Category Archives: World News

Africa: Reports of Mass Graves and Serious Human Rights Abuses in Burundi

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Press Statement
Mark C. Toner
Deputy Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
January 19, 2016

The United States is deeply alarmed by reports, including those from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, of serious human rights violations and abuses in Burundi, including eyewitness reports of mass graves, a sharp increase in alleged enforced disappearances and torture, and reports of sexual violence by security forces.

These and other reports further underscore the urgent need for the Government of Burundi to allow for the immediate full deployment and unimpeded access of African Union human rights observers to investigate these allegations. It is imperative that the Government of Burundi remove all bureaucratic and practical roadblocks it has used to prevent the AU human rights and military observers from fulfilling their mandate for the past six months to investigate reports of violence committed by any side in the conflict.

We call upon the Government of Burundi to permit an immediate, impartial investigation into these recent allegations and to hold accountable all those found responsible for crimes. The United States remains concerned about Burundi’s ongoing political and humanitarian crisis and the resulting suffering it has brought to the people of Burundi. We once again call on all parties to reject unlawful violence, and reiterate that the only way to resolve the crisis gripping the country is for all parties to agree promptly to engage in internationally-mediated, inclusive dialogue without preconditions.
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ST JOHN PAUL II THE GREAT MISSIONARY

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From: Joachim Omolo Ouko
News Dispatch with Omolo Joachim

ST JOHN PAUL II THE GREAT MISSIONARY

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2015

October 18, 2015 is World Mission Sunday, usually celebrated third Sunday in October every year. Since Obambo Parish is named after St Paul II and his feast celebrated October 22, Liturgical committee agreed that instead of October 22 the day be celebrated on Sunday October 18, given that, despite being our patron saint he was also a great missionary.

During his reign Pope John Paul made 104 foreign trips, more than all previous popes combined. In total he logged more than 1,167,000 km (725,000 ml). He consistently attracted large crowds on his travels, some among the largest ever assembled.

He travelled to Kenya in 1980, 1985vand 1995 respectively. In 2000, he became the first modern Catholic pope to visit Egypt, where he met with the Coptic Pope and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria.

World Mission Sunday is a day set aside for the Catholic Church throughout the world to publicly renew its commitment to the missionary movement. It was created by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as the day of prayer and propaganda of missions.

Throughout the world the faithful will reflect on the universal call to Mission of all the baptized and they will be invited to contribute what they can to support the development and growth of the young churches throughout the world.

In Australia, Catholic Mission has designated Wednesday 21 October 2015 as Children’s Mission Day to promote mission in a manner appropriate and relevant to students, and to celebrate the wonderful fundraising efforts to support Catholic Mission’s work with children worldwide.

My colleagues Apostles of Jesus Missionaries working in Australia are telling me they have already begun talking with children the important of this day. When we allow God to act through us in love for others, bringing the fruits of the spirit into the world—reconciliation, forgiveness, justice, peace, harmony, joy, and love—we build God’s family and help everyone experience fullness of life.

Children can all act to reduce poverty around the world and improve the quality of life for all our brothers and sisters of God’s family. We can stand in solidarity with all who suffer exclusion, poverty and injustice and whose life is in some way diminished.

In his message, Pope Francis says that being a missionary is not about proselytizing or mere strategy; mission is part of the “grammar” of faith, something essential for those who listen to the voice of the Spirit who whispers “Come” and “Go forth”.

Mission is a passion for Jesus and at the same time a passion for his people. When we pray before Jesus crucified, we see the depth of his love which gives us dignity and sustains us. At the same time, we realize that the love flowing from Jesus’ pierced heart expands to embrace the People of God and all humanity.

Today the pope says in his message, the Church’s mission is faced by the challenge of meeting the needs of all people to return to their roots and to protect the values ??of their respective cultures.

This means knowing and respecting other traditions and philosophical systems, and realizing that all peoples and cultures have the right to be helped from within their own traditions to enter into the mystery of God’s wisdom and to accept the Gospel of Jesus, who is light and transforming strength for all cultures.

