Plastic bags face trial by checkout
Trials of plastic-bag-free lanes began at selected supermarkets this week to kick off a Clean Up Australia campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags. - The Age

Sewage-laden Belgian water worst in world
Belgium has the world's dirtiest water in the world, behind India and nine African countries, according to the surprise finding of UNESCO's first World Water Development Report. Finland, Canada and New Zealand share the prize for the cleanest water, with the US 12th and Australia 20th. - New Scientist

Butterflies facing extinction threat
Scientists say 26 species of Australian butterflies are at risk of becoming extinct. CSIRO entomologist Don Sands says the loss of habitat through land clearing, weed invasion and bushfires is one of the greatest threats to endangered butterflies. - ABC

Priest-scientist's mission to renew the face of the earth
"We bring an awareness that the world is bigger than this place. That's what catholic means." From his Kentucky farmhouse, 69-year-old Jesuit priest and scientist Al Fritsch has written on the theology of the earth and the healing of the earth. - St Anthony Messenger





Time to act on global water crisis
2003 is the UN's International Year of Fresh Water. It's easy to understand the concern. If we continue with a business - as - usual attitude two-thirds of the world will not have sufficient water in 30 years time. - Columban Fr Sean McDonagh





Catholic Conservation Centre
This site is packed with resources to teach us how to live the Catholic call to care for the earth. Leading creation theologian Fr Thomas Berry suggests we put the Bible on the shelf for a while and let the earth itself teach us how to live. There's also a page on reconciling over-population with Catholic teaching on procreation and the sacredness of human life.





Rest and Renewal for the Earth
A time of rest and renewal for the land has been built into the rhythm of created life by the creator of life. God instructs the people to give the land an opportunity to recover from the endless round of sowing and harvest.





Earth Report: Safe Havens National Geographic Channel, 10:00pm Sunday 9 March (also 9:00am & 4:30 pm Mon)
Hunters clash with the European Union as the Commission in Brussels tries to create a network of protected areas. 

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Caritas Latest

Caritas Australia representatives arrive in Solomon Islands (3 August)

Staff from Caritas Australia arrived in the Solomon Islands Friday, August 1. Mr Jack de Groot, National Director of Caritas Australia, said Caritas Australia supports the regional intervention in the Solomon Islands, while expressing caution that a blanket amnesty is not introduced which allows offenders to go unpunished. 

Local people must be involved in the rebuilding of Solomon Islands (11 July)

Caritas Australia has released a position paper calling on the Australian government to rethink the proposal to ignore serious crimes committed in the Solomon Islands before its intervention commences.
"Justice is a precondition for permanent reconciliation and peace. Amnesties do not provide justice," Caritas Australia spokesman, Jamie Isbister, Acting National Director said today.
The paper also highlights the growing crisis caused by the increasing number of small arms concentrating in Melanesia, particularly in the Solomon Islands. See the Policy

Solomon Islands Intervention Policy

The objectives of Australia's intervention in the Solomon Islands need to be clarified. For Australia's aims to be justifiable, there should be commitment to the Solomon Islanders which includes the elimination of guns and the flow of weapons, says the latest Caritas Policy brief. See the Policy

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