By Marcia Tinto
Member of CCSJ’s Management Committee
This Sunday is World Environment Day. The United Nations has been commemorating this day on June 5 annually, since 1974. Today also marks 50 years since the UN held its first conference on the environment.
The objective of this day is to promote worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment. This year’s theme is Only One Earth, the same theme used for the very first World Environment Day.
This is not surprising because, unfortunately, we still must be reminded that “the human mind knows no boundaries, but the planet does”.
The focus of Only One Earth is on “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature” which has been God’s advice throughout the Bible.
Genesis, the first book of the Bible, focuses on creation. God created all the natural resources that humans need. “God saw all he had made and indeed it was very good” (Gen 1:31)
Psalm 24:1 emphasises, “to Yahweh belong the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live there …”. In the New Testament, John tells us that “through Him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him” (Jn 1:3)
It is no coincidence that we celebrate the feast of Pentecost today. In the Readings, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples “appeared to them tongues as of fire” which “separated and came to rest on the head of each of them”.
The fire of the Holy Spirit continues to live in us, to give us the passion and desire to serve God and all His creation. It is therefore only fitting that as Catholics, we should be ignited with the Holy Spirit to take on the challenge and responsibility to change our choices, leading to cleaner and greener lifestyles.
Pope Francis saw the need to take “swift and unified global action” to save our one earth and to live sustainably in harmony with nature. His encyclical Laudato Si’ – On care for our common home’ highlights overconsumption, irresponsible development, environmental degradation, and the climate crisis.
Laudato Si’ aligns with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because both the papal letter of 2015 and the UN report of 2016 treat with social justice issues.
No poverty; good health and well-being; clean water and sanitation; quality education and decent work; reduced inequalities; responsible consumption and production; climate action as well as the promotion of peace, justice and strong institutions must be key priorities because every human deserves equal rights and opportunities.
On this Feast of Pentecost, let us be enkindled by the Holy Spirit to play our part to transform the most pressing ecological and social issues of our day.
In the words of Pope Francis, “We as human beings are united by the concern for our planet and every living thing that dwells on it, especially the poorest and most vulnerable.”
SOCIAL JUSTICE QUOTE
FOR THE WEEK
“There is a sad hypocrisy when the impunity of crime, the use of institutions for personal or corporate gain, and other evils apparently impossible to eradicate, are accompanied by a relentless criticism of everything, a constant sowing of suspicion that results in distrust and confusion.” (75)—
– Pope Francis, Fratelli Tuitti
CCSJ Social Justice Education Committee
