Humanity, a premium galaxy and assorted wonderland of originality, culture, and art, is nothing without the preservation of its history, its future, and, most importantly, its one and only, diversified environment, a combination of oxygen, land, and ozone that is slowly deteriorating by our own, human hand and its carbon footprint counterpart. Much of this awareness is spread by few, understood by some, and, even more rarely, cultivated by a representative of religion or other diplomat stereotypically associated with more conservative avenues and values.
Yes, rarely do we see those of a conservative party or religion speak up about the environment and the human responsibility owed to its preservation, and it’s even more unusual that these incredible messages are declared by the most powerful members of these parties or social groups.
So when the pope says he’s gonna release a statement at the Vatican about global warming, climate change, and what people, yes, people, may do to mitigate this earthly damage and prevent its slide down the rabbit hole into a greater oblivion, you know environmentalists and climate-change believers alike are gonna spare the time out of their day to pay attention.
And when Pope Francis gave his encyclical to the Vatican this past Thursday, he was greeted with mixed responses, from undying, loyal support to pure, utter disdain to outcries of shock and catatonic disbelief for his supposedly outrageous claims, mainly by his former supporters and conservative peers (Jeb Bush...). Yes, what the Pope did and said was so unheard of to many in the Catholic religion, that his suggestion of embracing the science and human-responsibility to lessen the damage done to our planet was responded with objections claiming that climate change is a complete myth, that our environment remains in God’s hands, subliminal abuse is permissible, and that people have nothing to do with its worsening condition simultaneously possessing zero obligation to help.
So, I thought I’d create a compilation of a few of my favorite quotations from the encyclical, adding a little commentary on why these pieces of the text prove so essential to environmental care and greater global awareness for this necessary and pivotal movement.
Okay, so here it is, and...
The pope says:
“We urgently need a humanism capable of bringing together the different fields of knowledge, including economics, in the service of a more integral and integrating vision. Today, the analysis of environmental problems cannot be separated from the analysis of human, family, work-related and urban contexts, nor from how individuals relate to themselves, which leads in turn to how they relate to others and to the environment.”
The pope really hit the nail on the head with his continual emphasis on the dual necessity for environmental and economic awareness to generate an international, focused culture united in its pursuit of a healthy, safe Earth. Yes, there is such a distinct correlation between the environment and the economy that failing to ignore the trash build-up down the street and its subsequently toxic accumulation of germs in the air could then, potentially, lead to unwanted illness, viral infections, and hazardous contamination, finding its way into the immune systems of our neighbors, family, and friends requiring up to thousands, maybe even millions, of dollars to fix damage that was once preventable. Okay, yes, that was a fairly random, slightly-hypochondriac example, but for a more concrete one, please take note of the the agricultural community’s economic conditions and its various contingencies. Farmer’s rely on a healthy, safe environment to grow crops, vegetation, and product that even a remote, slight dispersal of pollution is enough to hinder business and company credibility for a period of time that the owner cannot afford. Conversely, it is also the owner’s obligation to ensure that the growth of such material is not hazardous to the environment or surrounding natural atmosphere, but don’t you see how the economy and the environment go hand-in-hand? A healthy environment is a healthy economy, and it is our duty to take care of it so it will do the same for us.
A moderately similar sentiment to the previous one:
“Education in environmental responsibility can encourage ways of acting which directly and significantly affect the world around us, such as avoiding the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating refuse, cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living beings, using public transport or car-pooling, planting trees, turning off unnecessary lights, or any number of other practices.”
Unlike the initial quotation, this one emphasizes the need for action offering simple solutions to the everyday, simple choices we make that have an enormous, lasting impact on the environment. A collective initiative, whether it comes from your circle of friends, your mini-population of supporters, or the members of your environmental protection group exerting its own efforts to fight climate change, has an influence that can transcend the borders of every state, country, and continent. The effect of such an effort will then pass beyond the realm of your own peers, to another realm of peers, and then, hopefully, to the entire global community.
And another one:
“Work is a necessity, part of the meaning of life on this earth, a path to growth, human development and personal fulfillment.”
To spark a global movement fighting climate change and environmental degradation, it is going to take lots and lots of work. Maybe start by joining an environmental protection group, starting your own local initiative to spread the word, or even by spending a couple hours out of your day to write a piece raising awareness on climate change emphasizing the facts, the science, and the clear evidence of its reality. If you’re hoping to do anything to fight climate change, at least contribute to its discourse. Let the people know that in whatever way you can with whatever power that you have, you will shed light on efforts of environmental protection and preservation.
“In the absence of objective truths or sound principles other than the satisfaction of our own desires and immediate needs, what limits can be placed on human trafficking, organized crime, the drug trade, commerce in blood diamonds and the fur of endangered species?”
A true comprehension of climate change and the environmental detriments of global warming acknowledges a core, sound incentive to act in its name solely because it is the right thing to do. The Earth is not ours to abuse, misuse, or treat as though it is unworthy of maintenance or preservation from irreversible corrosion. In fact, our sweet planet is all that humanity has, and conserving its dwindling resources, limited fresh water supply, and atmospheric purity is really all the motivation one needs to get on board with the movement of environmental protection. In addition, embracing the principles of moderation in all aspects of your life and only receiving from the Earth what you need rather than what you want, and returning the needs of our Earth - our planet, will help ensure the safety of its resources, the health of humanity, and the future welfare of our environment.
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The encyclical itself is rather redundant, and I found that these particular excerpts were among its most resonant. There was very little actual science proving the claims made within the entirety of the 182 page declaration, but its support of accepting scientific research and analysis as credible in the global effort of environmental improvement is emphasized throughout. The most remarkable aspect of this encyclical revolves around its concrete acknowledgement of the environmental duty owed to Earth by its human population, and through appropriate understandings of economy, environmental education, work, and human ethics, the future welfare of our environment will be secured and improved. Embarking on a journey provoking a global environmental protection initiative is certainly not easy, likely infused with an unending supply of blood, sweat, and tears, often causing one to question why she pursued such an unpredictable path to begin with, but once such an objective is reached and attained, the endeavor will prove that it was always worth the struggle to get there.
