Scholars’ Conference — The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change and the Catholic University of America and its Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies are cosponsoring a scholars’ conference assessing, Pope Benedict XVI’s Ecological Vision for the Catholic Church in the United States. November 8-10, 2012 at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC.
The Loyola House Retreat and Training Center in Guelph, Ontario, Canada is offering an Ecology Family Retreat — Dates: October 15, 2011 or October 13, 2012. Looking for a family outing that’s both fun and fulfilling? Spend a special day with the children on the beautiful grounds of the Ignatius Jesuit Centre of Guelph. Explore the amazing ecosystem of a river. Discover the diversity of species in a working organic farm. Learn about 12 gifts we each receive from our Creator and how they apply to your family.
The Bard Center for Environmental Policy hosts a National Climate Seminar — a bi-weekly, national phone conversation featuring top climate scientists, political leaders, and policy analysts. The seminars are available live to educators, students and citizens, by telephone at no charge. The half-hour seminars are held the first and third Wednesday of each month, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, Noon Pacific.
Resources from Past Conferences and Events
On July 31st 2010, Our Task hosted an inter-generational dialogue, on “Our Earth, Our Future.” The keynote address, “Our Hopes and Fears, was written and delivered by Ms. Aurelia Massoudi-Khorsand, a sophomore at University of Virginia. The conference report includes many thoughtful suggestions from both young adults attending as well as from people from the parents’ and grandparents’ generations.
The Ignatian Solidarity Network hosted its Spring Teach-In at Wheeling University on the topic of “Environmental Justice and Sustainability” from March 5-8, 2010. Visit the Teach-In wiki-page to download copies of talks, view pictures from the events, and to share your own resources and best practices.
U.N. Climate Change Conference — Copenhagen, Denmark, December 7-18, 2009. The goal for the conference was to develop a framework for climate change mitigation beyond 2012 . Several Jesuit, Ignatian-affiliated and Catholic organizations participated in Copenhagen. Their web and blog sites are listed below:
“Many Heavens, One Earth: Faith Commitments for a Living Planet” — sponsored by Alliance for Religion and Conservation and UN Development Programme; hosted by Prince Philip (HRH the Duke of Edinburgh) — November 2-4, 2009 .
The Social Justice Secretariat at the Jesuit Curia in Rome participated in this meeting and presented a Seven Year Plan for Generational Change for the Society of Jesus garnered from information provided and commitments made by Assistancies around the world in preparation for the Jesuit General Congregation 35
