, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20201109IPR91118/
South Sudan: ‘No child anywhere should suffer from polio’ – UN health agency
To stem the outbreak, the Ministry of Health has formed an emergency task force comprised of the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, for a quick response and to increase surveillance.
“No child anywhere should suffer from polio, a completely preventable disease”, said Olushayo Olu, WHO Representative for South Sudan.
While rare, vaccine-derived poliovirus cases can occur when the weakened live virus in the oral polio vaccine, passes through under-immunized populations. If a population is adequately immunized with polio vaccines, it will be protected from both wild polio and circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses.
Inoculation campaign
Because immunization is the only way to stop the potentially deadly virus from spreading, South Sudan launched a campaign on Wednesday, aimed at vaccinating 1.5 million children against polio, according to WHO.
“There is a lot of love in every needle prick, that is how we are protecting the next generation”, said UNICEF South Sudan Representative, Mohamed Ayoya.
The first round will target children in 45 counties across seven states, including Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Western Bahr El Ghazal, Warrap, Lakes and Eastern Equatoria, where the 15 cases were confirmed.
Follow-up campaigns covering more states and counties are planned, beginning in December.
Ahead of and during the campaigns, social mobilizers will increase immunization awareness and participation by engaging communities and community leaders.
“I urge all parents to take their children for polio vaccination including those who have already been vaccinated”, encouraged the country’s Minister of Health, Elizabeth Achue. “It is safe to receive an additional dose and we want to make sure every child is protected”.
Preventable polio
WHO pointed out that less than 50 per cent of the children in South Sudan are immunized against polio and other life-threatening diseases, putting them at risk of lifelong disability and death.
Moreover, widespread displacement and continual population movements compounded with COVID-19 restrictions, have further aggravated the country’s immunization coverage and have exacerbated children’s vulnerability to polio, especially those in hard-to-reach areas.
“Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and flooding [that is] sweeping much of the country, the campaign provides greater opportunity for vulnerable population to receive critical interventions that could avert life threatening disease such as disability from poliomyelitis”, said Dr. Olu.
On 25 August, South Sudan along with other African countries was declared polio free because there had not been any outbreaks of wild polio virus in the country for more than ten years.
Stay vigilant
To keep every child protected, effective and safe vaccines – along with the commitment of parents, other caregivers and health workers – that led to the virus’ eradication in 47 African countries must continue.
“Immunization is a must and complacency can kill”, the UNICEF representative underscored. “We must ensure all children in South Sudan are taken for routine immunization, which includes the polio vaccine, so this doesn’t happen again when the outbreak is curbed”.
Scores of migrants drown in Mediterranean in separate shipwrecks – Vatican News
By Linda Bordoni
Four shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea in the space of three days have claimed the lives of over 110 people who were attempting to flee poverty and conflict in their homelands.
On Thursday, the most recent tragedy that we know of, at least 70 bodies washed up on a beach in western Libya.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), that boat was reported to be carrying more than 120 people, including women and children. Forty-seven survivors were brought to shore by the coastguard and fishermen.
Only a few hours earlier, Médecins Sans Frontières helped three women who were the only survivors of another shipwreck that killed 20 people off the coast of Sorman, also in Libya.
On Wednesday, six people died after the dinghy in which they were travelling with more than 100 migrants capsized off Libya’s coast. They included a six-month-old boy, originally from Guinea.
The day before, another child, whose age is unknown, was among 13 people who died in a separate shipwreck off Libya’s coast. Eleven survivors were taken back to Libya.
An ongoing tragedy
According to charities that scour the deadly waters, people smugglers, taking advantage of mild autumn weather, have sent hundreds of migrants to sea in the last week.
The majority of the journeys have ended in tragedy.
The IOM notes that since the beginning of 2020, almost 600 people have officially died in the central Mediterranean, but says the real number is estimated to be much higher. At least 20,000 people have died in those waters since 2014.