Within this complex dynamic, we ask ourselves: “Who are the first to whom the Gospel message must be proclaimed?” The answer, found so often throughout the Gospel, is clear: it is the poor, the little ones and the sick, those who are often looked down upon or forgotten, those who cannot repay us (cf. Lk 14:13-14).

Evangelization directed preferentially to the least among us is a sign of the Kingdom that Jesus came to bring: “There is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor. This must be clear above all to those who embrace the consecrated missionary life.

By the vow of poverty, they choose to follow Christ in his preference for the poor, not ideologically, but in the same way that he identified himself with the poor: by living like them amid the uncertainties of everyday life and renouncing all claims to power, and in this way to become brothers and sisters of the poor, bringing them the witness of the joy of the Gospel and a sign of God’s love.

The day is being celebrated at the time an Austrian nun who spent over 60 years caring for poor children has been killed. Sister Stefani Tiefenbacher of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood, 86, was killed in her room in the night in June.

The nun who tirelessly dedicated herself to the poor children of the local community was staying at the mission of the Sacred Heart of Ixopo, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, in the east of South Africa.

It is also at the time a nun in India has been raped in March this year during the robbery. A 72-year-old sister was raped when she tried to stop a robbery, she was raped and hospitalized.

It is the time worry continues to mount in Ukraine as a priest and a nun, both members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, were murdered within days of each other in the early hours of July 26. Father Roman Nikolayev, prior of the Church of the Great Martyr Tatiana in Kiev, was shot twice in the head by unknown assailants.

A Nigerian Catholic priest has also been killed in an attempted robbery. Father Goodwill Onyeka of the Diocese of Oyo, along with his younger brother, Onyeka Obi, died the evening of June 1 on the way to Owo-Oba-Akoko, in the state of Ondo, in southern Nigeria.

According to Fide report, bandits tried to stop the vehicle in which the priest and his brother were traveling to Lagos. A young priest was also shot dead during a burglary at a Catholic church in Phoenix, Arizona.

Father Kenneth Walker, 28, associate pastor of Mater Misericordiae (Mother of Mercy) Mission Church was attacked along with the pastor, Father Joseph Terra, during a break-in. Fr. Walker later died in, while Fr. Terra, 56, remains in critical but stable condition.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578 E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Africa: Remarks With Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari

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From: U.S. Department of State
Remarks
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
July 21, 2015

SECRETARY KERRY: Good morning, everybody. I am very honored to welcome somebody who’s become a friend, the president of Nigeria, President Buhari. I first met him when I went over there before the elections, and we had occasion to talk about the importance of the election process. It was in the middle of the campaign. And then I had the pleasure of going back for his inauguration, which was very festive and represented the first transfer peacefully of power as the result of an election, and it was a very, very important moment.

Nigeria is an extraordinarily important country, and we have very, very important interests together. We have pledged with the President’s meeting yesterday to work very closely on economic development, on the economy, on counterterrorism, on regional issues, but very importantly also, to join together in an effort to do a better job of taking on Boko Haram. The president is deeply committed to this endeavor. He has a military background. He has himself been in combat. He has led the armed forces of his country and he knows what this is going to take. So we have a ready and willing partner, and we look forward to developing our counterterrorism and our counter-Boko Haram plans even as we also work on energy development, on education, health, and other issues within the country.

So we’re delighted to welcome the president here to Washington. He’s brought a very significant delegation with a number of governors. That’s very important to the ability to put in reforms, and I might mention the president is deeply committed to tackling the problem of corruption, which has prevented the country from doing many of the developmental and other initiatives that are on the table.

