Tag: peace

columns2016

Building blocks for peace

Post author By Web administrator
Post date September 18, 2016

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

“Peace is a gift, it is a handcrafted gift that we must work for every day; but doing so in the small things, in daily ‘littleness.’ Great manifestations for peace, great international encounters, are not enough if peace is not then made in little things…if in your little things, in your heart, there is no peace, in your family there is no peace, in your neighbourhood there is no peace, in your place of work there is no peace, there will not be peace in the world” (Pope Francis, September 8, 2016).

Tags peace

columns2015

How to craft peace

Post author By Web administrator
Post date October 17, 2015

In preparation for Justice, Peace and Community Week (JPCW) from October 24–31, let us focus on the word “peace”.

I share with you extracts from Pope Francis’ powerful homily at Sarajevo’s Olympic Stadium on June 6, 2015: “In the context of global communications we sense an atmosphere of war. Some wish to incite and foment this atmosphere deliberately, mainly those who want conflict between different cultures and societies, and those who speculate on wars for the purpose of selling arms.

Tags Justice Peace and Community Week (JPCW)., peace

columns2015

Partnerships for Peace

Post author By Web administrator
Post date September 19, 2015

“…there is no such thing as ‘disharmony’; there is either harmony or we fall into chaos, where there is violence, argument, conflict, fear…” (Pope Francis, Vigil for Peace, September 7, 2013)

On Monday, September 21, the world will observe the International Day of Peace. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has declared this as “a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples”.
The theme this year is Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All which, according to the UN, aims “to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace… governments, civil society, the private sector, faith-based groups and other non-governmental organisations…The United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace”.

Tags peace

columns2014

Light a candle for peace

Post author By Web administrator
Post date August 16, 2014

As I sat through a candle-light vigil in London on the evening of Monday, August 4, to mark the centenary of the First World War (WWI) (1914-1918), my heart was full – full of pain because of all the armed conflict/wars that are being waged in our world at the moment.

On August 4, services were held around the world, including at Westminster Abbey, where from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. the lights dimmed one by one until only a single oil lamp was left burning on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior. Across the country, lights were turned off during this hour in most public buildings, offices, and in many homes, with each leaving a single light or candle to mark the moment the UK entered WWI.

Tags peace, war

columns2013

The pathway to peace

Post author By Web administrator
Post date December 28, 2013

As 2013 draws to a close and we take stock of where we are in T&T/the world, it is clear that, in many ways, our world is in a sorry state and desperately needs healing. We continue to close our hearts to the needs of millions of our brothers and sisters.

Read Pope Francis’ first message for World Day of Peace on the theme: “Fraternity, the foundation and pathway to peace.” When the theme was announced in August, the Vatican pointed out that “an overemphasis on ‘personal well-being’ and general indifference have eroded any sense of responsibility toward others.” His Peace message highlights “the need to combat the ‘throwaway culture’ and to promote instead a ‘culture of encounter’, in order to build a more just and peaceful world.”

Tags peace, Pope