PANAJI
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) President and Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrão on Saturday said a better way of living “ one that is in communion with the earth and with each other “ is possible, that there is hope, and that people can change things for the better.
He was addressing a gathering while virtually inaugurating the ‘Prithvi Parivar pan-India Ecological Movement’ launched by the CCBI Commission for Ecology, on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Others present at the online event included CCBI Commission for Ecology Chairperson Bishop Allwyn D'Silva, CCBI Commission for Ecology member Bishop Ivan Pereira and a number of environmental activists from across the country.
The movement aims to actualise integral human ecology and the stakeholders will develop a roadmap for the next six months.
“Scientists tell us that the modern world in which we live is rapidly warming because of the greenhouse gases being spewed into our atmosphere as a consequence of the industrial and information ages.”
“We have not yet done away with our propensity to exploit the earth and each other. If we continue in this trajectory, both our immediate and long-term future is very, very bleak,” cautioned Archbishop Ferrão.
“But there is always hope,” said Archbishop Ferrão and recalled Bishop D’Silva telling him many people, especially those present at the virtual event, have prioritised agro-ecology and are saving biodiversity.
“Many of you have been very vocal in environmental campaigns and are on the forefront, leading sustainable lifestyles while empowering the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.”
“You have already demonstrated that a better way of living “ one that is in communion with the earth and with each other “ is possible, that there is hope, and that we can change things for the better.”
Archbishop Ferrão said the change for the better needs to happen right away, even amidst the pandemic, “because now, more than ever, is the time to restore the ruptures that we have allowed to happen between us and our Common Home and between ourselves.”
“Only then can we hope to bring about healing in a weary world --- all of us together! The Prithvi Parivar movement can unite us in supporting each other and pooling in our efforts together.”
He said the CCBI Commission for Ecology intends this movement to become a civil movement open to everyone in our nation, that will focus on restoring our ecology, building our resilience and upholding ecological justice.
During the event, Chicalim Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira, who is also Assistant Professor of Botany at St Joseph Vaz college in Cortalim, was selected for recognition to represent Western Region and presented the 'Hope Story of Chicalim village'.
