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April 22 is Earth Day. Founded by Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin in 1970 to
inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. Goal is healthy and
sustainable environment. St. Francis of Assisi was born on April22.
Earth spirituality is living our Christian faith vis-a-vis the planet earth-our home. Earth
spirituality is the interdependence of ecology and spirituality.
Scriptures tell us: 1) God created the universe and everything was good (Gen. Chapter
l); 2) God enrusted to the man and woman all of creation to their responsibility, charging
them to care for its harmony and development (Gen. l:26-30; Gen. 2:15); 3) Jesus made use of
natural elements in his public ministy (cf. Gospels); 4) through His Paschal Mystery, Jesus
inaugurates a new world in which everything is subjected to him (cf. I Cor. 15: 20-28),
creating new relationships of order and harmony which sin had destroyed (cf.2 Cor. 5:17),
reconciling nature to God and giving new peace (cf. Col. 1: 15-20), leading to "a new heaven
and a new earth" (Rev. 2l.l).
Four principles that govern the universe, according to Fr. Thomas Berry, CP,
Geologian, are communion, interconnectedness, differentiation and innerness.
The universe is a communion of subjects not merely a collection of objects. All
creatures have rights (subjects) because they were all created by God. Respect is due to each
one. The Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Church (CSDC) states "...creatures that
surround man as also gifts of God to be nurtured and safeguarded with a sense of gratitude to
the Creator" (n. 464). "Benedictine and Franciscan spirituality in particular has witnessed to
this sort of kinship of man with his creaturely environment fostering in him an attitude of
respect for every reality of the surrounding world" (n. 464; John Paul II, *Address to
participants in a convention on the Environment and Health, 24 March 1997).
All creatures are interconnected. John Paul II writes in Sollicitudo Rei Socialis. "One
must take into account the nature of each being and of its mutual connection in an ordered
system, which is precisely the cosmos" (n. 34). Open pit mining and coal fired power plant
adversely affect the environment and people's health, threatening food security and ultimately
human survival.
Differentiation. Species differ. Individuals differ, too. Every person is unique,
irreplaceable, though not indispensable. "The Magesterium finds the motivation for its
opposition to a concept of the environment based on ecocentrism and on biocentrism in the fact
that 'it is being proposed that the ontological and axiological difference between men and other
living beings be eliminated, since the biosphere is considered a biotic unity of undifferentiated
value"' (John Paul Ii, op cit.) quoted in CSDP, n. 463). We are different ontologically, as
regards the nature of being and its essential properties, as well as axiologically, meaning each
being has different value or worth.
Innerness means the psychic, physical character of the unfolding universe, according to Fr. Thomas Berry, CP. Matter has both physical and spiritual dimaension. "The Spirit is the Divine force within the cosmos who continually indwells everywhere and works in amazing ways to sustain all forms of life", writes Fr. Berry. Thus we have to respect every being because of the indwelling of God's Spirit in them.
Communion, interconnectedness, differentiation and innerness compel us to respect the integrity of God's creation and assiduously care for the planet earth, our home in this life.
2. DIOCESAN MOBILIZATIONS
Love for the planet earth and for God's creatures impelled the Diocese of Marbel to mobilize against Coal Fired Power Plant and Sagittarius Mining, Inc.(SMI)
Caravan, protest rally against Coal Fired Power Plant took place in front of President Carlos Garcia Park in General Santos City on 22 April 2009, Earth Day.
Main objective is to continue manifesting people's opposition to the proposed Coal Fired Power Plant in Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani province because of its negative effects on the environment and on human health.
Ninety-five (95) vehicles and thousands participated.
On23 April another catravan - protest rally took place in Koronadal City. Venue for the
protest rally was in front of SMRAA stadium.
Objective is to continue the opposition against the mining activities of SMI in Tampakan, South Cotabato.
Proposed method of extracting gold, copper and other minerals is open pit. Trees will
be cut down, mountain bulldozed and no clear disposal of mine tailings.
Mining will contribute to global warming, cause flashfloods and mudslides, and pollute the environment.
Mining thus threatens food security and people's health.
vehicles numbered mone than 100. Estimated participants - 2,500.
NO TO COAL FIRED POWER PLANT! NO TO
DESTRUCTIVE MINING! NO TO GREED!
YES TO GOD! YES TO FUUTURE GENERATIONS
FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLE OF INTERGENERATIONAL
EQUITY/SOLIDARITY! MABUHAY ANG PLANETA EARTH!
HOMEPAGE
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