing how Sister [Indrawati] cares for us, despite the fact she is older than me,” she said.

Source: UCAN

Filipino journalists launch book on Marcos dictatorship

As press freedom comes under pressure, journalists want to show how oppression of yesterday compares with that of today.

Journalist Maria Ceres Doyo speaks during the launch of a collection of reports during the years of dictatorship in the Philippines. (Photo by Andrea Maxene Punzalan)

Manila:  Challenged by what several sectors in the Philippines described as a growing threat to press freedom, a group of veteran journalists has launched this week a compilation of reports written in the waning years of the Marcos dictatorship more than 30 years ago.

Opinion writer Maria Ceres Doyo, editor of the compilation titled "Press Freedom Under Siege: Reportage that Challenged the Marcos Dictatorship," said the book is "quite timely considering the challenges that media practitioners are going through now."

The book is dedicated to the late Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, former editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and to Filipino journalists killed "in the line of duty" in the past 30 years since the so-called people power revolution that ousted former dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Doyo told ucanews.com in an interview that she hopes more people would know about what journalists went through during the 20-year rule of Marcos "and what [they] are going through now ... [so] that history does not repeat itself."

She said she continues to hope "in the power of the truth" despite the challenges.

"We just keep on doing what we know best, writing the truth no matter who is in power. Keep on digging, investigating, keeping faith in the power of the word," added Doyo.

Journalist Jo-Ann Maglipon, who has several articles in the book, said nobody wrote about the "internal dialogues of the writers and publishers back then."

"[The journalists] did their dying in private," said Maglipon.

"To see a gathering of literature produced during martial law as no more than dormant literature for picking up, or not, is to miss the point of looking back," she said, adding that a "strongman rises again."

"To look back is to move forward with fewer mistakes, and literature has already been written to get us there," said Maglipon.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly attacked the media and press freedom, accusing practitioners of being biased and corrupt, even prohibiting several journalists from covering events at the presidential palace.

The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines says 12 journalists have been killed in just two years during the Duterte administration.

Union president, Nonoy Espina, said the government, through its pronouncements, has also been "trying to divide the people to fight against the media, to fight against the truth."

In 2018, the Philippines ranked fifth in the Global Impunity Index, which calculated the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country’s population.

Source: UCAN

China destroys maps showing Arunachal as India’s

China claims Arunachal Pradesh as the part of South Tibet while India lays its claims to Aksai Chin.

Beijing:  Chinese authorities have destroyed 30,000 world maps for showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of India and also referring to Taiwan as a country.

China calls Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, a claim India rejects. Taiwan is a self-ruled island which Beijing has vowed to reunite with the mainland.

“A total of 803 boxes of the 28,908 wrong maps were seized and destroyed, the largest amount to be disposed of in recent years,” a Qingdao newspaper reported citing officials in Qingdao city, Shandong province, and the Natural Resource Ministry.

“Almost 30,000 incorrect world maps, with problems including rendering Taiwan as a country and wrong depiction of the Sino-Indian border, were destroyed by the customs authorities in Qingdao,” the report said.

Indian and China -- the world’s most populous and fastest growing economies have a decades-old dispute over a 3,448-km border, the main source of friction between the two Asian giants.

The world’s 9th longest border has three sections: the western sector between Ladakh and the Chinese-held Aksai Chin; the central sector, and the eastern sector that divides Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh from Tibet.

China claims Arunachal Pradesh as the part of South Tibet while India lays its claims to Aksai Chin.

China protests any visits by Indian leaders or foreign dignitaries to Arunachal Pradesh. In 2017, China renamed six cities in the state when Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, had visited it.

“The problematic maps failed to show the correct territory of China and omitted South Tibet and the island of Taiwan, the Qingdao government found after an examination of the maps,” a report in the Global Times said.

“The maps were produced by a company in Anhui province and were on the way to being exported to an unspecified foreign country,” a report said.

The raid aimed at “enhancing public awareness on national sovereignty and raising people’s ability to distinguish such problematic maps”.

“What China did in the map market was absolutely legitimate and necessary, because sovereignty and territorial integrity are the most important things to a country. Both Taiwan and South Tibet are parts of China’s territory which is sacred and inviolable based on the international law,” said Liu Wenzong, a professor from the Department of International Law of China Foreign Affairs University.

“If the wrong maps were circulated inside the country and abroad, it would have caused great harm to China’s territorial integrity in the long run.”

IANS

Don't be spiritually lazy, pope says

The possibility of conversion is not limitless, pope says during Angelus address.