IOM spokesperson Flavio Di Giacomo said: ‘‘Change is necessary now, more than ever, to guarantee effective rescue at sea and prevent new tragedies.’’
Libya not a safe port for return
The UN agency also maintains that Libya is not a safe port for return and reiterates its call on the international community and the European Union to take urgent and concrete action to end the cycle of return and exploitation.
Pope Francis has made the call for protection of migrants and respect for their dignity one of the cornerstones of his pontificate.
Europe prepares for bleak winter as coronavirus rages across nations – Vatican News
By Stefan J. Bos
With Christmas and other celebrations approaching, much of Europe still faces lockdowns and other measures amid the raging coronavirus pandemic.
In Sweden, people have been told to prepare for possible travel restrictions during the holiday period.
And Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar made clear that people in his Catholic nation might have to celebrate Christmas without loved ones living abroad. “I think in terms of people booking flights to come home for Christmas, I’d advise them not to do that at the moment,” he told legislators.
“I know that’s difficult . . . tough, but Christmas is six weeks away, and it’s too soon to be booking flights to come home,” he added. “We’re not in a position at this point to advise people that it’s safe to come home for Christmas.”
ENGLAND DISEASE RECALLED
Varadkar cited the 1967 outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in England, where Irish people were asked not to come home. “They didn’t come into Ireland, and I’m not saying it’s the same, but certainly, we’re not in the position at this point to advise people that it’s safe to come home for Christmas.”
He added: “I know that’s a tough message to hear, but that’s the case for the short term. International travel is a risk. I think we need to be upfront and honest about that.”
French authorities also said it was too soon to tell if people could make travel arrangements. France is among several nations with tough lockdowns.
In Italy, for instance, much of the country is in lockdown, and there are calls for stricter measures after authorities reported 636 coronavirus deaths on Thursday.
Among others is Portugal, which has significantly expanded the number of places subject to a night curfew. From Monday, three-quarters of the country will be under the government’s toughest restrictions.
HUNGARY’S ARMY INVOLVED
It’s even more challenging here in Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has asked the army to help impose an 8 pm to 5 am curfew.
While Hungary closed its borders to most foreigners in early September, bars and restaurants remained open, and 16,000 people attended a Budapest soccer match in late October.
But other central or eastern European countries imposed restrictions like those now in effect in Hungary weeks earlier. And this month, neighboring Slovakia administered 3 million tests in a single weekend, while Hungary’s daily number of tests hovered around 18,000.
Prime Minister Orbán, who faces an election in 2022, says he hopes restrictions such as on family gatherings, which are limited to ten people, can be lifted by Christmas.
But he warns that the effects of the coronavirus measures introduced on Wednesday will only be visible in two weeks.
Caleb’s Concepts: Many worship it. Too bad science isn’t a religion!
“The science says this, the science says that,” drones a pundit from a news station that only cares about viewership. More pathetic than the display of poorly presented empirical evidence are the comments on social media pertaining to climate change. “Science is wrong,” some say. “Well, science says,” respond others. The profound ignorance of many, including educated members in society, is astounding. To think that some body of evidence is infallible and devoid of human bias is, well, ignorant.
Most scientists will quickly point out that good science is built on the notion of skepticism, where something can only be scientific if it can be proven. Many worship it, saying science will save humanity. Clearly, mainstream culture has misconceptions about science, perceiving it as an unchanging body of evidence devoid of change.
So what exactly is science? Better yet, how can science be defined? In his 1959 book “Logic of Scientific Discovery,” Austrian philosopher Karl Popper described science as “falsifiable.” Put simply, science is a question that can be proven false and predict a wide range of behavior. The first step in the scientific process is to ask a question about a certain event. One particularly famous question asked by Isaac Newton was why does an apple fall? The second requirement is that there must be something against which the hypothesis is being tested against. For example, in statistics we compare the effect of a new hypothesis against an old hypothesis called a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis implies no significance, however, we reject the null hypothesis if the evidence of the new hypothesis shows statistical significance. In other words, scientific ideas can be proven false if new information is presented.
