SNDatUN's Blog

40 DAYS AND 40 LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Sister Jean Stoner — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:52:29 +0000

The Marianists have developed a creative Lenten Program featuring 40 days and 40 Least Developed Countries. This program presents a rich opportunity to learn about people living in poverty and the health challenges they face in various countries around the world.

Click on the language of your choice to read the description of this program. Then at the top left of the window, click on the third icon (Downloads/Téléchargements/Descargas) and you will be taken to a Lenten calendar featuring each day a one-page focus on a particular country. If a page is missing, try again at a later date.

For English, go to http://www.40ultimos.org/intro.php?idioma=1
For French, go to http://www.40ultimos.org/intro.php?idioma=2
For Spanish, go to http://www.40ultimos.org/intro.php?idioma=3
For Portuguese, go to http://www.40ultimos.org/intro.php?idioma=4

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

Sister Jean Stoner — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:04:45 +0000

We must move toward a low carbon economy because there is no planet B.
José María Figueres, Former President of Costa Rica

In an ancient Sri Lankan Blessing, a favorable environment (may the rains come in time), economic prosperity (may the harvests be bountiful), social stability (may the people be happy and contented), and good governance (may the king be righteous), were clearly identified as key prerequisites for making development more sustainable. There is great wisdom in the elements of this blessing.

For many years the prosperity of a country has been based on its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which measures the monetary value of all goods and services that are produced within a nation during a given period and sold to consumers, governments, investors or are exported. In a nutshell this means that GDP represents the part of the population’s well-being that comes from the consumption of goods and services. In order for the GDP of a country to grow, the people must consume more and more. There are multiple criticisms of the use of GDP as an indicator of a country’s prosperity. For example, if a country engages in war or suffers from natural disasters, monetary transactions will increase thus leading to a higher GDP. If a small portion of a population spends extravagantly, but many do not have the resources to spend, the GDP may show growth but at the cost of great inequality. According to Richard Heinberg, “Calculating a nation’s overall health according to its GDP makes about as much sense as evaluating the quality of a piece of music solely by counting the number of notes it contains”.

GDP takes into account a single bottom line – economic growth. This means that no externalities such as the cost of natural resources, just wages, etc. are taken into account. Many economists, as well as specialists in other fields, are now advocating for the triple bottom line – social, environmental and economic growth. A planet with finite resources cannot sustain perpetual growth. Naomi Klein asserts that “our current economic model is based on the faulty premise that nature is limitless, that we will always be able to find more of what we need, and that if something runs out it can be seamlessly replaced by another resource that we can endlessly extract.”

Our current economic system is no longer viable. It has led to extreme wealth for some countries and individuals at the expense of many of the least developed countries (LDCs) and a great majority of the populations of both the LDCs and industrialized countries. The question we must ask is “How can people work, individually and collectively, to challenge the current all-pervasive consumer society which is destructive of both people and the planet in such a way that it truly leads to building God’s kin-dom on earth?” (based on material from Caroljean Willie, SC)

SND PHOTOVOLTAIC PROJECT: ‘POWER OF THE SUN’ IS COMING TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Sister Jean Stoner — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:03:52 +0000

In 2005, we Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur initiated a Solar Energy Program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria to improve the lives of our sisters and the people they serve. With solar powered energy now operative at six sites, many gains have been experienced. All sites have access to power and clean water. Health Centers explore up-to-date medical procedures, and students and teachers broaden their scope of learning through solar powered satellite internet. http://www.sndden.org/sisters-of-notre-dame-de-namur-pvproject.html

On February 6, 2012, we will be offering a side event during the UN Commission on Social Development to share about our ground-breaking Photovoltaic Project. Our presentation will provide important project information to governments and other NGOs. Featured speakers will be Sister Lorraine Connell, Project Coordinator; Sisters Claudine Dumbi and Lucie Kima, onsite experiences in Congo; and Sister Kristin Hokanson, on the project’s global impact through technology.