File photo.

Vatican City:  God is patient and merciful, but people should not put off their conversion because they never know how long they will live, Pope Francis said.

"We can have great trust in God's mercy, but we must not take advantage of it. We must not justify spiritual laziness but increase our commitment to quickly responding to that mercy with a sincerity of heart," Pope Francis said March 24 before reciting the midday Angelus prayer.

In his Angelus address, the pope focused on the parable of the fig tree from the day's Gospel reading. In the story, a landowner wants to chop down a fig tree that has borne no fruit in three years, but the gardener persuades him to allow him to fertilize it and give the tree another year.

"The landowner symbolizes God the father and the gardener is the image of Jesus while the fig tree is the symbol of an indifferent and arid humanity," the pope said. "Jesus intercedes with the Father on behalf of humanity — and he always does — and he begs him to wait and give more time so that the fruits of love and justice emerge."

Lent is a time for all Christians to take the needed steps in their ongoing conversion, the pope said. But "the possibility of conversion is not limitless. It is necessary to do it now, otherwise it could be lost forever."

"We might think in Lent this year, 'What do I need to do to draw closer to the Lord, to convert, to 'prune' those things that aren't right? But, no, no, I'll wait until next Lent.'"

Such people, he said, also should ask, "But will I be alive next Lent?"

On the other hand, the pope said, when one sees another person doing wrong or struggling, the appropriate response is "to imitate the patience of God, who trusts in the ability of everyone to get up again" and return to following him.

"God is a father and will not extinguish a weak flame but accompanies and cares for those who are weak so that they get stronger and can make their contribution of love to the community," the pope said.

Pope Francis also used his Angelus address to join the annual commemoration of "missionary martyrs," the bishops, priests, religious and lay church workers killed in the church's mission territories.

In the past year, the pope said, 40 had been killed, "almost double the number of the previous year."

"Remembering this contemporary Calvary of brothers and sisters persecuted or killed for their faith in Jesus is an obligation of gratitude for the entire church," he said, "but it also is a stimulus to witnessing with courage our faith and hope in him, who on the cross defeated forever hatred and violence with his love."

Source: CNS

Cardinal Zen denies disloyalty to the pope

Hong Kong apostolic administrator calls on Catholics to show obedience to Pope Francis.

Retired Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun (2008 file picture: Wikimedia Commons)

Hong Kong:  Outspoken Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun has denied an apparent accusation by the apostolic administrator of Hong Kong Diocese that he is disobedient toward Pope Francis.

In a pastoral letter released on March 17, Cardinal John Tong claimed, without naming anyone, that some Catholic Church members speak against the pope when he holds a different view from theirs.

Cardinal Zen denied the accusation and said he was just helping the faithful to discern whether the facts were right or wrong.

In a blog published on March 22, Cardinal Zen said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, also accuse him of being confused.

“The pope speaks infallibly only under very special conditions with regard to Catholic faith and morals. Still, we are bound to show Christian obedience to him when he, as supreme pastor of the universal Church, teaches or guides the people of God under other circumstances,” said Cardinal Tong in his pastoral letter.

He said Catholics are obliged to respect Roman Curia officials who are chosen by the pope.

Cardinal Zen said he agreed that Catholics should respect the Roman Curia but it cannot be guaranteed that such church officials will not be wrong even if they were chosen by the pope.

He also said the pope can be wrong on some issues and his conscience tells him what to do. “I should humbly tell him my opinion. In particular, as a cardinal, I have to advise the pope. They [cardinals] are the think-tanks of the pope,” said Cardinal Zen.

The Vatican signed a provisional agreement with China on appointing bishops on Sept . 22, 2018. However, the unpublicized content makes Cardinal Zen worried.

“Even though it is provisional, it is still valid at this moment. We have to know the content so that we can follow it with our thoughts and actions. Otherwise, we cannot know whether we are following it or not,” he said.

Cardinal Zen also worries about the way Cardinal Parolin is handling diplomatic issues.

He claimed that Cardinal Parolin had muted the Roman Curia’s internal dialogue by scrapping the China Church Affairs Committee and transferring Archbishop Savio Hon tai-fai, the former secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the highest-ranking Chinese official ever in the Vatican.

“He [Parolin] was the chief negotiator in the Sino-Vatican negotiations and saw the evil of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] but I believe he did not report this truth to Pope Francis,” said Cardinal Zen.

Source: UCAN

Hong Kong Catholics urged to become missionaries

Chinese University of Hong Kong launches lecture series on the territory's missionary history.