Now, let’s define pseudoscience. Pseudoscience is any idea that cannot be proven false, like psychoanalysis. In his 1899 book “The Interpretation of Dreams,” Sigmund Freud claims men seek maternal approval out of an unconscious desire to sleep with their mother. This is called the Oedepus complex. According to Freud, if a man’s mother dies and he does not cry at her funeral he is repressing his Oedepus complex. However, if he weeps over his mother’s passing, his Oedipal desires are coming out in the open. Spot the problem yet? Freud’s Oedipus complex cannot be proven false!
Now, that we have defined what science is, let’s return to the present. Why are people so divided about it? There are political consequences to accepting consequences. This is why many people will deny the severity or existence of climate change because it has serious political and economic consequences. However, ignoring climate change will make it worse, and we will cause irrevocable damage if we don’t act now to fix the damage caused by humans, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found. If we do nothing, the spillover will change the world as we know it. Unfortunately, climate change has become politicized by both Democrats and Republicans, and will remain this way while the world burns.
History shows us that politicians politicize science to justify their policies. Look at the disastrous economic and social consequences brought to the world by politicizing COVID-19. Though it is unclear whether or not lockdowns work, it is clear that mask requirements do. One study from the University of Toronto found that lockdowns were not associated with mortality per million, while another study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found common mortality patterns wherever COVID-19 was present with or without lockdowns. However, current empirical research suggests that mask wearing is effective in reducing COVID-19. While wearing a mask reduces the risk of contracting COVID, it only works if you and others are wearing a mask. It is still possible to contract COVID-19 at home from a loved one or from friends if you go out. Thus, there is a mathematical positive effect for mask wearing, if people actually wear them when they go out. Though, as Einstein put it, “human stupidity is limitless,” meaning people probably aren’t actually going to wear their masks effectively 100% of the time.
While wearing masks does seem to work, lockdown effectiveness is questionable because the mathematical analysis is inconclusive. This highlights the problem with science: worshipers flock to its altar when it agrees with them and use it to justify their political ideas, yet abandon it the moment its usefulness expires.
Being a good scientist means educating yourself with the tools needed to understand it, or humble yourself and admit you do not understand it. Never point to something you do not understand and say it is wrong, simply because you do not understand. At the end of the day, science is a testable philosophy about the observable world. It does the scientific community a disservice pretending science is more than that. Do not use science to confirm your own worldview.
Outstanding public health achievements from the WHO European Region receive the highest recognition at the resumed 73rd World Health Assembly
At the resumed Seventy-third World Health Assembly, 2 individuals and 1 organization from the WHO European Region were awarded prestigious global public health prizes for their significant contribution to population health.
Professor Gunhild Waldemar from Denmark was presented with the His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly. Both the Equi-Sastipen-Rroma Network of Spain and Professor Dame Sally Davies from the United Kingdom were also awarded with the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion during a ceremony on 13 November.
The prizes are awarded by a selection panel following recommendations received from Member States after an invitation by WHO’s Director-General. The awards are named after well known health professionals, international figures or prominent foundations committed to supporting innovation in international and global public health.
WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge congratulated all the winners of the public health prizes, in particular those from the WHO European Region: “Their continuous dedication to improve the health of people, especially those who are vulnerable and face health inequities, is an inspiration to us all. These are concrete examples, putting into practice the principle of leaving no one behind in health – central to the European Programme of Work ‘United Action for Better Health’. I’m pleased to see the winners given the recognition they thoroughly deserve.”
Award winners from the European Region
Professor Gunhild Waldemar was awarded for her contribution to research in the areas of health care for older people and health promotion. In 2007, Professor Waldemar established the Danish Dementia Research Centre and has supported the development of dementia national care action plans.
The Equi-Sastipen-Rroma Network comprises 21 Sinti and Roma associations who liaise with various governmental agencies in Spain to facilitate access to health and social services as well as to promote health equity in the Roma population. Through its work, including training of health professionals in intercultural competence and increasing awareness about health issues that affect the Roma population, the Network has strengthened trust between Roma communities and health administrations and services.