So Mr. President, we welcome you. We’re really delighted to have you here. Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT BUHARI: Thank you very much, (inaudible). I’m very pleased to get this opportunity to thank the Secretary of State because his visit to Nigeria, which he’s just referred to, since his visit seemed like a friend to Nigeria. As the United States’ message sent to the previous administration was clean and clear that the United States would not accept anything extraconstitutional, that prepared the minds of Nigerians to back us and to arrive where we are today. Nigeria will remain very grateful to the United States, to the President, and to the Secretary of State. He saw the president then, he saw the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, and he saw the opposition. And by the day, the United States maintained pressure on the government, the law enforcement agencies, and the election officials to make sure that the election was free and fair.

We thank God, we thank the United States, we thank technology for the introduction of a permanent voter’s card and reader cards made so much difference from previous elections. I thank you very much, Secretary. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen of the press.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT BUHARI: Thank you very much. Happy to see you.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. We’re going to have a working lunch now. Thank you.
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You’re invited to 2015 KENYA DIASPORA CONFERENCE – ATLANTA GA USA (Sep 17, 2015 – Sep 19, 2015)

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From: David Ochwangi
To: jaluo@jaluo.com

Hello,
You are invited to the following event:

2015 KENYA DIASPORA CONFERENCE – ATLANTA GA

Event to be held at the following time, date, and location:
Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 8:30 AM
– to –
Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 10:00 PM (EDT)

Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel
One Hartsfield Centre Parkway
Atlanta , GA 30354

This year’s conference is for and by Kenyans in the Diaspora and features Business, Government and Kenyans in the Diaspora to address key issues of common interest and to advance our common welfare such as a) Diaspora Policy, Representation and Voting in the next general elections, b) Investments c) Governmental role in protecting the Diaspora, d) Disability, e) Technology, f) Kenya Diapora’s…

We hope you can make it!

Cheers,
David Ochwangi

Planet Earth , review of Discovery Channel Series

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date: Sun, Jun 7, 2015 at 7:05 PM

from: Francis Mwangi Chege

As of its release in early 2007, Planet Earth is quite simply the greatest nature/wildlife series ever produced ….

the entire planet has been magnificently represented by the most astonishing sights and sounds you’ll ever experience from the comforts of home.

[visit THU,M topic page in right column for more.]

Still No Christmas in Laos:

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From: Dan Wooding

Friday, December 26, 2014

Still No Christmas in Laos:
State Sponsored Persecution Directed Against Lao Hmong Believers, Political Dissidents Increases

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

WASHINGTON, DC (ANS) — On Christmas Day, 2014, the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA) has raised concern about the increased persecution of minority Christian, Animist and independent Buddhist believers in Laos at the hands of military and security forces of Laos and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

They say that religious freedom and human rights violations have dramatically increased under the Hanoi-backed, one-party communist government in Laos, especially against various Laotian and Hmong minority groups, including religious believers and political dissidents.

read full article:
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2014/s14120103.htm

Africa: Christmas Day Attack in Somalia

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From: U.S. Department of State
Press Statement
Marie Harf
Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 26, 2014

The United States strongly condemns the December 25 attack targeting African Union forces in Mogadishu. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the military and civilian personnel who were killed in this cowardly terrorist act. These individuals sacrificed their lives in an effort to bring lasting peace and stability to Somalia. Our support for the people of Somalia, the African Union Mission in Somalia, and Somali government forces in their efforts to defeat al-Shabaab will not waver.

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3 principles for natural resources to become a blessing for development

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From: Yona Maro

Many of the world’s biggest economic success stories have happened in places with few or no natural resources.

This is clearly visible in Asia. Tiny Singapore, without a single natural resource, has transitioned from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest. Japan and South Korea rebuilt their war-torn countries and became two of the most advanced economies on the planet through hard work, industrialization and education. China, which used to be a poor country and net oil exporter, is now the world’s second-largest economy and top importer of oil, with 600 million people brought out of poverty in the process. There are success stories on all continents.

