Peace and Justice in ACCU’s Winter Newsletter

Earlier this week, ACCU released the Winter 2015 issue of its quarterly newsletter, Update. Read it in its entirety here, but be sure to take note of the peace and justice related sections. The highlighted sections include:

Marymount University Students Help Create Urban Farm by transforming an inner Washington, DC land plot into a venue for a “farmers market, public art, a community garden, and more.”

St. Thomas Aquinas Event Focuses on Water, in an effort to raise awareness about water conservation, sustainability, and more.

Mount Saint Vincent Releases Findings on Human Trafficking that show widespread lack of awareness about the issue.

Loras Professor Works to Start Interfaith Dialogue through the recently established interfaith movement called Children of Abraham, which seeks to foster dialogue among the Abrahamic faiths.

Carlow Dedicates LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-Certified Building, which features advanced technology throughout the building that will save energy and water and reduce waste.

Christian Brothers University, Felician University, Georgetown University, and The University of the Incarnate Word Answer the Call to Action with expansive initiatives to reach out to Hispanic and Latino students pursuing higher education.

 To subscribe to Update, please email Paula Moore.

Celebrating Food in October

October is a time when many begin thinking of pumpkins, apples, and other fruits of a bountiful harvest. Food advocates in the US promote educational resources on our national food issues, but how can students learn more about sustainable agriculture around the world? Catholic Relief Services provides resources to farmers internationally, and they’re sharing their stories with interested supporters in the US. CRS’s approach to agriculture encourages farmers and communities to work together so everyone can prosper. Read the full story on their website.

October is also National “Farm to School” month! There are a lot of ways you can involve your university in learning about food sustainability and environmental justice. Food Day is on October 24 – it’s a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable and sustainable food. Catholic Rural Life recommends visiting the dedicated Food Day website to see a variety of resources to download. These include tips on planning an event, free tools to publicize your event, helpful fact sheets, or simply tips on how you can eat good, healthy foods. It even includes resources for college campuses and faith organizers! National Catholic Rural Life is mentioned in those resources with specific reference to their helpful Food and Justice study guide.

For more university-specific resources, check out ACCU’s Food Security page.

Resource on the GMO Debate from Catholic Rural Life

CRL’s role in monitoring the use of GMOs in America features prominently in a recent article from US Catholic. CRL executive director Jim Ennis is noted as emphasizing the need to evaluate GMOs through a moral lens, while board member Ron Rosmann, an Iowa farmer, challenges some of the prevailing wisdom about GMOs’ benefits.

As for the Catholic Church, it has remained somewhere in between– recognizing the potential for GMOs to address world hunger, yet reluctant to give full endorsement to their use. CRL will continue to follow the use of GMOs here in America, always emphasizing an approach to agriculture that takes into account the moral dimensions of food production.

Read the article online here.