Quarterly Bulletin

Bulletin 70
4th Quarter 2006

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Dear 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?

To stimulate the Social Forum debate on the subject of the environment, Roland Lesseps, S.J., a Senior Scientist at Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre and Chair of the JCTR Task Force on the Integrity of Creation, shared with JCTR staff an Academy Award winning documentary about climate change entitled: “An Inconvenient Truth”. The documentary unveiled alarming data and predictions regarding climate change, scientific evidence on global warming, and the politics and economics of global warming. At times, shocking news, but quite revealing in terms of human environmental negligence!

There is overwhelming agreement that the world is certainly warming, largely due to uncontrolled emissions of carbon dioxide and other “green-house effects” resulting from human activities including industrial processes, fossil fuel (coal, gas and oil) combustion, and changes in land use such as deforestation. All of which in turn are bringing harmful changes in weather patterns. And therefore humanity should engage in activities meant to protect the earth from further damage.

However, one noticeable fact (maybe indeed an “inconvenient truth”) is that humanity must seriously consider activities that are continually affecting the ecological order causing climate change. The question we should be asking then is: Is humanity ignoring its primary responsibility of caring for the integrity of creation? Or should we give up our main responsibility of being “good stewards” and prefer to be “consumers” who care less about sustainable use of the available natural resources?

It’s indisputable that environment degrading practices are not only a danger to human life but also to other living organisms. Indeed damage to the environment affects every part of creation. Humanity today must be conscious of its duties and obligations towards future generations. This is why the JCTR Task Force on the Integrity of Creation in their recent action study guide invites communities in Zambia, especially Christian communities, to take a leading role in promoting and cultivating attitudes that place caring for our environment as Number One. (The booklet will soon be posted on the JCTR website.) Definitely, a booklet like this one will require society to engage in concerted efforts, both short-term and long-term, in seeking opportunities and designing lasting solutions to environmental problems.

We would like to bring to your attention in this Bulletin an introduction to Fr. Michael Kelly’s Bursary for postgraduate masters or doctoral programmes that are relevant in some way to the HIV and AIDS-education interface on page 30 and on page 16 we have highlighted a brief explanation about the “vulture fund” involving Donegal International and the Zambian government.

Simson Mwale
Editor

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