On the other hand, countries richer in natural resources have ended up much poorer. Mountainous North Korea has access to mineral wealth that more successful neighbor in the south lacks. In West Africa, oil-rich Equatorial Guinea has a higher gross domestic product than Poland, but the life expectancy of its citizens is 20 years lower than that of the average Pole. If natural wealth alone determined development, the list of winners and losers would have been very different.
Link:
<a href=”https://www.devex.com/news/3-principles-for-natural-resources-to-become-a-blessing-for-development-85065?utm_source=twengagement&utm_medium=twtweet&utm_campaign=twdailypost”>https://www.devex.com/news/3-principles-for-natural-resources-to-become-a-blessing-for-development-85065?utm_source=twengagement&utm_medium=twtweet&utm_campaign=twdailypost</A>

USA: Keeping Ohio Workers and Children Out of Poverty

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From: Senator Sherrod

Ohioans û many of whom work multiple jobs while taking care of their children û deserve tax relief. And workers who lose their jobs or their pensions due to no fault of their own deserve help with health bills.

 While this makes sense to most Ohioans, too many Members of Congress may disagree. While some legislators donÆt hesitate to give tax breaks to large corporations, they stop short of also providing workers with fair tax credits that will keep them out of poverty.

As Congress works to finalize a tax deal, if businesses receive tax relief, the same has to go for Ohio workers and their families. Tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) û which provide tax relief for low-income workers û are critical lifelines for many taxpayers and lift millions out of poverty every year.

Sen. Brown speaking about the importance of EITC in Cleveland.

Just as corporations need certainty so they can make investments, working Americans deserve certainty so they can make ends meet. 

Temporary improvements to the EITC and CTC will expire in just a few years if Congress does not act. According to an analysis by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, if these provisions are allowed to expire in 2017, 13 million families would lose part or all of their EITC and CTC. This would result in 14.6 million Americans being pushed deeper into poverty and 1.8 million Americans being pushed into poverty. In Ohio alone, allowing the improvements to expire would reduce the EITC and CTC of nearly half a million families.

We should not only make permanent the enhancements made to the EITC and the CTC, we should look at ways to expand and improve both credits.

Sen. Brown speaking about the importance of EITC in Cleveland.

ThatÆs why I introduced legislation that would triple the size of the EITC for the only class of workers who can be taxed into poverty: low-income adults without children. This would reduce poverty and spread the benefits of the program to a wider pool. Ohioans want to work and support themselves and we must continue to fight for tax policy that does not put an undue burden on low-wage earners.

 In 2012, more than 1.5 million Ohioans received more than $3.2 billion in tax relief through the EITC and the CTC. ThatÆs money that gets fed right back into the economy. Families use their refunds to pay for necessities û like groceries, school supplies, and visits to the dentist û that they otherwise might not be able to afford.

We cannot afford to neglect working families when it comes to tax relief. Congress must ensure that, like corporations, workers who need help the most can rely on fair tax credits for years to come. 

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown U.S. Senator

Cleveland 1301 East Ninth Street Suite 1710 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 p (216) 522-7272 f (216) 522-2239 Toll Free 1-888-896-OHIO (6446)

Washington, D.C.

713 Hart Senate Building

Hazard assessment of ores and concentrates for marine transport

from: Yona Maro

This guidance document is intended to assist mining and metals companies in meeting the demands of new marine transport regulations including:

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) – Annex V
• International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC)
• International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG).

In this guidance ICMM sets out the approach that leading mining and metals commodity associations have developed in collaboration with scientific experts from research institutes around the world.

http://www.icmm.com/document/7852

USA; President Obama

Dear Readers,

Last night, extremist Republicans and their anti-woman ideas took control of both houses of Congress. They are led by politicians who pledged to enact sweeping abortion bans, take away women’s right to birth control coverage, and do away with equal pay legislation.

There’s one bold response we need, and thousands are already demanding it. President Obama has been a champion for women, but now we really need him to know that we’re counting on him to block extremist attempts to roll back women’s rights. Can you join the call?

Tell President Obama: Promise to veto any anti-woman legislation the Republican Congress puts on your desk.

