Swords into Plowshares is the blog of the Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations of the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Seeking peace. Striving for justice. Together.
by Teo Ufford-Chase
I had the unique pleasure yesterday of being given the opportunity to attend a panel on Climate Change hosted by the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office. The panel was entitled "Small Island Nations- A New Endangered Species", and it was fascinating. The panel was comprised of three speakers: Mr.
William F. Hewitt, M.S., who teaches climate change, sustainability, and energy and the environment at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU, Mr. Hassan Hussain Shihab who is currently the First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations, and H ...
This year, the UNICEF Tap Project will live on Facebook. You can donate using the UNICEF Tap Project Facebook App and keep the water flowing with the help of your Facebook friends. With your support, we will turn the world’s largest social network into a water network. We will raise awareness about the world water crisis and provide an essential resource to children around the world like we’ve never done before. More information on how you can be a part of the world’s biggest water network for children is coming soon. So stay tuned…
But you can ...
Grace Bickers, volunteer intern with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, wrote this reflection.
September 21 was the International Day of Peace, and this year’s theme was “Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future.” The theme was planned to go along with the Rio+20 Conference of Sustainable Development that took place this summer.
The theme urges us to think about the role that the environment and natural resources play in conflict. Questions of ownership and management of these resources, including precious metals and stones, oil, and water, can directly contribute to conflict. Managing these resources in a sustainable ...
The Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development wraps up today. Here's what it has been about:
At the Rio+20 Conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, will come together to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet to get to the future we want.
And here are some sources of information:
Congregations care for creation in a variety of ways:
Recycling
Community Supported Agriculture projects
Worship
Bible Study
Energy Audits
Insulation
Geo-thermal energy
Participants gathered for a conversation at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations identified these and other ways that congregations and faith communities can care faithfully for God's creation of which we are a part.
Representatives of five congregations took part: First Chinese Presbyterian Church, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Huguenot Memorial Church, Old Bergen Church, and the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain. Rebecca Barnes-Davies, associate for Environmental Ministries, joined the group as did the members of the ...