Wales has its own Assembly government, and makes many of its own decisions, while not completely devolved from Westminster. The second term for elections comes up in May and there are many issues regarding education, health and an ageing community which will need our scrutiny. Wales has some of the most beautiful scenery in UK, but also the greatest poverty, both amongst industrial workers and in particular, the hill farmers. Campaigns are in process to obtain better remuneration for them from retail super-markets, milk being one of the most seriously underpaid.

The Schools’ JPIC group met recently and are full of future plans, a retreat in St. Albans, facilitated by Annie Bromham ibvm, being planned for June. This follows a successful time in February with a small combined group of Staff and students from Loreto Sixth Form College, Manchester and Loreto College, St. Albans at Loyola Hall in Liverpool.

Events planned include World Book day event on March 1st to raise money for Loreto in Peru, a Chocolate Fountain for Fairtrade Fortnight at the Sixth Form College, and a sportathon at the prep. school. The Live Simply Campaign has taken off well in the College, and Altrincham Staff who went to Calcutta gave some very positive feedback, raising funds as a result. 

A discussion took place on the 200 year anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery through the work of William Wilberforce, though it was acknowledged that other forms of slavery are still in place today, particularly the trafficking of women, children and men for economic and sexual exploitation.

Trafficking  The project adopted by the province under the auspices of the Medaille Trust and support of CoR has now opened a fourth safe house in the north-west of England. The discovery of a trafficking ring in North Wales some months ago has resulted in the two Chinese girls being found safe accommodation while they review their stay here, and in the arrest of two traffickers, both from Albania. They are to be deported once they have completed their prison sentence. Sorry, Albania!  Imelda Poole is working there courageously, sometimes accompanied by a visitor from UK for a short time.

Doryne’s  emails from U.N. are appreciated and in February, as we have been nearly washed away with rain this winter and as February is proverbially named “fill-dyke”, our regular JPIC newsletter focussed on “Water”, using some of Doryne’s material.

We also considered our own use and abuse of water and hope to have some simple prayer around March 22nd, World Water Day.

Things to do.  Recycle used water, wash the car using a bucket, turn off the tap when cleaning teeth or use a tumbler, install a water butt, get dripping taps repaired, get a water saver for toilet systems, don’t concrete over the front garden, mulch the flower beds to retain moisture…

The following included item might be of interest to others, relating to the saving of rivers:

Rivers – NEGLECTED ASSETS

An academic is helping urban communities to reclaim lost rivers.

STUART DOWNWARD of Kingston University’s School of Earth Sciences and Geography is embarking on a mission to restore lost rivers to their communities – and to emphasise the importance of rivers to people and places.  (Resurgence:No.240 Jan/Feb 2007)

Over the years, many rivers have been swallowed up by urban encroachment. Councils have buried them underground, culverted them in concrete channels or simply allowed them to become overhung, polluted or dangerous. Downward says this has been a mistake – and he is out to prove it. Working with the Environment Agency and local councils, he is using his expertise to help urban communities around the country find beauty again in their lost rivers.

“In some towns and cities, rivers have literally been forced underground and forgotten about,” he says. “As a result, people have become divorced from nature. It’s part of my role to restore rivers to their former glory and recreate that link.”

Can you recall playing or taking walks by a river in days gone by? Are there places in your vicinity where people, especially children, still have this pleasure? How can we encourage local authorities to provide for this?

We end with a plea from North American origins (hoping the history, from the Cistercians, is correct).

CHIEF SEATHL’S TESTAMENT

Chief Seathl was a member of the Suquamish tribe of the North American Indians. He is remembered for his attempts, which were largely successful, to live peacefully alongside the ‘Bostons’ - the white settlers from the eastern United States. At the age of 22, in 1808, he became the Chief of the Suquamish and its allied tribes. The chief’s ‘Testament’ was an address given to the tribal confederation, probably at the time when the first Governor of the new Washington Territory was annexing Indian lands.

“If we sell you land, you must remember that it is sacred, and you must teach your children that it is sacred and that each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water’s murmur is the voice of my father’s father.

The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst. The rivers carry our canoes and feed our children.

If we sell you our land, you must remember, and teach your children, that the rivers are our brothers and yours, and you must henceforth give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother.”