Sign the petition

http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/repub_senate/?t=1&akid=1414.6000.5_DiJt

Privacy issues of online marketing techniques in the information society

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From: Yona Maro

In the digital economy, information plays a key role, as currency that makes the knowledge society further develop. In such world, ensuring privacy of personal data without restricting data flows and the economic and social benefits generated can prove in practice to be quite challenging. In the context of the increasing interest in social responsibility in business approaches, companies should take into account also the responsibility for collecting, processing and usage of consumers’ personal data, while carrying out their core functions. Thus, we analyze and debate on aspects related to direct marketing techniques and privacy issues, in a consumer-oriented approach, focusing on behavior of the Romanian consumer, with taking into consideration the fast development and use of ICT in business and the increasing regulations for ensuring consumer privacy. We raise into discussion aspects related to consumer behavior in function of means used in marketing, focusing more on the online than on the traditional means, from the perspective of ensuring privacy of consumers’ personal data. The analysis is based on data from a survey conducted in Romania in 2011 with regard to the Romanian consumer and direct marketing and also from techniques used in developing websites for gathering and processing user / consumer information, while taking into consideration the existing legal framework. We consider that companies should pay more attention to issues related to consumer privacy online, with ensuring appropriate information and obtaining consumer consent in collecting and using personal data for business development.

<a href=”http://www.csrconferences.org/RePEc/aes/icsrog/2012/2012_1_050.pdf”>http://www.csrconferences.org/RePEc/aes/icsrog/2012/2012_1_050.pdf</a>

Press Releases: ISIL’s Dehumanization of Women and Girls

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From: U.S. Department of State
Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
October 14, 2014

Just days after we saw the best of humanity when Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, we again confront the worst of inhumanity in ISIL. No one needed a reminder of ISIL’s depravity and evil. But now we have the latest example.

ISIL now proudly takes credit for the abduction, enslavement, rape, forced marriage, and sale of several thousand Yezidi and other minority women and girls—some as young as 12 years old. Just as despicably, ISIL rationalizes its abhorrent treatment of these women and girls by claiming it is somehow sanctioned by religion. Wrong. Dead wrong.

ISIL does not represent Islam and Islam does not condone or honor such depravity. In fact, these actions are a reminder that ISIL is an enemy of Islam. The international community and religious leaders of all faiths have strongly and repeatedly condemned ISIL’s horrific acts; we urge them to reiterate their commitment by condemning in the strongest possible terms the commodification of women and children as spoils of war, including through their subjection to horrific physical and sexual violence, intimidation, and deprivation of liberty.

These acts transgress all definitions of human dignity and those individuals responsible must be identified and held fully accountable. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Cathy Russell said it best: “Such viciousness against innocents exposes ISIL’s blatant rejection of the most basic progress we have made as a community of nations and the universal values that bind civilization.” The United States will not stand by as ISIL uses fear, violence and oppression to achieve its goals.

To stop ISIL’s campaign of terror and horror against the Syrian and Iraqi people, we remain steadfast in our efforts to lead the international coalition to degrade and defeat ISIL. The United States will keep tracking ISIL’s abduction, enslavement, sale, rape, forced marriage, and abuse of women and girls. We will keep working with the new Government of Iraq to respond to ISIL’s brutality against women and girls from all communities in Iraq, including vulnerable minority populations.
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External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

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EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK: Business Engagement Guide – In-kind Donations and Direct Engagement

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From: Yona Maro

To contain spreading the Ebola, it is imperative we mobilize all resources and efforts. The upsurge in the response efforts by the private sector is welcome; but we must do more, and we must do it faster. For this reason we are turning also to private sector to engage with the overall Ebola outbreak response. Refer toBusiness Engagement Guide if you are a private sector actor wishing to contribute to these efforts.

pdf – 4.76 MB
<a href=”http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00090501:07cc79a3448cbb3788cc589da1d43101.pdf”>http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00090501:07cc79a3448cbb3788cc589da1d43101.pdf</a>

Africa: Legislation Under Consideration by the Government of South Sudan

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From: U.S. Department of State
Press Statement
Jen Psaki
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
October 3, 2014

The United States government urges the Government of South Sudan to engage in an inclusive consultation process on draft legislation aimed at regulating Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) operations and the National Security Services (NSS).

