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Dear
JCTR Bulletin Readers:
“A human being is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature he or she risks destroying it and becoming in his or her turn the victim of this degradation. Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace -- pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity -- but the human framework is no longer under a human being’s control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family.”
These are part of the words in paragraph 21 of the encyclical letter A Call to Action (Octogesima Adveniens) by Pope Paul VI. Although the document dates back to 1971, it still raises very important environmental concerns often ignored by different communities in the world. The statement makes it explicitly clear that the way we live and the choices we make affect the lives of others, not only human life but also other forms of life found on earth. Surely, when it comes to the natural world we are not only subjected to biological laws but also moral laws that should not be violated with impunity.
Because of the significance of reflecting on the gift of creation and stewardship of humanity, the JCTR established the Integrity of Creation Task Force. And as a response to this imperative, the JCTR Social Forum, which is an occasional and timely on-going activity engaging staff to address emerging issues affecting Zambia and the international community, recently discussed a wide-range of environmental concerns including damage to the ecosystem, depletion of the world’s natural resources and the loss of beauty and diversity. But why is this so?
Complete Letter...
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