Monthly Archives: November 2023

Journeying to and engaging in COP 28

Some of the NGO groups at the UN have started their travel to Dubai, UAE for COP 28 which starts on November 30th.

VIVAT International and UNANIMA International are among them. VIVAT had prepared recommendations and sent to the COP28 Presidency and the countries’ Focal Points: 
* COP28 UAE Presidency: Sultan Mohamed Al Jabar (President), Iman Ustadi (Deputy Chief Negotiator), and Hana Al Hashimi (Chief Climate Negotiator) * Pacific Countries: Vanuatu, Fiji, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands
* Asian Countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, Timor Leste, Maldives * Latin America and the Caribbean: Ecuador, Barbados, Costa Rica * African Countries: DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya. Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, South Sudan, Tunisia.

We have signed on this statement.

Letter-to-Barbados-focal-point_COP28-UAE-2Download

UNANIMA have prepared a position paper that reviews the key focuses of COP28 as outlined by the COP Presidency, and makes recommendations given our research and advocacy. The Policy Statement, on the other hand, focuses more specifically on the needs and experiences of women, children, and girls in relation to climate change and the need for a just transition to a more sustainable future.

COP28-Position-Paper-UNANIMA-InternationalDownload
COP28-Policy-Statement-UNANIMA-InternationalDownload

UNANIMA delegation will be attending the first week of COP28 in Dubai from November 30th-December 8th. UNANIMA International is sponsoring a side event titled “A Global Catholic Letter on Climate Change to the COP28 Presidency” (along with Vivat International and other Catholic organizations) on Tuesday, December 5th, from 6:30-8:00pm (UAE time) which Jean will be moderating and Liana will be presenting at.

UNANIMA will provide updates on COP28, including a live stream to the side event once that’s available, and we hope that you’ll join us virtually on social media and other platforms. When published I will also insert the link for you to access.

The Laudato Si Movement offers opportunities for engagment with COP 28 in mind a) On line petition b) Virtual prayer service c) Panel event

Please join us for these three upcoming online events, held in the hope of authentic faith, praying and acting for COP 28:

Nov. 29, 2023 at 7pm – 8pm ET. Offered by the Boston Chapter of the Global Catholic Climate Movement and the NH Care for Creation Committee – a Laudato Si’ Circle

Join us in a spiritual wave of prayer for meaningful decisions and urgent action. We pray that all who gather for this COP will feel they are on holy ground and act accordingly, for the sake of all creation–God’s great gift of love. All are welcome. Register here!

Nov 30, 2023 at 12pm ET

Catholic Climate Covenant and Laudato Si’ Movement warmly invite you to an online conversation with renowned climate scientist, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe and Fordham professor of theology, Dr. Christiana Zenner about COP 28 and the invitation of Catholics in this gathering, both in Dubai and at home. Register here! 

November 25 –

UN Women kicks off a UN-wide annual campaign on 25 November, the International Day to End Violence against Women.

Over the following 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we are asking governments, institutions, and citizens to show us how much the world cares about ending violence against women and girls under the theme “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls“.

Led by civil society groups around the world, the campaign is supported by the United Nations through the Secretary General’s initiative, UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women.

For more information visit English: UN Women Website; X: @un_women Facebook: @unwomen Instagram: @unwomen LinkedIn: @un -women
TikTok: @unwomen ESPAÑOL. X: @onumujeres Facebook: @onumujeres Instagram: @onumujeres LinkedIn: @onumujeres FRANÇAIS X: @onufemmes Facebook: @onufemmes Instagram: @onufemmes

The GSIJP Office has 16 templates prepared to raise awareness of the different types of violence that is occuring across the ‘Good Shepherd World.’ Our 16 days campaign is a conbination of calling for an end to all violence against girls and women, while standing with and demaning change to facilitate the ending of violence. Watch out for for social media posts on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. The global theme of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence is “Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.” Let us UNITE in demanding an end to all forms of violence against girls and women! #16DaysOfActivism #NoExcuse

An Informative Guide to COP 28

“WE MUST MOVE BEYOND THE MENTALITY OF APPEARING TO BE CONCERNED BUT NOT HAVING THE
COURAGE NEEDED TO PRODUCE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES.” Pope Francis in Laudate Deum

Justice Coalition of Religious at the UN (JCOR) has prepared and made available an informative guide to COP 28 in four Languages: English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. It is 13 slides with all your questions answered as to what is COP 28 and what is happening there.

What are the advocacy priorities? a) Transitioning to clean energy (end fossil fuel usage); b) deliver climate finance (money to fund climate action); (c) put nature, people, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action; (d) mobilize an inclusive COP 28 (Ensuring that Indigenous People, youth and climate vulnerable communities are at the policy-making table generating and sharing implementable solutions. Read more HERE

Pre-COP 28 Faith Leaders Summit – 6 – 7 November 2023

Photo from the website

Check out the Faith Leaders Summit Website for a summary of the Summit which took place recently in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the host country for COP 28 later in the month. Jeffrey Sachs delivered one of the presentation. A copy of his address is HERE Opening with an overview of the global situation he asks why do the politicians of powerful nations do what they do? He proposes a four point answer – in summary – arrognace, greed, corruption and hersey. ‘We must heed Isaiah, to beat swords into ploughshares.  With today’s technologies, our modern ploughshares and pruning hooks are powerful enough to end hunger worldwide, to feed all of humanity, and to protect the environment.‘

Comments are wecome.

November – Ending Violence Against Women

Towards the latter part of November we focus attention on the 16 days campaign to end violence against women. The theme this year is  “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls” The campaign begins on November 25th – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – and runs until December 10th. While we do not have one specific position paper addressing this issues – the 6 position papers as a whole, address gender based violence from the economic, social, ecological and political aspects, across the life cycle of girls and women.

The theme for the prayer for November is focued on Ending Violence Against Girls and Women

November-2023-PrayerDownload
Oracion-de-noviembre-de-2023Download
Priere-du-mois-de-novembre-2023Download

Read more HERE; Types of Violence against Women and Girls; The Climate-Care Nexus

COP 28 – Is this on your agenda?

News from the Laudato Si Movement on preparations for COP 28. COP 28 will take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023 hosted by the United Arab Emireates in Dubai. There is deep concern about the urgent need for action at COP28, especially in the face of the alarming promotion of fossil fuels by the host and so many other powerful nations. “The fossil fuel industry and its armies of poisonous lobbyists are putting immense pressure on governments worldwide to do the opposite of what is needed to protect God’s sacred gift of Creation.” Are you aware of the fossil fuel industry in your country? How can you join a campaign to end fossil fuels now?

Pope Francis wrote in Laudate Deum, COP28 “can represent a change of direction, showing that everything done since 1992 was in fact serious and worth the effort, or else it will be a great disappointment and jeopardize whatever good has been achieved thus far” (54). (Picture below from Laudato Si Movement letter)

Learn more about UNFCC Review the schedule of the conference is here