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The Permanent Session on Indigenous Issues is in progress at the UN from today, Monday 7th, May 2012. The special theme this year is the “Doctrine of Discovery” and its enduring impact on indigenous peoples throughout the world. It is worthwhile reading up about the Doctrine of Discovery initiated more than 500 years ago. Today, it is still being applied to indigenous peoples and is often marked by the violations of cultural practices and spiritual expressions, expropriation of lands, territories and resources and ongoing violations of indigenous peoples’ human rights. How about visiting the following Web site: www.un.org/indigenous where you will find background and other related documents of the eleventh session of the Forum!

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Loreto Sisters Helen O‟Riordan and Louise O'Sullivan  went to Rumbek, South Sudan at the beginning of February for two weeks.

They went to visit our school there.Here are a few facts about the newly-established country. South Sudan has ten states of which Rumbek

is part of the Lakes State (maybe that becomes more apparent in the rainy season; otherwise, the government has a wicked sense of humour!).

It has a population of approximately 11 million people. The flag has the pan-African colours of red, black, green and white, and there‟s a yellow

star on a blue background to the left of the flag. The president is Salva Kiir Mayardit. The birthrate is 50/1000. The rate of completion of primary

education is 2%. According to UNICEF fewer than one percent of girls complete primary education and the level of female illiteracy is the highest

in the world. 27% of people have access to clean water.

Here is a video of there trip