Trafficking in the Philippines
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has expressed concerns that the global economic slump, which is causing increased joblessness, could see an increase in human trafficking. This…
Bound and Gagged
Images can be powerful. Don Mullan, Irish author and social justice campaigner, took this photograph of sculptures at the Red Cross Museum in Geneva representing prisoners of conscience. It captures…
Miguel Barcelo and Geneva Ceiling
I spent almost all of Friday, December 12th, in the new Human Rights Council chamber at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. A special commemorative session to mark the 60th…
Who are the poor?
The current issue of Le Monde 2, the week-end supplement to Le Monde, the prestigious French daily, carries an interview with Professor Paul Collier. Along with Jeff Sachs, Paul Collier…
The world’s poor stand to lose the most
Aid agency representatives October 24, 2008 Aid and financial crisis. Photo: Dyson Governments are spending billions to save stricken companies. From another quarter comes a plea for them to offer…
Greed is no longer good
We all remember that famous Michael Douglas character quote from the movie Wall Street: “Greed is good”. Those were days of irresponsible and ruthless disregard for the common good. Unashamed…
Franciscans International Statement on recent Violence in India
In recent months there has been an upsurge of violence against Christians in the State of Orissa in India. Churches have been burned. People have been killed. A climate fear…
It is the poor who suffer most
As we experience the impact of climate change in dramatic weather pattern shifts, droughts and devastating hurricanes, one thing is clear. It is the poor of our world who are…
Father Uwem Akpan, Jesuit Writer
The current issue of The Tablet highlights the stunning success of Jesuit writer and Nigerian, Father Uwem Akpan. One of his short stories was published by the The New Yorker…
Misean Cara
News came through today that the Irish Missionary Resource Service (IMRS) has been rebranded as Misean Cara. This is a Gaelic word meaning “friend of the mission”. There is already…