Father Gianni Criveller talks about the Italian priests who worked in mainland China and in colonial Hong Kong during an event on March 23 at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. (ucanews.com photo)

Hong Kong:  Catholics in Hong Kong have been encouraged to study historical events so that they can carry on the work of missionaries to evangelize the Chinese territory.

Conducting historical studies does not merely involve digging out facts but is a process of gaining an awareness of what our ancestors left for us, said Father Louis Ha Ke-loon, director of the Centre for Catholic Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

He was speaking at a March 23 event to launch a lecture series called “Missionary History of Hong Kong Church in 20th Century” which will conclude with an academic conference in December. The series is co-organized by the Centre for Catholic Studies, diocesan archives office and diocesan weekly newspaper Kung Kao Po.

Father Ha, who also serves as the diocesan archivist, said that studying history helps us absorb wisdom from the experience of our ancestors and leads us to reflect on what we should do.

“Different political and social incidents somehow affect the survival of the Church. The Church cannot isolate itself from the temporal and spatial background,” he told Kung Kao Po on March 22.

Italian Father Gianni Criveller, the main speaker at the event, shared the history of the work of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME).

Italian missioners evangelized Hong Kong in three ways, the historian-priest told about 80 participants who included religious, theology students and Italian expats.

They carried out evangelization through creating Christian communities and parishes, through education and formation, and through social services and charities, he said.

Missioners also used print media to provide information for lay members. Kung Kao Po was co-founded by Father Andrea Granelli in 1928, while its English version was started by Father Nicola Maestrini in 1946.

Established as an apostolic prefecture in 1841, Hong Kong was entrusted to the Institute of Foreign Missionaries of Milan, a predecessor of PIME, in 1868 before it became an apostolic vicariate in 1874 with its member Timoleone Raimondi ordained as bishop and the first apostolic vicar.

Father Criveller called on local Catholics to take up more missionary work. Every baptized member of the Church has a vocation of evangelization, the professor of missiology stressed.

Source: UCAN

Alert in Goa over Christchurch attacks retaliation

According to police statistics, several dozen Israelis were on long-duration visas in Goa and often congregate to pray at a Chabad house.

Trawlers anchored at Mandovi after the Goa Government has sounded a cyclone alert prohibiting fishermen from venturing out on fishing expeditions in Panaji, on Oct.28, 2014.

Panaji:  Goa is on alert following a tip off from central intelligence agencies about a possible attack on Israeli tourists in the state in what they called "possible revenge" for the terror attack at the Christchurch mosques in New Zealand last week which killed 50 worshippers, police said on Monday.

Police sources said that the alert had been issued to several states and union territories which have Jewish synagogues, sizeable Jewish residents or attract Israeli tourists.

"We have to keep a look out and secure areas frequented by Israeli tourists as well as a prayer house they have in North Goa. The threat, according to the inputs, comes from a possible attack by Islamic State or the Al-Qaeda to avenge for the New Zealand mosque killings," a senior police official said on condition of anonymity.

According to police statistics, several dozen Israelis were on long-duration visas in Goa and often congregate to pray at a Chabad house (a Jewish outreach centre) in North Goa.

IANS

Four Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh

Four bodies of Maoists in uniform, three rifles were recovered.

Sukma:  Four Maoists were killed on Tuesday in a gun battle with a special unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, said the paramilitary unit.

The gunfight began around 6 a.m. when a Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit, was on a search mission in deep forested area around one kilometre from Bimapur in Jagargunda area.

“Four bodies of Maoists in uniform, one Insas rifle and two 303 rifle were recovered,” said a CRPF official.

The specialised unit of the CRPF proficient in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare continues with the deep combing of the forested area, he added.
IANS

Reject terror of pseudo-nationalism: Goa Church NGO

Catholics account for nearly 26 per cent of the state's population.

File photo.

Panaji:  Urging the electorate to reject the "terror of pseudo-nationalism", the Council for Social Justice and Peace, the social wing of the influential Goa Church, urged voters on Tuesday to take on "corrupt defectors" and political opportunists.

The statement by Fr. Savio Fernandes, Executive Secretary of the Council, which functions as a Church-backed NGO, comes at a time when the state gears up Lok Sabha elections.

"Let us also give corrupt defectors and opportunists the due electoral response. Let us not be carried away by petty and trivial issues but think of the overall interest of the nation and of our state," Fernandes said in a statement issued here.