We are deeply concerned that the current NGO bill, as drafted, could restrict civil society space and hinder the formation and operation of NGOs. As the leading donor of humanitarian and development assistance in South Sudan, we are particularly concerned that this bill would further restrict the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance and limit the important work that NGOs are doing to promote health, education, and overall development. We are also concerned that the NSS bill appears to curtail due process and is at odds with freedoms enshrined in South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution and international norms. Regulation and codification can be appropriate, but should be done in a manner that preserves freedoms of association, assembly, and speech and protects civil liberties.

We welcome previous engagement by the Government of South Sudan with civil society on the NGO bill, and urge it to continue the dialogue with the legislature and civil society on both draft bills. Strengthening the rule of law and ensuring that a vibrant civil society can contribute to social, economic, and political development, in partnership with the Government, will best ensure stability, prosperity, and peace for all of South Sudan’s people.
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External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

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Africa: U.S. Commends Cote D’Ivoire for Reinstating Air Travel

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From: U.S. Department of StatePress Statement
Jen Psaki
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
September 27, 2014

The United States commends Cote d’Ivoire for reinstating air travel to Ebola-affected countries, in line with WHO and IATA recommendations. President Ouattara’s decision greatly enhances the ability of the international community to facilitate and deliver the rapid and critical response to the Ebola outbreak and helps maintain vital trade and commercial links to the region. The United States welcomes Cote d’Ivoire’s timely action and example and continues to urge everyone in the international community to do more to stop Ebola and save lives.
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vil Men, Evil Agendas!

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From: ‘frank patrick materu’

GEOENGINEERING (Global Weather Modification) is threatening all life on earth.

Geoengineers deny having deployed aerosol programs for years, yet they are currently proposing to spray 10-20 million tons of aluminum oxide other toxic chemicals into our sky annually as stated in numerous geoengineering documents. Lab tests have disclosed extremely high levels of these metals in ground, water, rain and atmospheric tests worldwide. Blood and urine tests reveal alarming levels of aluminum, barium, strontium, cadmium, and other chemicals known to cause high blood pressure, cancer, asthma, Alzheimers, heart, kidney and liver damage, osteoporosis, chronic inflammation, headaches, skin disorders, severe lung, spleen and intestinal diseases, immune system decline, blurred vision, intense ringing in ears, muscle weakness, hear loss, etc. NO purpose justifies these consequences.

Chemtrials are we the experiment? What do you think about this?

Frank Materu

Geoengineering Affects You and Your Loved Ones

image

Geoengineering Affects You and Your Loved Ones
documenting the chemtrail-geoengineering coverup
View on www.geoengineerin…
Preview by Yahoo
http://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/

MEMORIAL FEAST OF SS ANDREW KIM AND COMPANIONS

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 14

Today is Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-g?n, Priest, and Paul Ch?ng Ha-sang, and Companions, the Korean Martyrs who were the victims of religious persecution against Catholic Christians during the 19th century in Korea. Andrew Kim Taegon was first Korean priest. His father, Ignatius Kim, was martyred during the persecution of 1839 and was beatified in 1925.

All along Andrew had admired to become a priest. Shortly he was baptized at the age of fifteen he traveled thirteen hundred miles to the seminary in Macao, China. After six years he managed to return to his country through Manchuria. That same year he crossed the Yellow Sea to Shanghai and was ordained a priest, fulfilling his dreams of becoming a priest.

Andrew was arrested, tortured and finally beheaded at the Han River near Seoul, the capital. He worked closely with Paul Chong Hasang a lay apostle and a married man, aged forty-five. When Christianity came to Korea during the Japanese invasion in 1592 when some Koreans were baptized, probably by Christian Japanese soldiers, evangelization was difficult because Korea refused all contact with the outside world except for an annual journey to Beijing to pay taxes.

