Tag: poverty

columns2020

Poverty and the dignity of the person

Post author By Web administrator
Post date October 18, 2020

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI

“Without a solution to the problems of the poor, we will not solve the problems of the world. We need projects, mechanisms and processes to implement better distribution of resources, from the creation of new jobs to the integral promotion of those who are excluded.” (Pope Francis)

We are one human family, and we have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable if we are to fulfil God’s command: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”
Saturday, October 17 was the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The theme this year is: Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all.

Tags poverty

columns2019

Lazarus at our gate

Post author By Web administrator
Post date September 29, 2019

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

“Poverty is not just a lack of money; it is not having the capability to realise one’s full potential as a human being”—Amartya Sen.

The scripture readings for this Sunday should really spur us on to seek to reduce/eradicate grinding poverty and social exclusion that stultify the development of so many.

Tags poverty, the poor

columns2018

Build right relationships with the homeless

Post author By Web administrator
Post date July 8, 2018

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

We should heed Pope Francis’ warning in his homily at a Mass at the Vatican for about 6,000 poor, homeless and displaced people from a dozen European countries and Africa (November 2016):

“We should be worried when our consciences are anaesthetized and we no longer see the brother or sister suffering at our side, or notice the grave problems in our world, which become a mere refrain familiar from the headlines on the evening news.”

Tags homeless, poverty

columns2018

Ending child labour

Post author By Web administrator
Post date June 10, 2018

According to the ILO, worldwide 218 million children between 5 and 17 years are in employment. Source: www.thenewsminute.com

“We must move much faster if we are to honour our commitment on ending child labour, and we need to do it together” UN.

On Tuesday, June 12, we will observe World Day Against Child Labour on the theme: Generation safe and healthy. Pope Francis has lamented the fact that “tens of millions of children are forced to work in degrading conditions, and are victims of slavery and abuse, harassment and discrimination. I truly hope that the international community will extend children’s access to social protection to eradicate this curse. We all need to renew our commitment, especially families, to protect the dignity of every boy and girl and to offer them the opportunity to grow in a healthy environment. A peaceful childhood allows children to look at life and the future with confidence.”

Tags child labour, poverty

columns2017

Poverty & Justice: a deadly mix

Post author By Web administrator
Post date October 8, 2017

For the rule of law, the death penalty represents a failure, as it obliges the state to kill in the name of justice. (Pope Francis)

On Tuesday, October 10, the World will observe the 15^th World Day Against the Death Penalty. The theme this year is: Poverty and Justice: a deadly mix. It “aims at raising awareness about the reasons why people living in poverty are at a greater risk of being sentenced to death and executed”.

CCSJ’s Chair is also Chair of the Greater Caribbean for Life (GCL), an independent, not-for-profit, regional civil society NGO working towards the abolition of the death penalty. Capital punishment remains in the legal system of 11 English-speaking countries in the region – of which two countries retain the mandatory death penalty for murder (T&T and Barbados).

Tags capital punishment, death penalty, poverty