Daily Archives: October 19, 2012

Church

Bishops, religious must dialogue, cooperate, synod speakers say

Catholic News Service

By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Members of religious orders have been and continue to be at the forefront of the Catholic Church’s evangelizing efforts; they are not just “resources” to be used for new programs, said the head of the international organization of women’s religious orders.  U.S. Sister Mary Lou Wirtz, superior of the Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and president of the International Union of Superiors General, addressed the Synod of Bishops Oct. 17. Continue reading Bishops, religious must dialogue, cooperate, synod speakers say →

Peru

Peru hospital managers’ ‘mass walkout’ over medics’ strike

BBC

Public sector workers protest in Lima. 20 Sept 2012 Doctors and other public sector workers say their wages have fallen behind

About 90% of hospital managers in Peru have resigned in support of doctors on strike over pay, union officials say.  The head of Peru’s medical federation, Cesar Palomino, told the BBC that more than 300 managers had quit in the capital Lima alone.  The walkout by 11,000 doctors, now in its fifth week, has caused huge backlogs in hospitals and clinics.  Doctors say that despite Peru’s recent strong economic growth, their pay has not been increased in years. Continue reading Peru hospital managers’ ‘mass walkout’ over medics’ strike →

Environment

Most EU Nuclear Power Plants ‘Unsafe’

By Julio Godoy

Most European nuclear facilities do not meet even minimum security standards. Credit: Monica S/CC-BY-ND-2.0

BERLIN, Oct 16 2012 (IPS) – The so-called ‘stress tests’ on nuclear power plants in the European Union (EU) have confirmed environmental and energy activists’ worst fears: most European nuclear facilities do not meet minimum security standards. Continue reading Most EU Nuclear Power Plants ‘Unsafe’ →

Food Security

EU Commission to cap food-based biofuels in major shift

Sent by News from AEFJN

* Policy will cut crop-based target, encourage new biofuel sources

* Draft proposals need member state approval

* U.S. biofuel policy also criticised (Adds Oxfam reaction)

By Barbara Lewis and Michele Kambas

BRUSSELS/NICOSIA, Sept 17 (Reuters) – The European Commission announced a major shift in biofuel policy on Monday, saying it plans to limit crop-based biofuels to 5 percent of transport fuel, after campaigners said existing rules take food out of people’s mouths.  Continue reading EU Commission to cap food-based biofuels in major shift →