Also among the group of 103 Korean martyrs were three bishops and seven priests, heroic laity, men and women, married and single of all ages. They were canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 6, 1984 when he visited Korea in 1984. He canonized Andrew, Paul, ninety-eight Koreans and three French missionaries who had been martyred between 1839 and 1867.

Historically, Koreans lived under the influences of Shamanism, Buddhism, Taoism or Confucianism, Christian faith was therefore seen as an intruder. The situation is now calm because freedom of religion is now guaranteed by the Constitution in Korea.

Buddhism is a highly disciplined philosophical religion in Korea which emphasizes personal salvation through rebirth in an endless cycle of reincarnation, a religious or philosophical concept that the soul or spirit, after biological death, begins a new life in a new body.

The Buddha lived at a time of great philosophical creativity in India when many conceptions of the nature of life and death were proposed. Some were materialist, holding that there was no existence and that the self is annihilated upon death.

Korea must be unique in that the first seeds of Christianity were planted there by lay people. Today, there are almost 5.4 million Catholics in Korea. Recently Pope Francis celebrated a large open-air Mass to beatify 124 of South Korea’s first Catholics at a ceremony in the capital Seoul. He paid tribute to the Koreans, who died for their faith in the 18th and 19th Centuries.

The Pope called for reconciliation on the Korean peninsula, on the final day of his visit to South Korea. Koreans, Pope Francis said, should reject a “mindset of suspicion and confrontation” and find new paths to build peace.

There was no North Korean reaction to the visit, apart from a denial that a rocket launch on Friday was timed to coincide with his arrival.

Andrew Kim Tae-gon was born on 21 August 1821, in Chungchong Province, Korea. Paul Chong Hasang was born in 1795. He was the son of Augustine Chong Yakchong, one of Korea’s first converts to Christianity who was himself martyred in 1801 during the persecution of Shin-Yu.

The first reading of today is taken from 1 TM 6:2C-12: Beloved: Teach and urge these things.
Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.

From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain.
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

The Gospel is taken from LK 8:1-3. Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Twitter-@8000accomole

TOUCHED BY IRAQ’S TURMOIL

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014

Since we begun this debate on Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS) rebels’ war in Iraq many of our readers have been touched. Many questions and clarifications keep on coming in. Cynthia from Siaya County for example, would like to know why ISIS rebels are only targeting Yazidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims.

Bob from Car Wash, Kisumu City would like to know the number of Catholics and dioceses in Iraq and why Yazidis are the mostly targeted group. These are good concerns and it demonstrates how people can be in solidarity when conflicts arise.

Dolores from Kibera writes: “Hello friends, when you read this News Dispatch and see the atrocities committed, let us raise our hearts on a daily rosary crusade, either as an individual or a group for the christians in Iraq and Syria. Raise your rosary towards heaven when starting and say; “With this rosary, I bind all sinners and all nations to the Immaculate heart of Mary- Happy rosary day”.

The reason why ISIS rebels are threatening, attacking, and murdering Yazidis, Christians, and Shi’a Muslims is because their religious ideals do not conform to theirs. The rebels are particularly against Yazidis belief that God governs the world through seven angels.

There are no official statistics on their numbers in Iraq but Yazidis say their population in Iraq alone exceeds 560,000. Yazidis have throughout history confronted several challenges including the fact that areas in which they inhabit lie within the “disputed lands” between the central Iraqi government and the Kurdistan government.

Muslims are split into two main branches, the Sunnis and Shias. The split originates in a dispute soon after the death of the Prophet Muhammad over who should lead the Muslim community. The great majority of Muslims are Sunnis – estimates suggest the figure is somewhere between 85 and 90 percent.

Sunni Muslims regard themselves as the orthodox and traditionalist branch of Islam. The word Sunni comes from “Ahl al-Sunna”, the people of the tradition. The tradition in this case refers to practices based on precedent or reports of the actions of the Prophet Muhammad and those close to him. Sunnis venerate all the prophets mentioned in the Koran, but particularly Muhammad as the final prophet. All subsequent Muslim leaders are seen as temporal figures.

