Malta, 24th May 2012
Rome, 2010
Contents of the document:
Diminishing natural
resources
Human action
(developmental paradigm)
Pollution
Climate change
Ecological crisis
FACTS AND
CONSEQUENCES
of the ecological crisis
With DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
Rich countries have emitted 7 out of 10 tons of CO2 since the
industrial revolution
With DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
With DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCES:
With DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCES:
 It is expected an increase of rain in northern
latitudes and a decrease in subtropical ones
 Warming will probably be higher than the median
in Sub-Saharan Africa and in East and Southeast
Asia
 This will cause significant loses in agriculture,
leading to malnourishment. There will be
differences between countries. In developed
countries production might increase and diminish
in developing countries
Ambiguous role
of science
Difficulty of controlling genetical
experiments
The risk of nuclear plants and its
radioactive waste
It may prevent risks and propose solutions
It is improving and looking for new and
cleaner sources of energy
Recycling water is becoming an alternative
for the future
Toxicity of pesticides used to increase
agricultural production
Microorganisms can cause a controlled
degradation of wastes
Very polluting ways of extracting
minerals…
Ecological architecture can develop practical
solutions
SCIENCE CAN CAUSE
ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
SCIENCE CAN OFFER SOLUTIONS
FOR ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS
That’s all
falks!
Global trends:
1) A new ecological awareness
2) New geopolitics: emerging countries (Brazil,
Russia, India, China, South Africa)
3) Overlapping crisis:
ecological crisis + economic crisis
4) Learning from big natural disasters:
•
•
Need of better ecological governance
Need of disasters protocols
Several Failures :
- Political failure:
Enormous economic challenge of reducing
greenhouse gases; very difficult consensus and
commitments.
- SCIENTIFIC limits:
The complexity of climate science, which
makes difficult to evaluate human impact on it,
as well as the speed and risks of global
warming.
- Confusion at the MEDIA:
Deliberate campaigns to confuse the public and
discredit the science.
How do we understand “ecology”?
Take care of
creation
New life styles, no
consumerism
Defend poor and
threatened
communities and
future generations
Contents of the document:
In the Bible:
AT:
Creation, a beautiful gift given by God to
humanity.
NT: Incarnation and Resurrection establish a new
relation between God, human beings and
creation:
 Non utilitarian
 “Creation itself will be set free from its bondage to
decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the
children of God”, Romans 8.21
From FAITH perspective:
In the Social Doctrine of the Church:
“The goods of creation belong to humanity as a whole”
(Benedicto XVI, Message for the World Day of Peace, 2010. §7)
“economy cannot be measured according to the maxim of
profit but rather according to the common good of all, that it
implies responsibility for others and only really functions well
if it functions humanly.” (Benedicto XVI, 18th August 2011)
” The environmental crisis and poverty are connected by a complex and dramatic set of
causes that can be resolved by the principle of the universal destination of goods, which
offers a fundamental moral and cultural orientation. The present environmental crisis
affects those who are poorest in a particular way, whether they live in those lands subject
to erosion and desertification, are involved in armed conflicts or subject to forced
immigration, or because they do not have the economic and technological means to
protect themselves from other calamities.”
(Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 2004 §482)
” Charity always manifests God's love in human relationships as well, it gives theological
and salvific value to all commitment for justice in the world.”
(Benedict XVI, Encyclical letter Caritas in veritate, 2009 §6)
In Jesuit General Congregations:
1980
1983. GC 33. First references to ecology.
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
1995. GC 34 (D.20)
1999. Document: We live in a broken world: reflections on ecology.
It includes references to the links between ecological crisis and social
marginalisation.
2008. GC 35 (D.3, n.18). Reconciliation with creation.
2010. Document: Healing a broken world. Secretariado
para la Justicia Social y la Ecología.
From FAITH perspective:
- The ecological crisis is seen as a way of:
• Destroying God’s gift
• Making people suffer
- We are invited to:
1) - Acknowledge the suffer we have caused
2) - Change our attitudes (metanoia)
3) - Become agents of change in the world
A “new covenant” between human beings and creation,
which is a gift FOR ALL people (from the past, the present
and the future), a gift that needs our care.
From JUSTICE perspective:
Towards a restaurative ecological justice:
• Reconciliation with creation
• Establishing a “new covenant”:
• Based on Justice
•
Promoting new life styles:
• Not fostering consumerism
• More humane
• More beautiful
From the perspective of DIALOGUE
WITH CULTURES AND RELIGIONS
Cultures express the values of the people.
- The “green movement” has promoted:
• An ecological awareness in the societies
• The protection of numerous ecosystems as national parks….
• The inclusion of ecological concerns in parties’ programs .
From the perspective of DIALOGUE
WITH CULTURES and RELIGIONS
We can learn from other traditions,
because they may offer values for a new relation
with the planet.
• AFRICAN RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS
show us the value of the ancestral land.
• ISLAM
BUDDHISM
Many
In HINDUISM
TAOISM
invites
INDIGENOUS
believes
preaches
uspeople
to there
take
PEOPLES
universal
are
care
exists
asked
ofand
compasion
acreation,
principle
not
traditional
to use
because
(tao)
for
violence
societies
allthat
beings.
it isnurtures,
(ahimsa)
created
have a profound
sustains
against
by God.
spirituality
criatures.
and
transforms
developed
all beings..
in contact to their land and their history.
Contents of the document:
Institutions and families are invited to discern and develop
more ecologically sustainable management practices and
lifestyles
We are invited to address the effects of the environmental
crisis on the poor, marginalised and indigenous peoples.
•
Promoting a conscious and active citizenship to pressurize
governments to adopt necessary bold political decisions.
Those in charge of communication and media are invited to
develop ways of increasing the awareness and motivation
for action:
•
Involve young people since they are likely to be more open to, and
more engaged in, this issue.
Higher education institutions, high and primary schools are
invited to engage students in transformative education and
to explore new themes and areas of interdisciplinary
research.
Centres of theological reflection, spirituality, social and
pastoral works are invited to develop the spiritual sources
motivating our commitment and fostering our celebration of
creation.
(
)
Examine modes of travel and actively search for
alternatives. For example, limiting the use of cars and
favouring public transportation and the use of cycles
Apply the 3R:
Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Render more sustainable
practices of buying food:
promote organically grown,
local and seasonal fairly
traded food
Have some vegetarian (meat
free) days
If possible, do not use bottled
water.
Reduce food wastage as much
as possible and compost
organic kitchen waste
Unplug your electronic
devices. Don’t leave them in
standby mode.
Examine the tendency to
accumulate gadgets; ask
always the question: do I
really need this item?
Use biodegradable cleaning
products, especially if there
are problems with waste water
treatment
Use paper-based hygiene
products made from recycled
materials.
Use cloth that can be washed
rather than thrown away
Foto: BBC