Until recently, Professor Dame Sally Davies was Chief Medical Officer of the United Kingdom, working to improve the quality of people’s health no matter their location or financial situation. She was pivotal in launching noncommunicable disease risk prevention strategies, including a nationwide sugar levy, standardized tobacco packaging and programmes to ensure access to sports and exercise facilities. She is also a global leader in combating antimicrobial resistance.
Winners from outside the WHO European Region included:
- Dr Errol R. Alden of the United States of America, awarded the Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize;
- Geo-RIS (Sistema Geoespacial de las Redes Integradas de Salud, Geospacial System of Integrated Health Networks) of the Dirección General de Aseguramiento e Intercambio Prestacional del Ministerio de Salud of Peru, presented with the Sasakawa Health Prize; and
- Dr João Aprigio Guerra de Almeida of Brazil and The Sickle Cell Disease Consortium of the United Republic of Tanzania, both presented with the Dr Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health.
Covid: peace cannot become a reality on an empty stomach – Vatican News
VATICAN NEWS
History teaches that global recessions have provoked riots among those who are hungry. The risk that the same thing will occur due to the current pandemic worries many who are observing the international situation.
Maryann Cusimano Love, a professor at the Catholic University of America and one of seven experts invited by the Pope to be a member of the Vatican Covid-19 commission, is looking at the more vulnerable areas of the world. The coronavirus, she says, has created worse conditions for more vulnerable populations and the risk is that the situation created by misery and precarious access to healthcare will cause things to explode.
“To avert that this time around, food assistance must be given across conflict lines”, she maintains, calling on the Church as an agent of universal peace. “We are all one human family, but too often we act like a dysfunctional family”. The Church, she says, can help construct a world “in which we are more connected, more caring”.
You are part of the Vatican COVID 19 Commission, Pope Francis’s response mechanism to an unprecedented virus. What do you personally hope to learn from this experience? In what way do you think the Commission’s work can inspire society as a whole?
R. – Global problems require global cooperation. We have more people on the planet than ever before in human history, so we must create better forms of cooperation than ever before, to meet crises like the pandemic. Pope Francis’ Covid 19 Commission is a model of cooperation and inclusion across borders, at a time when many around the world are going in the opposite direction, closing borders and not prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable.
Pope Francis asked the COVID 19 Commission to prepare the future instead of prepare for it. What should be the Catholic Church’s role as an institution in this endeavour?
R. – The Catholic Church can help us imagine and build a better world coming out of this pandemic, one in which we are more connected, more caring, in better relationship with each other, the planet, the poor, and God. As Scripture says, “See, I am doing something new in you, can you not see it?” The Catholic Church is not a national church; we work across borders in every country, we work with very long timelines that go beyond the next headline or election; and we are the world’s largest private provider of health care, caring for the world’s neediest. We are all one human family, but too often we act like a dysfunctional family; against a rising tide of nationalism and extremism, the Church imagines and prepares a future based on a wider view of our connections as human family.
What personal lessons (if any) have you derived from the experience of the pandemic? What concrete changes do you hope to see after this crisis both personally and globally?
R. – Pope Francis warned us that “this economy kills,” and the pandemic showed this to be true; we cannot go back to the old ways of doing business. For example, we can stop investing over a trillion dollars in new nuclear weapons, when money is urgently needed for health and food. The pandemic has shorn away the non-essential, and forced our focus to what really matters, the sanctity of life, our families, our common home. With my children schooling at home while I’m teleworking at home and caring for elders, we spend more family time together, and in nature. Nature has rebounded in the pandemic, showing us it is never too late to do the right thing. Our economies and workplaces can and must promote healthier, richer relationships with each other and our earth.
Inequalities are enormous. Take, for example, access to healthcare in various countries across the globe. Does the hypothesis of a vaccine that is not accessible to everyone entail the risk of conflict?
