August conference

Kate Blain, assistant editor of The Evangelist, writes a front page article in this week’s issue regarding one of the speakers at The Convergence of Hope and History: Sustainable Solutions for a Peaceful World, which we first told you about here.

When the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck a reef in 1989 and dumped 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound, Jim Merkel felt responsible.

As a military engineer and arms trader, he realized that his career contributed to the instability of many world economies. Moreover, he was suddenly struck by the fact that his personal habits -- flying around the country on business trips, driving even the three miles to his office -- were damaging the planet.

Watching the devastation in Alaska, he felt as if "I was...a guilty party," he told The Evangelist. "Caring for the Earth was not a priority for me."

Mr. Merkel abruptly quit his job and began devoting his life to promoting environmental protection and world peace.

On August 18-19, he will be a keynoter and panelist at a conference at the National Shrine of Kateri Tekakwitha in Fonda: "The Convergence of Hope and History: Sustainable Solutions for a Peaceful World."

The conference is co-sponsored by the Albany diocesan Commission on Peace and Justice, the Interfaith Alliance of New York State, Veterans for Peace, Women Against War and Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace.

To learn more, go here.