Description
World opinion cannot ignore the enormous humanitarian crisis that has arisen as a result of the escalation of violence and armed conflict, the persecution and the dispacement of religious and ethnic minorities, and the uprooting of families from their homes in violation of human dignity, fundamental human rights and freedom. Add to it the impact climate change has been having, first and foremost, on those living in poverty in every corner of the globe and then on the rest of creation itself. And we know the kind of disaster that awaits all humankind in a future fraught with grave uncertainty!
As creatures of the God of love, one of our fundamental obligations and moral duties is to respond to global suffering and to leave to future generations a sustainable world, as created and willed by our loving Creator. It is in this context that the contents of this book do us three important favours. Firstly, it makes us conscious of the fact that the way we relate to material things directly reflects the way we relate to God. Indeed, the attention with which we deal with the things of the earth clearly implies the sacredness that we recognize in the celestial realities. Next, we are convinced of the need to be responsible in our very attitude towards the Earth and its resources on the one hand, and on the other hand, the acute necessity to dutifully use Creation’s bounty responsibly. Finally, we are reminded that there can be no genuine and lasting solution to the challenge of the ecological crisis and climate change without a collective, concerted response by way of shared responsibility and accountability, with priority given to solidarity and service.