While Goa is heading for two Lok Sabha elections, the coastal state is also gearing up for three Assembly by-polls, two of which have been necessitated after two Congress MLAs quit their legislatorship to join the Bharatiya Janata Party last year.

"When rightful and timely information is denied, reports and surveys tweaked to suppress inconvenient facts, critical dissent crushed by labelling it as anti-national and as urban Naxalism, when hoodlums run riot on streets in the guise of nationalism - the defensive counter claims of 'no corruption' and 'scam free governance' become totally hollow," the Council said, while also raising issues related to cow vigilantism, love-jihad and "other forms of cultural extremism".

Speaking specifically about Goa, Fernandes in his statement said that political defections were tearing at the very fabric of democracy, while urging people not to vote for defectors.

"Another evil is the blatant engineering of defections in violation of the people's mandate. Moreover, persons who deceive and betray people's trust should have no scope in democracy," the statement said.

The Roman Catholic Church is an influential socio-religious body in the coastal state, where Catholics account for nearly 26 per cent of the state's population.

The statement, which severely critiques the BJP-led coalition governments both in Goa as well as at the Centre, without naming them, comes a few days after Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao in a condolence message following the death of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar paid glowing tributes to governments-led by the BJP leader while also praising his spirit of secularism.

IANS

Kerala bishops want to vote for secularism

Kerala goes to the polls on April 23 to elect 20 Lok Sabha candidates.

Kochi:  The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has asked people to support candidates who "protect democracy and secularism".
in the upcoing Lok Sabha elections.

Kerala goes to the polls on April 23 to elect 20 Lok Sabha candidates.

A circular issued by KCBC President Archbishop Soosa Pakiam on Tuesday said: "KCBC wishes to make it clear that they will not support any political front or political party or any candidate. We do not wish to interfere in the freedom of our laity.

"But at the same time, the KCBC will be with those who protect democracy and secularism and who will work for the upliftment of the country," said the circular.

The KCBC, the Regional Bishops Council for Kerala, is constituted under the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI).

The churches that come under KCBC includes the Syro Malabar Church, Syro Malankara Church and Latin Church.

Catholics in Kerala constitute 50 per cent of the 61.41 lakh Christians in Kerala, which is home to 334 lakh people.

IANS

Would you send children to jail?

Philippine Senate is set to vote on lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years.

In many cases, young children arrested in the Philippines for misdemeanors are placed in crowded jail cells. (Photo by Vincent Go)

By Father Shay Cullen
Manila:  We entered the so-called Bahay Pagasa, or House of Hope. It turned out to be a "jail" for children. We were bringing food to share with the young people. About 25 young girls were crowded into a room. There was no air-conditioning, or electric fans either. Rancid body smells pervaded the room in the tropical heat.

There was no escape. The children were looked upon as youth offenders, seen and treated as criminals by Philippine authorities. There was a water shortage. One of the children we rescued from the jail cell told us later that they were only allowed to wash twice a week.

The boys were taken out of their cells and taken into an open space to receive the food we brought. The staff were embarrassed that we saw the children crammed behind bars, without beds and without furniture. The staff could do little to change the situation.

These places are lock-up internment blocks offering not much hope for the detained youth who are caged like animals. In one cell I saw a very young child crying. I asked why he was in a cell with older boys. He was about ten years old. He was detained like a criminal with 30 or so boys 16 to 18 years old. The child was terrified. But nobody wanted to challenge the situation.

The levels of aggression, frustration, anger and violence are high among the boys and girls in the confined spaces. There is no outlet for them. No exercise and only little entertainment. What might happen to the small boy in the dark at night where sex abuse is common is horrific. Small boys rescued from places like these tell us of rape, sexual abuse, punishment, bullying and beatings.

Those over 15 years of age have court cases usually for petty misdemeanors, like sniffing industrial glue from a plastic bag. Others are in for drug abuse. They are lucky to be still alive. It’s better than being shot dead and a victim of the iron-fisted government crackdown on narcotics.

But minors under 15 must not be charged with a crime and should not be detained in jail cells and never with older boys or girls. It’s a violation of children's rights. The situation is the result of corrupt governance ruled by dynastic families and clans. The laws they make favor their interests and businesses and those of their children.

We rescued John-Jo, 14 years old, from the youth detention center. He told us he was arrested for violation of the curfew hours. But there are no government homes for small street children who live on the street and have no place to go. They sleep in doorways, under trees, or in the back of parked vehicles.

