JUNE 2010 ISSUE
Victims and heroines
All around the developing world, women and girls are the pillars of their families and communities. As part of their daily tasks, they cook, clean, farm, collect wood and fetch water for their households; and provide them with health and hygienic care. Because of these roles, they are particularly vulnerable. In situations of conflict, they become more and more the main targets – through sexual assault and common violence. The importance of their role is their weakness. For the contenders, to humiliate and control them is a way to demoralize the “enemy.” Sometimes, they are also made pawns in a sadistic game of ethnic cleansing. Ironically, when we look closely at war zones and violent prone areas, we’ll see that most of the peacemakers, even in the remotest and harshest places, are also women. The Catholic nuns, who risk their own lives to help the victims and alleviate their burden, are among them. The courage and resilience they show is a lesson in humanity.
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| DUBAI: TALLEST SKYSCRAPER IN THE WORLD |
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The world's tallest building opened its doors in Dubai with a superb show of fireworks and colored lanterns. To the surprise of many, the skyscraper measuring 828 meters that was called "Burj Dubai" during the construction, has been called "Burj Khalifa," after the head of the federation of the Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan, Emir of Abu Dhabi.
 Recently, Abu Dhabi came to the rescue of Dubai with over 10 billion dollars to cover part of the debts it had accumulated. Inaugurating the building, Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, said: "This great project deserves to bear the name of a great man. Today I inaugurate the Burj Khalifa." The new tower, with its 160 floors, is home to 1,044 luxury apartments, 49 floors of office space and an Armani hotel of 160 rooms, a mosque (on the 158th fl), and the highest swimming pool (76th fl) in the planet. The project was started in 2004 by 12 thousand workers. Built in record time, it represents the dream of Dubai in wanting to be a cosmopolitan metropolis and a world financial centre of luxury and wealth. Its opening in the midst of a global economic crisis is bringing losses to all investors, given that the value of their properties in Dubai has fallen by up to 50%. Mohammed Alabbar, head of Emaar, the company responsible for the Burj, says that, the building brings "hope and optimism." "I hope that this is the beginning of a gradual move forward [beyond the crisis]." But many think that with the ongoing crisis and the global problems of climate change, the Burj is just a monument to excess and waste.  www.asianews.it and Agencies
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World Mission receives again a Catholic Mass Media trophy
World Mission (WM) was awarded another trophy by the prestigious Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) in its 31st edition. The magazine was distinguished as the Best Local Community/Parish Newspaper for the third consecutive year.
QUOTES OF THE MONTH
""Man is made to love; his life is fully realized only if he lives in love."
"We, Christians, even lately, have often avoided the word 'penance.' Now, under the eyes of the world that speaks of our sins, we see that doing penance is grace and we see how penance is necessary."
"The Pope and I are united on the relationship between reason and science, the necessity of dialogue between religions and the need for worldwide ethics, even if my hopes of a reformist course have not been fulfilled."
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- Moises-Kenya : hello everybody... i am very proud of WMM for very up-to-date, meaningful and heart-moving articles, missionary news and reflections... excellent! thanks to MCCJ-Asia & to all Friends of the Missions! More power & blessings from God...
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