NEW YORK – Church World Service begins 2012 with the Rev. John L. McCullough re-elected to lead the global humanitarian agency as executive director and CEO for four more years. Over the last four years, McCullough, who has led the agency since 2000, initiated a sweeping vision that challenges CWS to “dramatically expand its capacity and its impact in the …
Hunger, Need to Reduce Risk for Major Disasters Among Top Concerns for 2012
January 4, 2012
NEW YORK – The number of children in poverty who are hungry could reach unparalleled levels in 2012 given the state of the global economy, Church World Service says in its annual New Year’s assessment. “Those numbers could be considerable and unparalleled, even in the so-called ‘First World,’” said John L. McCullough, CWS executive director and CEO. The increase in …
John Backer, 61-year veteran of Church World Service, passed away December 14
December 16, 2011
John Backer, whose 61-year career with Church World Service began as a volunteer welcoming refugees from post-war Europe upon arrival at the piers of New York City, died December 14, 2011, following a heart attack. He was 79. The family has scheduled the funeral for Saturday, December 17, 2011, at Broadway United Church of Christ, 2504 Broadway @ 93rd Street, …
CWS emergency appeal update: East Africa drought
December 13, 2011
Appeal #642-L Amount: $1.2 million Amount of funds received as of Dec. 11, 2011: $534,789 Situation: Millions of people continue to feel the effects of a historic drought in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. October and November rains have allowed some farming communities to plant their fields in anticipation of a harvest in January or February. Other areas are still dry, …
‘Meaningful climate action postponed for a decade’ says Church World Service
WASHINGTON, DC — Following Sunday’s conclusion of two weeks of talks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, Church World Service today issued a statement lamenting the postponement of “meaningful action” on man-made threats to the atmosphere and planet and again called on President Obama and the U.S. Congress to act boldly to address the crisis. The CWS …
Kenyan youth return from COP17 aiming to take action on climate
December 12, 2011
Scope of warming effects, African deforestation unfold on road to Durban DURBAN, South Africa – As extended climate change talks ended in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday with much unresolved despite agreement to extend the Kyoto Protocol through 2017, a group of young Kenyan delegates who traveled to Durban in an African youth caravan are now returning home, set to …
“We have much for which to be grateful.”
Mary Sotomayor | November 21, 2011
We called her Frau Kepple. She was the substitute English teacher at my high school, but we knew her as “that German lady who was a refugee and told us to call her Frau.” She was a short woman, only standing slightly above five feet, but had a commanding presence and a compelling story. Frau Kepple — while teaching us …
“Don’t cut programs that will cost lives, harm America”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – While members of the Congressional Super Committee all but acknowledged their failure to reach an agreement on the federal budget, Church World Service joined with people of faith in cities across the U.S. on Sunday in sending a clear message to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and Congress that cuts to programs for the most …
One eco-tech toilet: cause for celebration in this Moldovan village school
November 18, 2011
Ceremony heralds World Toilet Day HASNASENII MARI, Moldova — Kids attending school in the small, northern Moldova village of Hasnasenii Mari today celebrated their school’s first toilet at a special ceremony. The new urine diverting dry toilet (UDDT), or composting toilet, is the first of its kind in northern Moldova, inaugurated a day before World Toilet Day (Nov. 19). The …
On Durban and climate change: “America leads, it does not follow,” CWS urges President
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the lead up to the COP-17 climate change summit in Durban, South Africa (November 28 – December 9), the head of international humanitarian agency Church World Service has urged President Barack Obama and State Department negotiators to make good on U.S. promises in Copenhagen and Cancun by committing now to the establishment of at least one …