Villegas: Right to healthful ecology a human right
“THE right to a healthful ecology – including the right to be protected against the adverse effects of global warning – is a human right and must both be advocated and defended with the determination by which we stand by other human rights.”
This was stressed by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas in a statement even as he underscored the fact that it is often the case that the poor pay the price of the prosperity of the rich!
He said the Church in the Philippines will do its share and called on the Basic Ecclesial Communities to make local threats to the eco-system a matter of community discernment, and the action in response to these threats, a matter of community resolve.
“We call on our parishes, through our bishops and priests, to desist from those practices that aggravate an already-precarious situation, such as the wasteful maintenance of so many, unnecessary vehicles, the irresponsible use of electric power, the wastage of water, even otherwise laudable livelihood efforts that nevertheless pose a threat to the environment, such as the wasteful and destructive use of forest products,” Villegas said.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the church will also oppose the opening of new coal-fired power plants and advocates the denial of government permits and licenses to coal mines even as he urged scientists and technologists to make the increased use of alternative energy sources a priority of research and development.
He also urged government and scientists to keep them in the CBCP constantly informed “so that together we may find ways of doing what we can to transform the lofty aspirations of the Paris Conference into norms of everyday living for each Filipino”.
Villegas issued the statement after the Paris Conference on Climate Change has concluded. He said earlier, the CBCP issued a statement, echoing Pope Francis’ impassioned appeal for all sons and daughters of the Church to unite in common cause in support of the healing of our grievously wounded planet.
“Any act that results in the further depredation of the precarious balance of eco-system, or that leaves a threatening carbon footprint, or that results in the diminution of biodiversity is not only deplorable,” he said.
It is morally objectionable and constitutes an offense against social justice, he added. (Tita Roces)
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