Quarterly Bulletin

Bulletin 66
4th Quarter 2005

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Readers

     We all need a good working environment because it is an important aspect of our life. It is a silent factor, yet very important to our well being. Everything is sustained by good environment but once disturbed the effects are felt in all aspects of life. The animals, plants, rain patterns, and indeed human beings depend on it. Once let down, the life cycle is disturbed. This is one of the reasons we should care for the earth. Human beings have unfortunately taken advantage of the environment and destroyed it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives guidance on how to take care of the earth. It urges human beings to think of the next generation as it uses the resources.

The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present and future humanity. Use of the mineral, vegetable and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbour, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation. (No.2415)

     But if we look around and see what it is happening, we realise that human beings have moved so fast in destroying themselves. There are a lot of fears for the coming generations. The industrial development with its advanced technology has had serious negative effects on our lives. Global warming is a result of too much carbon released in the atmosphere that cannot be absolved by the trees. The great poles have all been affected. We experienced very warm weather in Europe while in North America there was more snow that had never been experienced in long time. Meteorologists attribute this to the weather pattern that has been disturbed. The rising water level has caused flooding in some areas of the world.

     The unfortunate thing is that greater effects are felt by underprivileged continents and their people. Africa is one of the continents widely affected by this uncaring attitude towards the environment. Africa has been exploited of its resources and the environment has remained degraded. Little or no benefits have come back to these areas. Timber, minerals, water, petroleum and other agriculture products have all been shipped out of Africa. In the extraction or production of these resources, a lot of fumes were emitted and unfortunately corporate responsibility has been lacking from most investors. These fumes have made it difficult for plants and other agricultural products to grow. The continent has seen the drastic or erratic changes in the weather pattern. We experience droughts in some areas due to over cutting of tress that disturbs the rain cycle, while some areas are affected by floods, simply because there were no more natural barriers like forests or good landscape that would block the water in our low lying areas. This is one of the reasons why Africa is frequently hit by famine and hunger.

     The devastation of natural resources has greatly affected the inhabitants of Africa, the soil can no longer give them good yields and people have to move from one place to another in search of food. Many of the educated and professional children of Africa have opted to go out of the continent for greener pasture. Though globalisation may be a good thing, when there is no level playing ground it brings a lot of problems. This is where we can compare African human labour of this century to the slave trade of the previous century. People leave Africa because they have little or no choice. They want to go where they can earn a living and where the environment is conducive.  People fall into the traps of unscrupulous traders in human beings who promise good lives outside Africa, hence the advent and increase of human trafficking in Africa.  When we look at our national policies on houses, refugees, media and community participation, we realise that we still have a long way to go.

     It is time we reflect and do something on our national policies on environment. What plans do we have for the woodlands that have been deserted? Can we think of tree planting as a daily activity of every citizen of a country? Can local governments put in place waste management teams that would make sure residues from homes and industries do not pollute residential areas?  Shouldn’t the government put policies that would encourage corporate responsibility for all investors in our countries? These investors should not only extract the resources from our God-given earth and leave it bare, but should also provide recreation, social, health and education facilities. In this way, we might see the reduction of emigrants to European countries since the facilities that are admired in far off places will be nearer our homes. It is also a call for the international community and investors to respect the integrity of creation. They should realise that they have a moral obligation not to pollute the environment but to protect the areas for themselves and generations to come.

Bboloka Bubala Nchimunya, S.J
Editor

Bulletin 66

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