This saying from the book of Ecclesiastes, hearkening to a reflective, paced concept of time, couldn’t contrast more with the mad chaos of today’s world. As we live whirlwind lives, constantly striving to beat the clock, wanting to do as much as possible in as little as possible a time, we lose our sense of wonder and appreciation of things that grow slowly, and take their time to bear fruit… Read more »
Lately, I’ve been trying to reduce the amount of plastic I use in my everyday life…and realising how hard it is. Sometimes I forget to take a cloth bag with me from home when going shopping. At other times, I have to insist that I do not need a bag with shop owners. Frequently, I forget to take water with me and buy a plastic bottle.
Actually, plastic is a very versatile material. It is durable, does not degrade, does not react with other materials… Read more »
Dozens of people trying to climb aboard the wings of a US Air Force C-17 while taxiing at Kabul Airport. Seconds after take-off, at least two people fell from the landing gear to a horrible death.
This is the dramatic footage which probably best represents the sense of chaos and despair which has descended on Afghanistan and its capital Kabul in the last few days, after the Taliban’s stunning takeover of the country… Read more »
Rising temperatures and sea-levels, stronger and more frequent storms and heat waves, combined with intense drought and desertification, are unavoidable in the coming years, according to a new report released on the 9th of August by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel (IPCC) on Climate Change.
The report makes for sobering reading and should truly serve as a moral and spiritual wake-up call. The authors do not mince their words in describing the catastrophic consequences which we will all face if we fail to act now and decisively to at least avert the most serious predictions outlined in the report… Read more »
The vaccine rollout can be regarded as the great hope which has heralded the New Year. It is a crucial tool which can help humanity overcome, or learn to live with, the virus. The muted Christmas and New Year celebrations, and the usual gatherings which a number of health-abiding persons have chosen to forgo, have increased the yearning to a normal life. A pre-Covid life which included gatherings, more physical contact and so on, a life which many of us might have taken for granted… Read more »
We cannot deny the fact that, before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, Malta was experiencing strong economic growth and improvements in terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So much so, that year after year, we’ve been bombarded with numbers and statistics which have been confirming the fact that Malta is going through an economic surplus. Although in economic theory, a high GDP normally results in a better quality of life, I feel that these numbers do not always reflect the reality we live in… Read more »
Some months ago, a tweet by J.K. Rowling on transgender people resulted in a backlash against the author, known for her philanthropy and championing of social justice issues. More recently the views of French President Macron on free speech following the assassination of Samuel Patty has caused an uproar in the Muslim world, whilst locally an article by a priest about homosexuality was condemned by many… Read more »
Sara Portelli, Giovann Mamo, Dorianne Buttigieg, Marthese Farrugia, Carmen Mamo, Maria Cardona
Economy and religion are rarely associated with each other. However, the implications of true faith extend deeply into our practical way of living including the economic dimension. Thus, faith advocates for a fair distribution of goods and discusses the relationship between production, wealth and the environment. Faith prompts us to ask whether we are making good use of the means provided to us and what it means to live a life in fulfillment of human dignity… Read more »
Whilst the general consensus is such that living to an old age is a blessing, not a curse, the recent spike in Covid-19 deaths has given rise to a heated debate about our elderly and their role within society. Listening to the ever-increasing number of deaths of old people, one will most definitely come across remarks which show a lack of empathy as we blame the natural cycle of life for their death… Read more »
In his reflection on last Sunday’s gospel reading, Pope Francis dwelled on the moment when at sundown, the disciples invited Jesus to send the crowd away so that they could go and find something to eat. Jesus answered: “You give them something to eat”. The disciples obviously couldn’t imagine how they could feed that enormous crowd.
Focusing less on the actual miracle, and more on the attitude Jesus requires from his disciples, the Pope explains that this was Jesus’ way to educate them and us in God’s logic. ‘The logic of taking responsibility for others… Read more »