R. – Yes, disease can cause war and conflict. Research shows that countries caught in “the conflict trap,” cycles of conflict and revenge, need economic growth to break out of spirals of violence, but instead the pandemic has done the opposite, tanked the global economy. For conflict countries who depend on oil income, like Nigeria, Iraq, and others, these countries now have no budgets to build peace among warring groups, to implement peace accords in Colombia, or buy back guns or offer jobs to armed actors to integrate them into civilian life. Peace doesn’t magically occur; it is built over time by patient effort. But the pandemic disrupts peacebuilding resources and efforts, and has increased violent nationalist and extremist movements, as Covid disinformation and conspiracy theories targets scapegoats. The Catholic Church is not a nationalist church; Catholic peacebuilding is needed now more than ever.
Regarding those who today suffer from hunger: how willing are they to fight for access to healthcare? In various African countries, people say they prefer Covid to hunger. Could the combination of the two, pandemic and hunger, be a dangerous spark?
R. – You can’t build peace on an empty stomach. The pandemic has disrupted global food supplies and caused an economic depression making food too expensive for millions, further endangering the world’s most vulnerable people, refugees and displaced people. Previous global recessions caused food riots; to avert that this time around, food assistance must be given across conflict lines, to help reduce the chances for violence. Glaring inequalities worsen grievance and violence.
Pope Francis and Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN, have launched a ceasefire appeal wherever there are conflicts in the world, in order to foster the fight against the coronavirus. Why have these appeals not been heeded?
R. – As the United Nations meets in New York in September, Pope Francis and Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN are renewing calls for a global ceasefire so communities can focus efforts on fighting the pandemic, not each other. There has been too little attention, public awareness, and government leadership on the ceasefire. The upcoming 75th anniversary of the United Nations is a great opportunity to draw more attention and commitment to the call for a pandemic ceasefire.
Several times, even well before the pandemic, Pope Francis has often spoken of a “third world war fought piecemeal”. So, in your opinion, should we fear another worldwide conflict provoked by an invisible virus, or has one already effectively begun that we should be dedicating ourselves to extinguishing?
R. – Peace has been breaking out in recent decades, with declines in major wars and peace accords in places like Ireland, Colombia and the Philippines. But these peace processes are fragile, and too many countries remain trapped in cycles of war, poverty, and instability, such as Iraq, DRC, Sudan, and Nigeria. Pandemic responses must be conflict sensitive, ensuring that vaccines, medicine, food aid, and assistance be given across the conflict lines, in ways that build community, social cohesion, trust, and peace.
How religion can hamper economic progress
Religion hampered the diffusion of knowledge and economic development in France during the Second Industrial Revolution (1870-1914), according to research by Mara Squicciarini of Bocconi University recently published in the American Economic Review.
By opposing the introduction of technical education in primary schools, the Catholic Church in fact prevented the accumulation of human capital in the most religious areas of the country. Higher levels of religious education translated into significant lower industrial employment 10 to 15 years later, when schoolchildren entered the labor market.
“And these findings have important implications for economic development today,” says Professor Squicciarini, “since many developing countries—where religion plays a primary role in the personal and public spheres—are experiencing large-scale technological progress, similar to that of Western Europe during the Second Industrial Revolution.”
“The more sophisticated industrial machinery of the Second Industrial Revolution required a technically skilled workforce. Consequently, the French state took an active role in promoting a more technical curriculum to form a skilled labor force,” Professor Squicciarini explains. But the Church was promoting a conservative, antiscientific program, hindering the introduction of the technical curriculum and pushing for religious education, while secular schools became increasingly modern and professional, the study shows.
The religious intensity of an area is associated with the diffusion of religious education and this, in turn, is associated with lower industrial development. The effect is sizeable: Moving from the 10th to the 90th percentile of the share of Catholic schools distribution would decrease the share of industrial employment by 6.2 percentage points, relative to a mean of 28%.