WOMEN’S CREATIVITY IN RURAL LIFE: AN INVITATION

Sister Jean Stoner — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:02:17 +0000

Women’s World Summit Foundation invites nominations for its 18th annual prize for women’s creativity in rural life, honoring creative and courageous women and women’s organizations around the world working to improve the quality of life in rural communities. Consider nominating someone you know.

Deadline: April 30, 2012. http://www.woman.ch/index.php?page=nomination-guidelines&hl=en_US

LET THERE BE LIGHT: NIGERIAN MILLION MARCH

Sister Jean Stoner — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:01:11 +0000

A recent protest near the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York City focused on the lack of electricity in Nigeria which denies Nigerians basic necessities such as Employment, Security, Good Health, Education, Economic Growth and many more. www.nigerianmillionmarch.com/

DID YOU KNOW?

Sister Jean Stoner — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:00:06 +0000

DID YOU KNOW?

In October 2011, the population of the earth reached a total of 7 billion.
Of these, 1.4 billion live on less than $1.25 a day.

PLAN FOR A LIFETIME

Sister Jean Stoner — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:04:43 +0000

To Plan for a Day, Catch a Fish;
To Plan for a Year, Plant Rice;
To Plan For a Decade, Plant a Tree;
To Plan for a Lifetime, Educate a Girl.
Chinese proverb

‘WOMEN AND GIRLS LEAD’: INTERNATIONAL FILM PROJECT

Sister Jean Stoner — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:03:19 +0000

Partnered with the Independent Television Service (ITVS), the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) is producing Women and Girls Lead, a 50-film project to highlight leadership roles of women and girls and the global challenges they face. CEDPA is an international non-profit organization that improves the lives of women and girls in developing countries. www.cedpa.org/content/news/detail/2506

“Women and Girls Lead came about when ITVS officials noticed that a number of the films in their pipeline dealt with women’s leadership issues”, said Sally Jo Fifer, president and chief executive of ITVS. “When our producers find the pulse together it’s really important to create a sustained conversation around the issues they raise.” www.itvs.org/women-and-girls-lead

Among the dozens of nonprofit groups aligned with the project are CARE, World Vision and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting which is investing $2.7 million in film financing and outreach work. “All of it is to in my mind underscore that women and girls have a huge contribution to make to any society,” said Patricia de Stacy Harrison, the corporation’s president and chief executive.

Educating the Girl-child: An Imperative for Our Time
www.mercywords.com/Mercywords/Essay%203.html

‘WOMEN, WAR AND PEACE’: WOMEN IN MODERN-DAY CONFLICT

Sister Jean Stoner — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:02:59 +0000

Women, War, and Peace is a ground-breaking film series. Showing the lives of women in war zones and their responses to conflict situations not of their own making, this series seeks to portray a counter-narrative to the prevailing theory that war is men’s concern only. These films highlight the fact that women suffer the impacts of war disproportionately and yet they and their war-related issues are often missing from peace negotiations despite UN Security Council Resolution 1325 which calls for women’s participation at decision-making levels in conflict resolution and peace processes. The recent Nobel Peace Prize award to three African women peacemakers accentuates the key roles played by women in resolving conflict. These five films, in distribution around the world, are being translated from English into various other languages and can be viewed online.
www.pbs.org/wnet/women-war-and-peace/

Everything we see in the world is the creative work of women.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

ACT LOCALLY WITH PURPOSE, ADD VOICE IN PRAYER: OUR PARTNERS IN MISSION

Sister Jean Stoner — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:01:56 +0000

From John-Paul Brennan, one of our readers:

“Dear Sr. Jean, Thank you for continuing to do what you do there at the UN and for sending the updates. While I am able to do nothing on any of the specific topics as they arise for debate there, I am reminded that in my small way I can act locally with purpose to call out a topic and to incorporate the main strokes in my own consciousness and my own behavior. I am reminded as well, when I receive the messages, that I have promised to add my voice in prayer for the success of your works and of all those who labor with these issues. Peace to all of you there and to our sisters around the globe who bring the SNDN presence to a needy world.”

How does his message resonate with you?