Justice, Non-violence, Integrity of creation

Protection of the environment

"Our earth is being increasingly impoverished as we plunder its natural riches. Are we going to continue to do so, knowing that it is the most deprived who are always the first victims …? “ (Acts of the 2002 General Chapter of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, p.2). What is the Holy Spirit calling us to do today in the face of the present complex environmental issues at hand: Fukushima and the nuclear energy debate; the change in the environmental policy of the Brazilian government with regard to timber cutting in the Amazonian forest and the recent assassinations of several environmental activists; the debate concerning the Hidro-Aysen electricity project in Patagonia.

Politicians initiate projects destined to address the increasing demand for natural resources to power the world’s rapidly growing energy needs. Is there a limit?The whole world community faces vital questions of safe and secure, cost-effective and sustainable energy sources. Nations and indigenous peoples debate questions of ownership of dwindling resources and fight against the exploitation of riches on their lands. The debates are often fierce, protests violent, at times leading to murder. The issues are complex and the consequences differ depending on one’s perspective. Are we undermining the future of Earth and all its inhabitants?In a recent interview which appeared in the daily “La Croix” on 27 May 2011, the French economist Bernard Perret remarked: “Without a technological miracle, which nothing permits us to expect, we are rapidly going to come up against the limits of a certain form of progress … It is difficult for a person to look beyond his/her immediate interests … On the basis of actual social trends, one cannot exclude the possibility of collective suicide through negligence. But it is not forgiven to hope in humankind, especially if one is Christian. I very much rely on the Churches to arouse the sense of personal and collective responsibility towards the Creation”.

There are no ready-made answers. In order to take a stand, we need to keep in touch with what is happening in today’s world; to try to understand and analyze what is at stake; to reflect together in the light of the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching; to pray for enlightenment; then decide what actions to undertake among us and with others. There are all kinds of creative responses possible; but respond, we must.

Paralyze Hidrocrysén controversial project implamentation in Chile : paralyze.pdf

Paula Despathy, FSE

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