Every 3rd week of May, Catholics in the entire world are celebrating the release of Laudato si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical letter to all mankind calling everyone to “Listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor”. This is the 5th year since its release. Amidst the ecological crises and this pandemic that we are facing, Catholics are once again called to reflect Pope Francis’ call.
Ecological Crisis and Coronavirus 2019
Before the coronavirus ravaged the entire world, let us not forget that we are in the brink of the 6th mass extinction as projected by scientists from 153 countries. With the unprecedented heating up of the atmosphere, garbage, deforestation, continuous extraction of minerals from the surface of the earth, and pollution, the earth is a mess, and almost dead. It is as filthy as a pit. But mankind behave like everything is normal and okay, it consumes as if our resources is unlimited, as if we are not in ecological crisis, and as if no one is suffering.
And then coronavirus happened. Coronavirus 2019 is a virus that scientists believed to have come from wild animals that are consumed in Wuhan, China where the virus originated. Primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall said that the “global disregard of nature has brought the coronavirus pandemic”. As people destroy the animals’ home and hunt wild animals for food, transfer of virus from animals to humans become inevitable. Read more
2020 Laudato Si Celebration
The battle to stop this pandemic may take time, recovering may take even longer. The Pope, through the Laudato Si, is again inviting us to reflect on the state of the environment and its impact to the poorest sector of society who are suffering the most to ‘Listen to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor’.
The Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI) is responding through a week of more pronounced actions:
How can you participate?
| A.) Like Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc (PMPI) in Facebook. Like Button Facebook logo vector B.) Check on the post regarding psychosocial response offered by our partner doctors. Share it with frontliners or community members who desperately need someone to talk to. C.) Follow our urgent appeals communicated to us by partners and donate and help you can manage. | A.) Let us ensure that what we are consuming and sharing in the social media are official data from official agencies to avoid spreading misinformation that might cause unnecessary anxiety to people. B.) If you have time to spare to help PMPI develop more IEC materials or translate existing IEC materials to your dialect so many will understand important information, do not hesitate to send PMPI a message. |
| A.) One thing that this ECQ has taught us is that simple lifestyle is possible. How are you doing pairing down to the most essential both in your homes and offices? Please share your actions online by posting pictures or describing what you do. B.) Another thing that this ECQ has revealed is that many communities, especially those in the urban poor are very much lacking and not enjoying the Sapat Life, where all human rights are being fulfilled. For those who have more, you may share your resources to them. You may contact PMPI so we can link you with our partner organizations working with the urban poor sector. C.) Do you also have actions at home and in your community that protects the environment and helps achieve a more sustainable life? Do you do home gardening etc. Do you have low-cost but healthy recipes? Please share our FB series on recipes, you may contribute or post your own. | A.) The spread of the coronavirus highlighted the connection of people’s actions and impact on nature. Development as humans perceived it has expanded man’s territory in all aspects of life which caused the shrinking space for the wild and animals. If this continues, another pandemic may happen sooner than we think. B.) Please join the webinar we will sponsor online on this issue. C.) Follow the Rights of Nature PH for more information about the RoN and future webinars. |
