Stories from around the globe show how a united world is already in motion. This platform highlights experiences, initiatives, and projects from people and communities working for unity and peace. Explore what’s happening and get inspired.
<p><em>In view of 'Geneva 2' summit, important meeting January 14 between Parolin and Kerry.</em></p> <p><strong>The situation in Syria,</strong> the upcoming 'Geneva 2' summit, and the Holy See's outlook on peace and aid, were the topics discussed on Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, and the Vatican's Cardinal Secretary of State Monsigneur Pietro Parolin.</p> <p><strong>Father Federico Lombardi</strong>, spokesperson for the Holy See, underlined that Israel-Palestine peace talks had also been discussed.</p>
<p><em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">The Greek ambassador to Egypt said on Sunday that his country is seeking to use its six-month presidency of the European Union to help foster Egypt’s growth for the future.</span></em><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span></p> <p><strong>Christodoulos Lazaris said that Greece’s policy</strong> during the presidency would focus on four areas tackling such issues as growth and employment, further Eurozone integration, illegal immigration and expanding integrated marine maritime policies. The theme of the presidency is “Partnership of Equals”, according to the ambassador. The ambassador stated “business cooperation is going to be our flagship.” Lazaris pointed out that this “is not an empty promise” because Greece is the fifth largest European investor in Egypt, which amounts to $3.2bn of invested capital.
<p>Turks, Greeks, Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots issue joint appeal.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>The business associations</strong> of Turkey, Greece, the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (the latter is recognized only by Turkey, and not at the international level) have issued a joint statement to urge their respective governments to start talks for a peaceful resolution of the longstanding issue on the division of the island, the northern part of which has been occupied by the Turkish military since 1974.</p> <p><strong>For Turkey, as a press release</strong> from the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) office in Istanbul notes, the statement was supported by the Turkey Association of Commercial and Industrial Enterprises (TUSIAD). It was also signed by the leaders of the Federation of Greek Industries (SEV), the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) and the Association for Northern and Southern Cyprus (ISAD).
<p> </p> <p><em>The commitment of Antonio Mónteiro and his wife in Faira Brava to save Bonelli’s eagles. But protecting the birds has grown into something bigger that has the potential to bring even more people and jobs to a poor region badly in need of both. </em> </p> <p><strong>Figuera De Castelo Rodrigo, Portugal -</strong> On a rainy winter morning, Antonio Mónteiro and two colleagues were pushing and pulling an ailing, reluctant bull along a stony track in the Faia Brava nature reserve in northeast Portugal. Suddenly, Mr. Mónteiro pointed up. “Look! Africa!” he said.</p> <p><strong>A dozen or so griffon vultures,</strong> huge birds with white heads and tawny wings, were wheeling like hang gliders in the gray sky above the boulder-strewn scrubland.
<p><em>Myanmar, a land with more than 50 million inhabitants, located in Southeast Asia. In one small village in the south of the country a project is underway producing biogas electrical energy. It is the fruit of a common effort.</em></p> <p><strong>“Ever since 1860,”</strong> parish priest Father. Carolus Su Naing recounts, “the parish has served the local church by focusing on the social and pastoral development of the local people, and over time four parishes were begun: Pinle, Aima, Pein ne gone, Myitkalay and Wakema where over 8,000 Catholics are living. Kanazogone has always played a vital role in caring for the neediest people in the region. In 2008, when cyclone “Nargis” hit the delta region, our village became a centre for refugees: more than 3000 people who had been hit by the cyclone.”</p>
<p> </p> <p><em>It's the important result by Cluster Munition Coalition, five years from the singning conference of the Convention in Oslo in 2008.</em></p> <p><strong>Thousands of civilian lives</strong> are being saved by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions since it opened for signature five years ago today, said the Cluster Munition Coalition.</p> <p><strong>Five years on from the signing</strong> conference of the convention in Oslo on 3 December 2008, more half the world’s nations have already joined the treaty, creating a powerful global stigma against the use of this indiscriminate weapon.</p>
<p><em>Egyptian Christians celebrated Christmas Mass across the mainly Muslim nation on Monday night amid tight security.</em></p> <p><strong>There were fears that Islamic</strong> militants loyal to ousted President Mohamed Mursi would target them claiming they played a large role in the protests which lead up to his removal.</p> <p><strong>But worshippers are resting</strong> their hopes for the future in the adoption of Egypt’s new constitution which criminalises discrimination.</p> <p><strong>“We thank God on this day</strong> which made all of us united, the state has made this day an official holiday for all Egyptians, Christmas comes this year at the beginning of a new phase in the history of our beloved Egypt, in the implementation of the constitution,” said Archpriest: Saleeb Matta Sawiris.
<p><em>It's the first time. Equal "without discrimination" for the law.</em></p> <p><strong>The absolute equality</strong> between men and women entering for the first time in the Tunisian constitution.<i></i></p> <p><strong>The Constituent Assembly</strong> of Tunisia has approved today (December 6, <em>ndr.</em>) an article of the draft Constitution which introduces for the first time in the country equality "without discrimination" for the law between "citizens and citizens."</p> <p><strong>Article 20</strong> was approved with 159 votes in favor out of 169.
<p><em>Civilizations and migrations of over 40 countries at MAMT.</em></p> <p><strong>A 'prayer room' open to all monotheistic religions</strong> of the Mediterranean will be inaugurated Friday (Dicember 19th, <em>ndr.</em>) by Imam Hamid Saydawi. The event is part of the symbolic opening of the Mediterranean Museum of Art, Music and Traditions (MAMT) in Naples, Italy. ''The room is a place of worship for Muslims and all those who believe in a single God,'' said Fondazione Mediterraneo president Michele Capasso. ''Within is a mihrab and two rare writings on the name of Allah. The first, donated by the Sultunate of Oman, means 'Merciful and Forgiving God', and is carved into the covering of the Kaaba built in Masjid al-Haram in central Mecca, the holiest place for Islam. The second, given by the Kingdom of Morocco, means 'God is Great and there is no God but God', and was made by Moroccan craftsmen of long ago.''</p>
Economy & Work
Thirty-five years ago a dream was born: the Economy of Communion. In late May Argentina will host an extraordinary celebration where people of all ages will come together to breathe new life into this project and write the future for a different kind of economy.
Lorna Gold, Executive Director of Laudato Si’ Movement, reflects on ten years of the encyclical, analysing how integral ecology is an essential path to global unity and tackling the climate crisis.
Operation Mato Grosso is working on over 100 missions across Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, all rooted in education, hard work, and solidarity. Jacopo Manara, who has been a volunteer for years, tells us their story.
An interview on communication with Michele Zanzucchi, journalist and writer, former director of Città Nuova, professor of communication at Sophia University Institute and at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and author of around forty books.
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