Meanwhile, the Shia claimed the right of Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, and his descendants to lead the Islamic community. Ali was killed as a result of intrigues, violence and civil wars which marred his caliphate.

His sons, Hassan and Hussein, were denied what they thought was their legitimate right of accession to caliphate. Hassan is believed to have been poisoned by Muawiyah, the first caliph (leader of Muslims) of the Umayyad dynasty.

His brother, Hussein, was killed on the battlefield along with members of his family, after being invited by supporters to Kufa (the seat of caliphate of Ali) where they promised to swear allegiance to him. These events gave rise to the Shia concept of martyrdom and the rituals of grieving.

Estimates of the number of Shia range from 120 to 170 million, roughly one-tenth of all Muslims. They are in the majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and, according to some estimates, Yemen. There are large Shia communities in Afghanistan, India, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

In countries that have been governed by Sunnis, Shias tend to make up the poorest sections of society. They often see themselves as victims of discrimination and oppression. Some extremist Sunni doctrines have preached hatred of Shias.

Kurds are an Indo-European people of the Iranian branch. Ethnically and linguistically they are most closely related to Iranians and have existed in Iraq since before the Arab-Islamic conquest. They are possibly descended from the ancient Corduene.

The majority of Kurds are Sunni Muslims, with Shia and Alevi Muslim minorities. There are also a significant number of adherents to native Kurdish/Iranian religions such

There are over 300,000 Catholics living in Iraq, just 0.95 percent of the total population. There is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baghdad. It has jurisdiction over three parishes of 2,500 Latin Rite Catholics who live throughout Iraq.

The diocese is immediately subject to the Holy See and operates alongside eleven Chaldean dioceses, two Syrian Catholic, one Greek-Melkite, and one Armenian Catholic diocese. The Archdiocese’s cathedral is the Cathedral of St. Joseph, located in Baghdad, Iraq, not to be confused with the Cathedral of St. Joseph located in Ankawa, Iraq. The ordinary is Bishop Jean Benjamin Sleiman, O.C.D.

The Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul is an Eastern autonomous Catholic, located in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Its followers are ethnic Assyrians and speakers of Aramaic. The territory is subdivided in 12 parishes. The diocese of Mosul was elevated to Archeparchy of Mosul on February 14, 1967 by Pope Paul VI.

The ordinary was Mar Paulos Faraj Rahho until his death in early 2008. He was succeeded in November 2009 by Archbishop-elect Emi Shimoun Nona, who until his election and ratification had been a professor of anthropology at Babel College and a pastor and vicar general in the eparchy of Alqosh. As of 2012 the Papal Nuncio was Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt, whose Apostolic Nunciature is the entire state of Iraq.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com
Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

A Message From Jane Goodall on World Elephant Day 2014

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From: Abdalah Hamis

Happy World Elephant Day, Green Monsters! The Jane Goodall Institute has released a very special message from (you guessed it!), Dr. Jane Goodall herself in honor of this very special day.

According to Goodall, approximately 96 elephants die each day at the hands of mankind, and the destruction of elephant populations is occurring at an alarming rate. In fact, it is estimated that around 35,000-50,000 African elephants die each year for the ivory trade. And the current rates at which elephants are being slaughtered are greatly exceeding pachyderm birth rates, meaning if we don’t start cleaning up our act, our planet is at risk of losing these giants.

In the words of Goodall, “If we don’t all get involved, the time’s going to come when the elephants are gone.”

Luckily, there are ways to help! Goodall recommends that her fans get involved in any way possible, big or small. One example of a way to get involved is to participate in the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos. The march calls for bans on the trade of wildlife body parts and raises global awareness on wildlife trafficking. If you simply can’t attend, spreading Goodall’s message will allow you to educate the general public on elephant conservation.

Show us your celebratory spirit, and start helping our pachyderm friends!

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/a-message-from-jane-goodall-on-world-elephant-day/