The economic development of areas with a high or low religiosity did not start to diverge, though, until the Second Industrial Revolution, when the school curricula and the accumulation of human capital among the population began to count for industrial development. These results suggest that the relationship between religion and economic development is not inherently negative. Rather, it varies over time, and it becomes negative when religion hinders the adoption of economically useful knowledge.
More information:
Mara P. Squicciarini, Devotion and Development: Religiosity, Education, and Economic Progress in Nineteenth-Century France, American Economic Review (2020). DOI: 10.1257/aer.20191054
Mara P. Squicciarini, Devotion and Development: Religiosity, Education, and Economic Progress in Nineteenth-Century France, American Economic Review (2020). DOI: 10.1257/aer.20191054
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Despite pandemic’s disaster, brewers insist on EU climate goals
The EU beer industry has vowed to continue investing in sustainable practices in their brewing processes to meet EU Green Deal goals despite disastrous implications of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
While the COVID-19’s impact is indeed enormous, it also paves the way for greener options, Pierre-Olivier Bergeron, the secretary-general of the Brewers of Europe, told ‘The Brewers of Europe Sustainability Forum’.
“The impact of the pandemic has been amplified by the great uncertainty around how the situation will evolve, leading to stress and worry for all involved growers, business owners, our supply chain employees and their families. The societal impact of the pandemic has struck the heart of our sector,” he said.
“But it also creates a need to bounce back better and stronger, to create a greener, more resilient and sustainable Europe,” Bergeron added.
The beer industry and the hospitality sector in general have been hit hard by the pandemic, which brought partial and total lockdowns across Europe to curb the spread of the virus. Pubs and bars have subsequently been closed for the second time this year.
A number of supportive measures have been taken at the member state level; however, the post-pandemic era does not look bright financially as many are not planning to reopen their stores.
Despite these circumstances, EU brewers, who employ more than 130,000 people in the EU, have taken a number of innovation-driven initiatives to adjust to a greener economy.
The European Green Deal, together with the Recovery Fund, will help member states modernise and adjust their structures in resilient and greener economies in the long run.
Industry stakeholders have already made moves to put initiatives in practice. In the case of brewers, they have come up with a sustainability plan focusing on areas such as waste, packaging and transport.
MEP: Brewers are leading green innovation
Slovak MEP Ivan Štefanec said the brewers’ contribution to the Green Deal is already remarkable and constantly evolving.
“I think we have to talk also about the whole food industry, but the beer industry is definitely the leader. And I’m happy that I can at least go create a legislative framework for that,” he said.
Belgium, the “Mecca” of beer lovers, has once again seen one of its flagships industries severely impacted by a second lockdown.
Mark Demesmaeker, a member of the Senate of Belgium, said many small brewers in the Flanders region are making strong efforts to find their way toward green innovation.
Some of them, he said, have joined forces and established partnerships with organic farmers., while others have focused on sustainable packaging.
“It is key for the sector in the first place to make sure that they design their packaging in a way that it can be recycled, without any problems. And then, of course, it’s up to the authorities,” he said.
Referring to specific examples in Flanders, he said good collection schemes and recycling facilities have been established.
“This is something we have taken up as well in the revision of the EU waste directives, with new targets […] it is key for all the member states to implement them as good and as soon as possible,” he said.
Demesmaeker said it was necessary to back these efforts on a policy level considering that the number of breweries has doubled in five years, while the number of beer producers – who make innovative recipes – has more than doubled.
A collaborative approach
Paolo Lanzarotti, CEO of the brewing company Asahi Europe and International, said a holistic approach is needed moving toward more collaborative schemes within the industry and across the supply chain.
“We sat down with one of our partners, and we made a long-term agreement. We basically moved or helped them move their can packaging and production facilities closer to our production sites,” he said, calling this a win-win situation.
“The advantage for them is that they get obviously an anchor customer while for us, is that we get better working capital. The advantage for the planet is we reduce the environmental footprint.”
