2013 List of Further Resources #1

The Complete Selection of Further Resources published in Mercy E-News throughout 2013 can be found below. If you hadn't time throughout the year to read, watch and listen to these, you might like to do so over the Christmas holidays and before Mercy E-news returns on 22 January 2014.

Note: Timebound news items, including UN observances, conferences and other highlighted events, have been deleted and monthly links to newsletters such as Stop Trafficking and LCWR have been replaced by a link to the year's issues at the end of this list on #4

JANUARY

Worth watching:

Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Landfill Harmonic
See what happens when a cello made from an oil can and pieces of wood thrown in the garbage; a saxophone made of spoons and buttons and other instruments crafted by Nicolas, a recycler with no previous experience making musical instruments, are given to children living hand-to-mouth by the garbage dump in Catuera, Paraguay. Be inspired. Watch it here

'Solar sisters' spreading light in Africa
Solar Sisters is a network of communities selling solar lighting to poor communities. The female entrepreneurs make a commission on every sale. More than 270 women in three East African countries have so far joined the group. Founder Katherine Lucey says energy poverty will not be solved by philanthropy.
– CNN

Let Us Rise As One & Fight Human Trafficking: Winston Moyo
Production sponsored by the Irish Congregation of the Sisters of Charity

Worth Reading:
There's More to Life Than Being Happy .
“Research has shown that having purpose and meaning in life increases overall well-being and life satisfaction, improves mental and physical health, enhances resiliency, enhances self-esteem, and decreases the chances of depression. On top of that, the single-minded pursuit of happiness is ironically leaving people less happy. ‘It is the very pursuit of happiness,’ [Viktor] Frankl knew, ‘that thwarts happiness.’”
– The Atlantic

FEBRUARY

Worth Reading:
Barbara Fredrickson, the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology and director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is the author of the new book on love : "Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become". In this article she shares 10 lessons she has learned about love, including this: that "micro-moments of love not only make you healthier, but being healthier builds your capacity for love. Little by little, love begets love by improving your health. And health begets health by improving your capacity for love".

Worth Watching:
"Everything is Incredible” is a moving short documentary about Agustin, a Honduran man who despite being severely disabled by polio, has been building his own helicopter for the past 50 years. The helicopter, which resides in Agustin’s small house, is made out of bicycle parts, rebar, and other scavenged materials. Click here to view the film (10 minutes)

Worth Hearing: 
On Sunday, 17 February, Joan Chittester OSB was interviewed by Rachael Kohn on the ABC (Australia) Radio National program "The Spirit of Things".  In the interview Sr Joan speaks of her extended poem "The Monastery of the Heart" and other matters. Listen to it here.
-ABC Radio

Worth Watching:
Shabana Basij-Rasikh: Dare to educate Afghan girls. Watch it here
-Talks | TEDx

Worth Remembering:
Sunday Gospel commentary by Veronica Lawson rsm (ISMAPNG), published each week on the Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) website. Find it here

Worth Watching: 
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles RE Congress was held 21-24 February. Webcasts from this conference are online. These include: Richard Rohr: " Immortal Diamond: the Search for Our True Self" and Ronald Rolheiser: "Spirituality and the Different Stages of Our Lives: One Size Doesn't Fit All".
The full list of presentations, interviews and liturgies can be scrolled through here.

Worth a Laugh:
Popularlibros.com - Did you know the BOOK? English subtitles. View here

Worth Reading:
Every Monday for the past three years, poet D.S. Martin has posted about poets of the Christian faith. Poets are featured from across the centuries, around the world, and from varying denominational backgrounds. Poets can be accessed alphabetically. The list currently ranges from Dante Alighieri to  Ed Zahniser. Visit the site here

Worth Reading:
Maria Konnikova: The Beautiful Fragility of Language.Read it here
-Scientific American

MARCH

Worth Watching:
-Emmanuel Kelly (adopted) son of Moira Kelly who is a past pupil of St Aloysius (Mercy) College in North Melbourne, Victoria, sang this week at Emmanuel College, Warrnambool, Victoria, a Mercy co-sponsored school. Here is his performance of John lennon's Imagine on the X Factor in 2011 (13,957,471 views). Watch, listen and be inspired
-The Hoshyar Foundation is raising awareness and funds for girls schools in the Middle East. View the moving presentation here

Worth Watching:
"Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?' wrote American author, philosopher and poet Henry David Thoreau (1817 -1862). In this video 'Empathy', produced by the Cleveland Clinic, we are invited to stand in the place of the other and to experience what that person feels. View this thought provoking video here

-Looking for a reflection for St Patrick's Day ? You might consider using this one. Music by Phil Coulter, singing by Roma Downey. View the video here

Worth Reading:  The Price of Violence Against Women and Girls
"Violence against women and girls is not only a human rights or public health issue, but an economic and development issue, slowing economic growth and undermining efforts to reduce poverty," writes World Bank Group Managing Director Caroline Anstey. Access the article here.

-Poetry for Lent and Easter. Access poems here.

Worth Knowing:  The excellent website Why Poverty? has been updated with new films and the long documentaries are now all available online in Spanish on the Spanish site. Teachers: note the addition of resources and teaching tools.

Worth a Look:  Data Blog - International Women's Day: political rights around the world mapped
Source: The Guardian

Worth Watching: 60 Minutes on CBS (USA) on Sunday night (17/3) screened "American nuns struggle with Vatican for change". The question for CBS: " Will Pope Francis change the way the Vatican has been dealing with the largest U.S. nun's organization? Bob Simon reports". Watch it here

Worth Reading:
Online, Some are More Equal than Others

Worth Watching:
God's Architect: Antoni Gaudi's glorious vision
Architect Antoni Gaudi's vision for the Sagrada Familia, a church under construction for over 130 years, is aided by modern technology.  Watch it here (12'39")
Source: CBS

Worth Reading:
Gethsemane by Mary Oliver is included in a sampling of her work that can be accessed here

Marie Dennis is a Co-President of Pax Christi International and the co-author of two books about Romero. On Saturday 23 March she delivered the talk at the annual national service in London commemorating Romero's assassination on 24 March 1980..." In the coming days we will remember two powerful stories about death and resurrection – the story of Jesus from first century Palestine and the twentieth century story of Archbishop Oscar Romero from El Salvador." Access the text here

Worth Hearing:
For the God Who sings. Program for Holy Week and for Resurrection
Tears and transcendence: The spiritual power of music
Source: Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC)