understand that the stakes are so high, time is so short and the task is so   
   large that we cannot afford to allow those differences to divide us. When   
   400,000 people marched for climate justice in New York last September, the   
   slogan was 'To change everything, we need everyone'. Everyone includes   
   political   
   leaders, of course. But having attended many meetings with social movements   
   about the COP summit in Paris, I can report this: there is zero tolerance for   
   yet another failure being dressed up as a success for the cameras. ... If the   
   deal   
   fails to bring about immediate emission reductions while providing real and   
   substantive support for poor countries, then it will be declared a failure. As   
   it should be".   
    "What we must always remember is that it's not too late to veer off the   
   dangerous road we are on, the one that is leading us towards 4 degrees of   
   warming", emphasised Naomi Klein. "Indeed we could still keep warming below 1.5   
   degrees if we made it our top collective priority. It would be difficult, to be   
   sure. As difficult as the rationing and industrial conversions that were once   
   made in wartime. As ambitious as the anti-poverty and public works programs   
   launched in the aftermath of the Great Depression and the Second World War. But   
   difficult is not the same as impossible. And giving up in the face of a task   
   that could save countless and lives prevent so much suffering - simply because   
   it is difficult, costly and requires sacrifice from those of us who can most   
   afford to make do with less - is not pragmatism. It is surrender of the most   
   cowardly kind. And there is no cost-benefit analysis in the world that is   
   capable of justifying it".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Archbishop Tomasi: terrorism is the antithesis of the values and commitments   
   of   
   peaceful national and international co-existence   
    Vatican City, 1 July 2015 (VIS) - Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Holy See   
   permanent observer at the United Nations and other international bodies in   
   Geneva spoke yesterday at the 29 th Session of the Human Rights Council Panel   
   on   
   the effects of terrorism on the enjoyment by all persons of human rights and   
   fundamental freedoms.   
    "The Holy See Delegation would like to denounce most especially terrorist acts   
   carried out in the name of religion", said the nuncio. "As Pope Francis states,   
   'religious fundamentalism, even before it eliminates human beings by   
   perpetrating horrendous killings, eliminates God himself, turning him into a   
   mere ideological pretext'. ... Acts of terrorism cause the destruction of human   
   rights, political freedoms and the rule of law. Terrorism is the antithesis of   
   the shared values and commitments which serve as the basis for peaceful   
   coexistence domestically and internationally. Indeed, with the proliferation of   
   terrorism and the impunity which its proponents enjoy, we can say that there is   
   also a 'globalisation of terrorism'. ... A situation is thus created where the   
   positive political will of the major players is required in order to address   
   and   
   resolve the problem of global terrorism and its disastrous effects".   
    "The Holy See is deeply convinced that terrorism, especially those forms that   
   derive from religious extremism, must be confronted with concerted political   
   efforts by all players, especially by all the local and regional parties   
   involved, as well as by the major international players, whose role is   
   indispensable in negotiating and finding a viable solution, diplomatic or   
   otherwise, to protect life and the future stability of the regions touched by   
   terrorism. The response to terrorism cannot be merely by way of military   
   action.   
   Political participation, fair and just legal systems, and cutting all forms of   
   public and private support for terrorism are means not only to respond, but   
   also   
   to prevent, terrorism. It is also important to remember the positive obligation   
   that States have to undertake in order to protect their citizens and, where   
   that   
   is not possible, to collaborate with other regional authorities in order to   
   address the threats posed by terrorist groups", concluded Archbishop Tomasi.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Message for Sea Sunday: more resources to combat human trafficking and   
   exploitation   
    Vatican City, 1 July 2015 (VIS) - The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care   
   of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples today published its message for Sea Sunday   
   (12   
   July), signed by Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio and Bishop Joseph   
   Kalathiparambil, respectively president and secretary of the dicastery. The   
   following is the full text of the message:   
    "To transport goods and products around the world, the global economy deeply   
   relies on the maritime industry supported by a workforce of around 1.2 million   
   seafarers, who at sea and in the oceans frequently facing the strong and   
   powerful forces of nature, manage ships of all kinds and dimensions.   
    As ports are built far away from the cities, and because of the fast   
   turnaround   
   in loading and unloading cargo, the crews sailing the ships are like   
   'invisible'   
   people. As individuals we do not acknowledge the importance and the benefits   
   that the maritime profession brings to our life and we become aware of their   
   work and sacrifices only when disasters strike.   
    In spite of the technological development that makes life on board more   
   comfortable and makes it easier to communicate with loved ones, seafarers are   
   forced to spend long months in a restricted space, away from their families.   
   Restrictive and unjust regulations often limit shore leave when in port and the   
   continuous threat of piracy in many sea routes adds stress while sailing. We   
   are   
   still confident that the ratification and coming into force of the Maritime   
   Labour Convention 2006 by a growing number of countries, accompanied by   
   effective inspections by flag States will result in a tangible improvement of   
   the labour and working conditions on board all ships.   
    In the present day, with war, violence and political instability in several   
   countries, a new phenomenon has been affecting the shipping industry. Since   
   last   
   year, alongside the coast guards and the naval forces of Italy, Malta and   
   European Union, the merchant vessels transiting in the Mediterranean Sea have   
   been actively involved in the by-now daily task of rescuing thousands and   
   thousands of migrants trying to reach the coasts of Italy in all kinds of   
   overcrowded and substandard crafts.   
    Since time immemorial seafarers have fulfilled the obligation to rescue people   
   in distress at sea under any conditions. However, as it has been stressed by   
   other maritime organisations, for the merchant vessels rescuing migrants at sea   
   remains a health, safety and security risk for seafarers. Commercial ships are   
   designed to transport goods (containers, oil, gas, etc.) and all the facilities   
   are custom-made for the limited number of crew members on board. For these   
   reasons merchant vessels are not equipped to provide assistance to a large   
   number of migrants.   
    Seafarers are professionally qualified in their work and trained to handle a   
   number of emergency situations but rescuing hundreds of often frantic men,   
   women   
   and children is something that no training course in maritime school has   
   prepared them for. Furthermore, the physical effort in seeking to rescue as   
   many   
   persons as possible, and witnessing numerous lifeless bodies in the sea, render   
   the experience traumatic and leave the crews exhausted and psychologically   
   distressed, in need of specific psychological and spiritual support.   
    On Sea Sunday as the Catholic Church we would like to express our appreciation   
   for seafarers in general for their fundamental contribution to the   
   international   
   trade. This year in particular, we would like to recognise the great   
   humanitarian effort made by the crews of merchant vessels that without   
   hesitation, sometimes risking their own life, have engaged in many rescue   
   operations saving thousands of migrants lives.   
    Our gratitude goes also to all the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship   
   of the Sea for their daily commitment in serving the people of the sea; their   
   presence in the docks is the sign of the Church in their midst and shows the   
   compassionate and merciful face of Christ.   
    In conclusion, while we appeal to the governments in Europe, the countries of   
   origin of migration flows, and international organisations to cooperate in   
   searching for a durable and definitive political solution to instability in   
   those countries, we would also like to call for more resources to be committed   
   not only for search and rescue missions but also to prevent the trafficking and   
   exploitation of persons escaping from conditions of conflict and poverty".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:   
   www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va   
      
   Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican   
   Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting   
   the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.   
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   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)