Asked if the innovation push in the beer industry is driven by potential profit, Lanzarotti replied: “I think our innovation strategy needs to both meet consumer demands, sustainability, and ultimately, profitability. And I think the three actually go together.
The Recovery Fund and EU budget
But the industry’s push for greener options depends on what happens with the Recovery Fund and the post-2020 EU budget.
Rozalina Petrova, a cabinet member of EU environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius, said EU funds need to be channelled quickly to the member states.
“And then member states have a key role in also making sure that those funds are spent for green investments,” she said.
But the rule of law conditionality puts a quick approval of the EU funds at risk, as Poland and Hungary have already threatened to veto the budget deal.
Another thorny issue for the hospitality sector is the rising level of private debt.
There have been some liquidity-supportive measures at the EU level to help businesses cope with the current liquidity shortage. However, these are loans which increase private debt and have to be repaid at some point.
Critics suggest that SMEs may need further assistance or softer tax regimes to be able to survive in the post-COVID era.
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]
Global Rosary is centrepiece of Mary’s Meals virtual pilgrimage – Vatican News
By Lydia O’Kane
This year, the world has been turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to spread unabated. However, despite restrictions and even lockdowns in many countries, it hasn’t stopped pilgrimages, from taking place, albeit virtually.
This year for the first time, the global school feeding charity Mary’s Meals will host its first virtual family pilgrimage.
Since 2017, members of the charity have been coming together to reflect, pray and offer thanks at the Marian Shrine in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, where the charity has its roots.
Although the programme will be in a virtual setting, those participating from around the world will join together to pray the Rosary in numerous languages.
“It was a bit difficult, very sad when we realized that we couldn’t do it [the pilgrimage] this year physically; and then my wife Julie started saying, ‘Why don’t we just do it online?'” says Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, Founder and CEO of Mary’s Meals.
“At first I thought that it was a pretty crazy idea; I couldn’t really imagine a pilgrimage in which we didn’t physically travel somewhere, and then the more I thought about it, in this situation we’re all in, we thought, ‘Why not?’”
Global Rosary
He goes on to say that what they are most excited about right now is the Global Rosary, which will be recited by children from Africa and India and includes participation from Rome, Poland, Myanmar and Haiti.
Mr MacFarlane-Barrow also points out that there will be two languages representing the two ethnic groups in South Sudan who have had a history of conflict. “They will be reciting the Rosary together for peace,” he says.
The CEO notes that “the Daughter of Charity Sisters who are partners in Tigray in Ethiopia recorded their decade just before the fighting erupted in Tigray over the last days, and their prayer for peace just becomes even more poignant.”
During the weekend pilgrimage there will be opportunities to attend Holy Mass and Holy Hour online, streamed from St James’ Parish in Medjugorje, and to pray together and give thanks to Our Lady Queen of Peace.
The pilgrimage will also give people the chance to pray and fast on Friday November 13 in order to show solidarity with the 1.6 million hungry children who receive daily meals through the charity’s school feeding programmes.
Virtual pilgrimage
Despite the fact that COVID-19 has wrought havoc on so many people’s lives, Mr MacFarlane Barrow points out that “sometimes when we find a way through it – a way round it – it opens up new opportunities we wouldn’t have previously thought of.” He is keen to stress however, that although “the opportunities that new technology offers us are enormous and are a huge blessing,” nothing can replace human contact.
The CEO emphasizes the virtual pilgrimage is open to anyone who wants to join in prayer, regardless of faith background or any previous involvement in Mary’s Meals.
All those who would like to join the virtual Mary’s Meals family pilgrimage this year can find out more, and access the live stream, at www.marysmealsmedjugorje.org.
Mary’s Meals provides daily meals to children through school feeding programmes in 19 countries.
As schools return amid the global pandemic, “Mary’s Meals is working with local communities and trusted partners to reinstate school feeding where possible – and in line with local safety advice – while continuing with community distributions in places where schools remain closed.”