They are the throwaway children, unwanted and abused, rejected human flotsam of society. They run to the streets when they are beaten at home, rejected and scolded by their parents. There is little food, comfort, or love for them in their families. They seek a better life with other children in similar circumstances.

Before taking John-Jo to our Home for Boys, we sought out his parents. We drove to a remote part of the city, walked along narrow alleys and found his father and elder brother living in a small box-sized shack with space for only two people to stand in. They were watching a small television.

John-Jo’s father asked why his boy had been arrested. We explained that we were taking him out of jail to a better place where he could go to school. The father understood and embraced his son.

Later this year, the Philippine Senate is set to vote on lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years old. The proposal will put many more children in detention centers where they will likely be beaten and abused. It will "criminalize" children and will be the start of their descent into ignorance and ignominy.

Irish Father Shay Cullen, SSC, established the Preda Foundation in Olongapo City in 1974 to promote human rights and the rights of children, especially victims of sex abuse.

Source: UCAN

Mindanao conflict moves Muslim to work with Christians

Participation of locals in humanitarian responses has become integral in Church's work to help conflict-affected communities.

Hidaya Macapaar Sultan, a 22-year-old Muslim humanitarian worker, speaks before a group of Catholic and Protestant leaders on March 12 about plans to help people affected by armed conflict in Mindanao. (Photo by Mark Saludes)

Davao city:  Her days at university exposed her to the religions and cultures of people different from hers, but Hidaya Macaapar Sultan, a 22-year-old Muslim, said it was war that moved her to work with people of other faiths.

In 2017, when a group of extremist gunmen attacked the city of Marawi causing the displacement of about half a million people, Sultan, or Mida to her friends, felt the need "to respond to the situation."

It was the conflict, which affected family and friends, which aroused her to enter into a dialogue and collaborate with faith-based groups in helping the people.

More than a year after the war, Mida, a registered social worker, is now area coordinator for Duyog Marawi, a recovery project initiated by the Catholic Church in the war-torn city.

"Now that we are on the stage of development work, we need to strengthen our collaboration with other church groups," she told ucanews.com in an interview.

She said her decision to work with a Catholic-led organization has become "life-changing" and has introduced her to the "role of faith" in disaster response.

"I have seen how people suffer because of the war, but I’ve also witnessed how lives were saved because different religions worked together," she said.

Role of local people

As of February this year, about 11,400 people, including an estimated 300 Christian families, remain in temporary shelters with no houses to go back to in Marawi.

Mida's organization, Duyog Marawi, has already initiated programs for the rehabilitation of conflict-stricken areas in partnership with Muslim communities.

It has at least 140 volunteers and 40 regular staff members, the majority of whom are young Muslims who were affected by the 2017 crisis.

Rey Barnido, executive director of Duyog Marawi, said the involvement of young Muslims has become an integral part of "intervention and humanitarian response."

"If it were not for the local players, especially our Muslim staff and volunteers, our programs would have been harder to implement," he said.

He said the local people have the knowledge of the "social and cultural landscape" that help the organization determine what will work for the community.

"Because our staff and volunteers are also victims of the crisis, they easily connect and communicate with the people," he added.

Father Edwin Gariguez, head of the social action secretariat of the Catholic bishops’ conference, said the participation of local people in humanitarian responses has become "integral in the shift from giving relief to ending the needs."

The priest said the sustained presence of faith-based groups and local aid workers in disaster-affected areas "allows development programs to continue and progress" even after other aid groups leave the communities.

Interfaith collaboration

Her faith in God has motivated Mida to help people. "It was Islam that encouraged me to do humanitarian work," she said.

She said faith should not hinder people of different religions from working together. "My faith also taught me not to look into a person’s religious belief, gender, political affiliation, or social status before helping," she said.

Minnie Ann Mata-Calub, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, said the act of charity is common to all religions as a doctrinal mandate.

"We’ve already progressed in terms of interreligious dialogue and collaboration, especially during crises," she said.

Mata-Calub said the work of church people is not just about charity "but a responsibility to facilitate better understanding of development ... based on values, justice, and as basic human rights."

Bishop Noel Pantoja, national director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, said the involvement of faith-based groups in humanitarian work is a "duty that brings us closer to God."

He said through humanitarian and development work, church people perform "acts of mercy and compassion to ensure the care for all creations."

Mida and the other Muslim staff and volunteers of Duyog Marawi will soon take over the responsibilities in managing all the programs of the organization.

The things they have learned in many dialogues with other faith-based organizations will serve as their foundation in delivering services to their people.

Source: UCAN