Micro Credit in Burundi
Those who wish to participate, even with a “one off” contribution can use the current account at: Associazione Azione per un Mondo Unito, presso Banca Popolare Etica, filiale di Roma. Code IBAN: IT16GO501803200000000120434 Code SWIFT/BIC CCRTIT2184D Cause: “Micro credit projects in Burundi”. Further information can be accessed in project form.
Consecrated Life: spirituality of communion, way to sanctity
Radicalità, comunione e spiritualità.Radicalism, communion, and spirituality. This is what the young religious desire for their future consecrated life. This emerged from a survey carried out on the eve of the V Meeting on Consecrated Life held in Rome, on the 3rd December, on the initiative of the male and female consecrated religious of the Focolare Movement, in collaboration with the Institute of Theology Claretianum. Two points constituted the core of the survey: one positive and the other negative on Consecrated Life: “I would like the consecrated life I live to be more… I would like the consecrated life I live to be less…” Regarding the negative dimension, it emerged that they reject formality and denounce activism. Based on the results of the survey, the title of the meeting was-“Saints together”-and it proposed the spirituality of communion as the way to common sanctity. The interventions in the hall were various: the archbishop Joao Braz of Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of consecrated life and Societies on Apostolic Life, the Rector of the Pontifical University Urbaniana, Father Fabio Ciardi of the Missionaries Oblates of Mary Immaculate who was entrusted with the theme: “ The spirituality of communion, way to sanctity.” This was followed by a series of lived experiences related by male and female religious. And at the end Lucia Abignente from the Chiara Lubich Centre, presented a short historical “excursus” of the thoughts of Chiara Lubich on the sanctity of the people and she introduced two short films. 
The second part of the meeting was introduced by an exceptional witness, Chiara Luce Badano, proclaimed blessed on the 25th September, of the past year. She was presented by the Gen, the youths of the Focolare Movement. Born in 1971 Chiara Luce is a contemporary person: “ through her life- explains Tiziana Longhitano sfp– she told us that sanctity is possible even today, that it is possible also for us. Chiara Luce seems to us to be the expression of a shared way. She did not become a saint alone; her parents accompanied her. Other friends also took part in her way, and they became involved in the reciprocity of Trinitarian Love.” “You are a true sign of God to the world and to us consecrated persons- said one of the participants at the end of the meeting-. Your witness infects youths and all those that have the opportunity to know you.”
Climate, technology and people. An interview with EcoOne.
A two week-long United Nations conference on climate change. What is your assesment? 
A modest last minute compromise was reached in Durban. The conference lasted a day longer than was foreseen and didn’t produce a new binding agreement, but postponed its drafting to 2015 and its enforcement to 2020. This confirms the general tendency of recent international negotiations on climate change: deadlock. We are witnessing on a global scale, a typical scene of sibling fighting. Everyone is waiting for the other sibling to take the first step to resolve their differences. The Kyoto protocol for reducing greenhouse gases that was extended until 2015, is insufficient because of its limited objectives and because highly-polluting countries do not adhere to it. Some of the big “historic” polluters would like the so-called emerging countries to be the ones to reduce emissions. 
Neverthelss I remain optimistic. I believe that humankind will find a solution. Some countries have already understood the strategic importance of renewable energies. The European Union fits into this context with its ‘20 20 20’ (reduction of greenhouse gas by 20%; reduction in energy consumption by 20% through the use of renewable energy.) Isn’t there a risk of these decisions being to the disadvantage of emerging countries? The risk is there. In fact, some rightly oppose the reduction of greenhouse gases while remaining to stand on the side of emerging countries where a large portion of the population is still without water and electricity. It would involve supporting renewable clean energy. It makes you wonder why the rich countries do not surrender their patents. Why do they export polluting industries? Among those who hold this position there is also the Catholic Church. In Durban there were representatives of a 190 countries who seek large accords among States. But on the micro level, can’t something also be done? Yes, of course. Personal involvement, consumer and voting choice and simpler lifestyle are all important actions that can be taken. Moreover, EcoOne is trying to also develop a debate on the level of the relationship between human beings and nature. . . Could you explain that a bit more? What are EcoOne’s proposals for a more sustainable life? EcoOne’s proposal stems from the thought of Chiara Lubich. What has Chiara taught us? Not so much the latest techniques for saving energy, but an outlook toward nature that is new. She made us gather the presence of God beneath things. She made us understand universal brotherhood, which means brotherhood with other peoples within our generation and among generations as a response to questions such as: ‘What kind of planet will we leave to our children? What kind of air will they breathe?’ By reflecting on a man-nature relationship in this renewed way, we find a possibility for overcoming an excessive anthropocentrism; that is, of considering man as absolute dominator and destroyer of nature in order to make money, of no longer thinking of nature as the center, up to the point that human beings become a “disturbance” in the cosmos. We believe that the answer lies rather in the gift of ourselves, in the human person as a gift along with our fellow men and women and with nature, of which we are not the masters but the custodians, the administrators, because God has entrusted it to us. Luca Fiorani, researcher at the ENEA and professor of Ecology and Environment at LUMSA, is the international coordinator of EcoOne, a cultural project promoted by teachers, researchers and professionals working in the field of Environmental Science, who are united by the desire to enrich their scientific knowledge with a humanistic and sapiential understanding of environmental problems. In 2010, together with Antonello Pasini, he published for Città Nuova, Il pianeta che scotta, capire il dibattito sui camgiamenti climatici (The hot planet, understanding the climate change debate.)
