Catholic Peacebuilding and Mining: Integral Peace, Development, and Ecology

In many areas in the world impacted by violence and conflict, mining is introducing new challenges to peace. 

Many countries around the world are turning to mining as a source of development. This can impact conflict in many ways, including funneling resources to illegal armed actors, damaging the environment, causing new or increased tensions among groups, being intertwined with drug cartels and other illegal activities, or by creating confrontations between companies and populations that might resist mining projects. In these circumstances, the Catholic Church’s institutional capacity and grassroots presence give it a unique ability to help reduce conflict, build peace, and promote integral human development.

Join us for a panel discussion on the linkages between mining and issues of conflict, human rights, sustainable development, governance, and environmental justice.

Panelists include:

• Karl Gaspar, C.Ss.R.,  Professor of Anthropology, Ateneo de Davao University

• Fr. Rigobert Minani, S.J., Director of Jesuit Social Ministries for Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola; Head of Research, Socio-Political Department, Center for Study and Social Action, Democratic Republic of Congo


• Sandra Polania-Reyes, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics, Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame


• Tebaldo Vinciguerra, Staff Advisor, Holy See Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development


• Moderator: Laurie Johnston, Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, Emmanuel College

Co-sponsored by the Catholic Peacebuilding Network (CPN), the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion, the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, the Mendoza College of Business, and the Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development. 

Originally published at kroc.nd.edu.