Daily Archives: September 9, 2012

Environment

The Six Stages of Climate Grief

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I have discovered a new sixth stage, beyond acceptance of the truly depressing climate science: doing The Work.

by Daphne Wysham

Now that the hottest summer on record is drawing to a close, are we any closer to admitting that climate change is upon us? If not, why not?
It might have something to do with the five stages of grief. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross identified these stages as denial, then anger, followed by bargaining, depression, and acceptance. With record drought killing our cattle and our corn, West Nile virus sweeping the country, and Arctic ice sheets melting away, it’s no surprise that millions of people are responding to these frightening signs of environmental decline in stages. Continue reading The Six Stages of Climate Grief →

Church

Placing Work and Workers at the Center of Economic Life

US Conference of Catholic Bishops

Placing Work and Workers at the Center of Economic Life
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Bishop of Stockton
Chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
September 3, 2012

This Labor Day, our country continues to struggle with a broken economy that is not producing enough decent jobs. Millions of Americans suffer from unemployment, underemployment or are living in poverty as their basic needs too often go unmet. This represents a serious economic and moral failure for our nation. As people of faith, we are called to stand with those left behind, offer our solidarity, and join forces with “the least of these” to help meet their basic needs. We seek national economic renewal that places working people and their families at the center of economic life. Continue reading Placing Work and Workers at the Center of Economic Life →

Uncategorized

A “Jobless Recovery” on Earth and the Future of Workers on Mars

Common Dreams

by Jim Hightower

And what better time than this annual celebration of America’s working stiffs to draw attention to our national economic recovery?  As those attached to the Dow Jones Average can attest, the economy is now perking along quite nicely, with the Dow up 57 percent since the dark days of 2009, presently soaring above 13,000. Also, the nation’s pile of wealth has grown impressively, executive paychecks have zoomed back up to Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah levels, and sales at stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue are absolutely crackerjack! Continue reading A “Jobless Recovery” on Earth and the Future of Workers on Mars →

South Africa

South Africa: Bishop warns of further protests as court indicts unarmed miners

Independent Catholic News

Following the killing of 34 striking platinum miners in Marikana by police on 16 August, a South African bishop has expressed his concern that a court has indicted 270 of their comrades over the deaths but not charged the police officers who fired on the crowds. Continue reading South Africa: Bishop warns of further protests as court indicts unarmed miners →

Congo

Congo’s church leaders collect signatures seeking end to conflict

KINSHASA, Congo (CNS) — Congo’s Catholic bishops helped other religious leaders circulate a petition asking U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the international community to end the continuing conflict in eastern Congo. The U.N.-run Radio Okapi reported that the petition had about 10 million signatures; Congo has a population of 65 million. Continue reading Congo’s church leaders collect signatures seeking end to conflict →