Christians and Hindus in Dialogue
Lonavla is famous for its pleasant climate on the Deccan Plateau, two hours from Mumbai. Sixty scholars have gathered there for the Fourth Christian-Hindu Symposium, which was first held in 2002 at Castelgandolfo, Italy a year after the visit of Chiara Lubich to India where she encountered members of the Ghandian academic community of this Asian nation. It was an absolute first. The Focolare Movement, already active in the field of interreligious dialogue for ten years, had never had the opportunity of addressing academic and theological topics among followers of different religions and traditions. Since 2002 academic projects with Buddhists, Jews and Muslims have taken place in Rome, Italy and other parts of the world. The discovery and growing appreciation for the value of dialogue in the academic field between followers of different faiths, although it should never become the main or exclusive priority, has become increasingly important for a true knowledge of the spirituality, rituals and ethics of the other. The title of the event offers a vital insight into what will be explored intellectually. Among the Christians – in addition to representatives from the Focolare Movement in India – there will also be members of the Focolare’s Abba School (a Focolare center for studies) and from the Focolare’s Center for Interreligious Dialogue. On the Hindu side, the attendees will include Gandhians who are involved in social and practical issues, as well as university professors who are affiliated with various prestigious universities.
The magazine Claritas is born
Callan, what is Claritas? 
“Claritas is an online English language journal that seeks to explore a culture of unity in an in-depth and academic fashion. The articles will be peer-reviewed to assure their quality, but above all, as in the Italian Nuova Umanità, they will seek to explore every field in light of that unity which can generate a new world. It does not seek to serve any particular cultural area in the world, but offers anyone who uses English the possibility of expressing their ideas in that language. In order to allow everyone to participate, particularly those who, in different parts of the world, have fewer economic advantages, it is free, although, in order to cover expenses we ask those who can to contribute as they would with any other professional journal they use.” How does peer review function? Why is that useful? “It’s really quite simple! Once the editor accepts an article for possible publication, it is sent to be reviewed by someone competent in the subject being treated. For the most part, these reviewers are members of the editorial board. This evaluation can be a real service to the author, as an article might have value, but might need some modifications before it can be published, so specifics improvements will be suggested. I should add that the editorial staff includes academics from institutions all over the world.” Claritas is a “trans-disciplinary” journal. Why does it take this approach? “Basically because one aspect of what we see as genuine unity is to respect, even to emphasize, the diversity of disciplines, and to recognize that one can enrich the other. Every discipline is autonomous, but none can stand completely on its own. Claritas addresses all those who wish to join in the conversation about what unity means and how it works. It aims to provide an intellectually respectable forum for promoting and spreading the culture that is born from the charism of unity.” How is it connected with the Focolare Movement? “The culture of unity that Claritas seeks to express is born from the charism within the Focolare Movement. Claritas, therefore, is a cultural expression of the Movement, but one does not necessarily have to be a member of the Movement to publish there or to find something useful or even enlightening in reading it.” Where did the idea of this journal originate? “Simply from the need to express the culture of unity in English. In practice behind this there were two parallel conversations. One was in Nuova Umanità which recognized the need to publish online in various languages, including, of course, in English. The other came about in the USA, where scholars connected with the Movement felt the necessity to express their ideas in a language that many in the world-wide academic community use. Fortunately, they also found the resources to bring this about. We shall see how things develop but the editorial line of the new journal is based on Nuova Umanità. Certainly it should be distinctive because of its rigorous nature, even as it strives, as much as possible, to be open to everyone.” On 12 March 2012 the first issue will be published. Can we have a preview? “We will publish a 1961 talk by Chiara Lubich, where she gives a summary of her experience of ‘Paradise.’ It is a highly significant text, full of cultural consequences or implications. There will be at least one article to contextualize it, and one that will examine the ideas of what it is to be human implicit in Chiara’s experience. In addition, there will be two articles on politics, one dealing with the limitations of political power and the other examining international relations. There will also be articles related to interreligious dialogue, particularly with Jews and Buddhists. Finally, demonstrating the breadth of interests in the journal, there will be reviews of various types of books–including some that go beyond the cultural contexts usually connected with the English language, such as a review examining the concept of ‘fraternity’ from a South American perspective.” Our best wishes to the journal Claritas!