October 2011 Action Alert

Sisters of Charity Federation Joined Together in the Mission of Charity Home Who We Are Federation Members Executive Director NGO Representative Board of Directors News AIDS Ministry Climate Change Education Indigenous Issues Poverty Education Microfinancing Migrants-Immigrants-Refugees Peace Trafficking Systemic Change NGO NGO News Sustainable Development Goals Newsletter Archive International Day of Peace History American Origin of the Vincentian Tradition French Origin of the Vincentian Tradition Beginnings of Congregations Federation Formation Development of Federation Charity Connections Bibliography Members Ministry Job Opportunities Retreats SC Spirituality Center: Cincinnati Bethany Center Marillac Center Maris Stella Retreat and Conference Center Nazareth Retreat Center Seton Spirituality Centre Members Only Contact Us Contact Executive Director Contact NGO Rep Subscribe to News Via Email Subscribe to RSS feed Federation News October 2011 Action Alert Posted by SC Federation on October 4, 2011 in Action Alert , News , NGO News October 2011 The United Nations and You “While humankind has made enormous progress in improving material welfare over the past two centuries, this progress has come at the lasting cost of degradation of our natural environment…continuation along previously trodden economic growth pathways will further exacerbate the pressures exerted on the world’s resources and natural environment, which would approach limits where livelihoods were no longer sustainable.

Business as usual is not an option.” – (United Nations World Economic and Social Survey 2011) Background The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) will take place in Brazil on 4-6 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. The objective of the Conference is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges.

The Conference will focus on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development. Stay Informed www.uncsd2012.org – This is the official website of Rio + 20 and offers up-to-date information and resources on the conference. www.unep.org/greeneconomy – Learn more about what a green economy is and share what you have learned. “A Green Economy is one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental and ecological scarcities.” www.earthcharterinaction.org – Reread the Earth Charter which is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century.

Worth a look: Ignatius Press Catholic Books — Trusted Catholic publisher for Scripture, saints, and Vincentian-Setonian classics..

Make Your Voice Heard Urge your national leaders to attend Rio + 20. (The U.S. – President Obama: email- comments@whitehouse.gov ; regular mail – The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington D.C. 20500; Canada – Prime Minister Stephen Harper: email – pm@pm.gc.ca ; regular mail – Office of the Prime Minister, 80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON K1A OA2).

Write a letter to your local newspaper about the Rio + 20 conference. Pray for the success of the conference.

P.S. A few readers have asked which books & media we actually reach for — it's Ignatius Press Catholic Books; take a look here if you want the current details.