Water
World Rivers Day – September 30
By Sister Shawn Kavanagh
World Rivers Day takes place on September 30, 2018. It is a celebration of the world's waterways. It highlights the many values of rivers and strives to encourage us to get actively involved in caring for our rivers to ensure their health for years to come.
Did you ever sit by a river, enjoying the scenic beauty, watching the sun rise or set? Did you ever think of what might be in that river below the surface? Many items are tossed into our rivers like trash and household chemicals which pollute the water and make it unsafe.
What can we do?
We, as a community, have learned about the ill effects of plastics in our waterways. Plastic water bottles, straws, and plastic beads from toiletries often end up in our rivers causing damage to the fish and other living creatures.
This is why the United Nations since 2005 has encouraged us to take seriously how we care for our rivers around the world, promoting World Rivers Day as a reminder and a celebration of the essential gift of water.
Blue Communities Project – Sharing Your Experience, Inviting Others
During this Season of Creation, as we consider ways to care for our rivers and other water sources, the Water Committee invites you to reflect on your experience of participating in a Blue Community – what are some of the challenges, joys, or best practices that you have encountered since making the commitment? In an effort to promote the Blue Communities Project, we would like to share your insights! Please e-mail your thoughts to the Assistant Director of the JPIC department, Kathleen Bonnette (kbonnette@amssnd.org).
Immigration
Please remember to participate in the Voter Voice campaign telling both the White House and Congress that a goal of resettling 30,000 refugees is inexcusable and that we must set a refugee admissions goal of at least 75,000!
Human Trafficking
Click here for an interesting article that explores the implementation of fair trade standards in tea and cocoa farming, and click here to urge the Trump Administration to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with fair trade principles at the forefront of consideration!
Haiti
According to the article, Extreme climate change threatens access to food in Haiti: UN report, “A new report by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has identified Haiti among 39 countries where conflicts and extreme climate change threaten access to food.
The report says that unrelenting conflict and rapid climate change is ‘continuing to reshape agriculture across the world,’ and contributing to major food shortages across the 39 countries, ‘which continue to rely on help from the United Nations to meet their food needs.’”
For information on how AMSSNDs, in partnership with Beyond Borders, are working to counter the consequences of climate change by facilitating sustainable lifestyles in Haiti, please read the Haiti Water Initiative Report and view the Haiti Webinar.
