The case of the Carlow man, his South African partner, and his daughter, who have been convicted of running a prostitution ring, received prominent coverage in all the Irish daily newspapers on 5 February when they were sentenced.  The publicity has done much to highlight the darker aspects of this crime - the deception and violence involved, the profits to be made and the methods employed by those managing the prostitution business, and the important role of modern technology in facilitating it.

A recent series on RTÉ TV station in Ireland called ‘Music Changes Lives' showed how a school like St Agnes’s in Crumlin can bring music tuition to communities with few resources. Since the series was shown, School Principals from around the Ireland have contacted St Agnes’ Principal, Sr. Bernadette Sweeney RSC to find out how to create their own orchestras.  Sr. Bernadette recently featured in an education profile in the Irish Times newspaper.  Read the full article on the Irish Times website.

St. Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney, in the English/Scottish Province of the RSC’s, made the news this week with a story in The Guardian newspaper in the UK.  The hospice, founded by the Religious Sisters of Charity in 1900, is working in partnership with a local health charity to look at the most caring and compassionate ways of communicating with Muslim patients and their families during their time at the hospice. 
To read the article see The Guardian newspaper’s website.

With only five years left until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to attend a summit next September to boost efforts to achieve the MDGs. Coming amid mixed progress toward the Goals and new crises that threaten the global effort to halve extreme poverty, “the summit will be a crucially important opportunity to redouble our efforts to meet the Goals,” he said, referring to the targets adopted at the UN Millennium Summit of 2000, aimed at slashing poverty, hunger, disease, maternal and child deaths and other ills by a 2015 deadline.  Read this story at the UN website.

Each year the 8th March is International Women's Day (IWD) - a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, IWD is a national holiday. The first IWD was run in 1911, so next year will be the IWD Global Centenary 1911-2011. The 2010 theme is “Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all” read more about this at the International Women's Day website.

Los Angeles, CA – On Saturday February 6th 2010 a group of Sisters of Charity from Los Angeles walked 27 blocks, or 3 miles, with umbrellas bearing signs “Stop Human Trafficking” to raise awareness about human trafficking.  They also wore white face masks symbolizing the forced silence of those enslaved.  Sisters Marsha Moon, Francis Maria, Kathleen Newell and Kathleen Bryant all participated in making signs and walking the route with several other religious congregations and their associate members. 

Sr. Edith Prendergast, RSC was honored on Saturday February. 6, 2010 at the First Bi-Annual Concern America Integrity Award Ceremony named in memory of John O’Donohue. 
One of John’s fond quotes,  “The duty of privilege is absolute integrity”  was borne out of his reflection of the apparent disparity in our world today and our duty to make a difference in the lives of the poor.

The Elders (see the ‘Featured video’ below) are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity.

Catholic Relief Services personnel in Haiti are struggling to ensure that it’s 300 staff members are safe and accounted for.  They are also beginning the work of bringing relief supplies to the millions affected by this week's earthquake.
You may like to join in the following Reflection and Prayers which come from CRS via the Justice Desk of the Sisters of St Joseph of Orange, California.

This wave was special though, it was created by people attempting to draw attention to Climate Change prior to the Copenhagen meeting. 50,000 campaigners from over 100 different organisations marched as part of The Wave on 5 December. It was the biggest ever UK climate change march.
To read more about it go to the RSC English/Scottish Province website.