committed to universal brotherhood (Fratelli tutti), justice, peace and the care of the common home (Laudato si’). In a spirit of synodality, we collaborate with people of different cultures, ethnicities and religions for the transformation of the world in accord with God’s plan (cf. CC 46).
Kenyans Gen Z speaks out; a voice rised out into a peaceful protest. The protests started on June 18, 2024. In Peaceful demonstrations, the Gen zs’ were airing out their dissatisfaction with the government. They were calling upon the MPs to reject the finance bill 2024; however the Mps decided to amend the finance bill. This was against the voice of the Gen z which was ‘REJECT FINANCE BILL 2024, and to not amend it.
June 18th was the final stage of the bill which the MP approved. This provoked the youth to go on the streets; they stormed parliament and vandalized it, and even burned part of it to demonstrate their anger towards those MPs who voted Yes to pass the finance Bill. But fortunately on 20th June the President did not sign the Bill though all the stages had passed. This did not cool the Gen z for after 21 days the Bill will be officially active. They demanded it to be taken back to the Mps to nullify the bill.
The president had an online gathering with the Gen z on X (space x) where they addressed all their needs including the High cost of living, Youth unemployment, police brutality, political accountability, among others. Some of their demands have been met such as the president not signing the finance bill and also firing all the cabinet secretaries (ministers). The protestors continue to push for comprehensive reforms. The situation remains volatile and the need for constructive dialogue and tangible actions are on the way. The Gen z are protesting in 25counties out of 47 counties. This has paralyzed movements and vandalized of business. A lot of brutal killings have been recorded and injuries. The youth vowed to protest every Tuesday and Thursday until their demands have been met.
Greetings of peace from Kinshasa, DR Congo. We want to share with you what is happening in the east of our country. Surely you have heard that the armed conflict in the provinces of Ituri, Sud Kivu and Nord Kivu has worsened. The M23 movement, which carries out massacres and other war crimes in the area, is receiving more and more military equipment and, as the team of UN experts working in the region proved in their reports, is supported by the Rwandan army. The interests of foreign powers not only concern the strategic minerals in the subsoil of these provinces, but also territorial expansion and occupation.
In this context, we are particularly concerned by the fact that the European Union has signed an agreement with the Rwandan government on the value chain of strategic minerals essential for the development of so-called clean energies and for the production of cutting-edge technological devices, including our smartphones. These minerals, such as coltan, do not exist in the Rwandan subsoil, but in the provinces of Nord and Sud Kivu, systematically occupied and destabilized through practices such as collective rape as a weapon of war and other ways of instilling terror and generating the forced displacement of the people who inhabit this land.
We believe it is important that together we seek truth and justice as the only weapons to fight for a genuine and sustainable peace. The Congolese people are already living a situation of war, of extreme aggression, and this makes them bearers of the mission of the Servant of the Lord. Jesus is alive in the heart of this people: not to make them resign themselves to oppression, but to liberate them as a teacher of nonviolence and Lord of History. For this reason, we invite you to join us in prayer for the Congolese people and to ask the Spirit to inspire us to find ways to make our solidarity ever more effective.
An embrace in the Heart of Mary.
Secretariat of JPIC of the Claretian Missionaries in DRC
We offer a prayer and reflection on human trafficking, made by the Claretian sisters (RMI) for the Claretian family, on the occasion of the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita. The material is translated into 5 languages for pastoral or liturgical use.
Clean energy is essential for addressing two key challenges: ensuring no one is left behind and protecting the planet. In the face of climate change, clean energy plays a vital role in reducing emissions and benefiting communities without reliable power sources. Currently, 675 million people live without access to electricity, with 4 in 5 residing in Sub-Saharan Africa. The link between clean energy, socio-economic development, and environmental sustainability is crucial for vulnerable communities globally. Lack of clean energy hampers education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, with many relying on polluting fossil fuels, perpetuating poverty. If current trends persist, one in four people will still use unsafe cooking systems by 2030. Despite progress, the world is off-track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030. A Global Stocktaking on SDG7 in April 2024 will assess progress and recommend solutions.
Adopting clean energy is also integral to combating climate change. A significant portion of greenhouse gases comes from burning fossil fuels for energy production. To limit climate change, there’s a need to transition away from fossil fuels and invest in clean, accessible, affordable, sustainable, and reliable alternative energy sources. Renewable energy sources, provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and Earth’s heat, emit minimal greenhouse gases. Simultaneously, improving energy efficiency in sectors like transport, buildings, lighting, and appliances is crucial. Using less energy for the same output saves money, reduces carbon pollution, and contributes to universal access to sustainable energy for all.
