dcindato Si | nahi yf P|Overview ‘ope Francis" encyclical Laudato Siis a worldwide wake up call to help humanity understand the destruction that man is rendering to the environment and his fellow man—especially to the poor and the marginalized. While talking about the environment principally, the document's scope is broader.in many ways} lItlooks not only at man’s effect on the environment, but also the many philosophical, theological, and cultural causes that threaten the relationships of man fo nature, and man,to each other, in various situations. Laudato Simeans “Praise be to you" which is the first line of a canticle by St. Francis that praises God with all of hiscreation. From the start; Pope Francis states the goal of the document: “In this Encyclical, | Would like to enter into dialog with all people about aur. common home" (#3). The goal of the dialog: “| urgently appeal, then, for a new dialog about\how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation that includes everyone, since the environment challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all” (#14). This is at the heart of the document, but Pope Francis also has a very urgent calll to conversion for those in the Church as well. “The ecological crisis is also a summons to profound interior conversion. It must be said that some committed and prayerful Christians....tend to ridicule expressions of concer for the environment. Others are passive; they choose not to change their habits and thus become inconsistent, So what they all need is an ‘ecological conversion’, whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them. Living our vocation to be protectors of God's handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience” (#217). No matter who you are or where you find yourself in relation to protecting the environment, Pope Francis has this message for you: ‘I invite all to embrace with open hearts this Encyclical which is in line with the Church's social doctrine” (General Audience, June 17, 2015).Tn Hx you heard Joey Ayala's |song “Magkaugnay?"* The gong says that all things are interconnected. Man is linked to the smallest things (like ants, snails, birds, bees), to the biggest things (trees, lakes, mountains, even the stars and the planets). Thus, if we hurt one of these, we hurt our own selves. If any of these get sick, we also get sick.Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Slis about the pagkakaugnay (interconnect- edness) of all of God's creation. Even a small act like throwing a . % sandwich wrapper carelessly away may have negative results, Pa ry may Neg That small wrapper may find its way to the sewage system. Together with 1] other non-degradable stuff, it may result in the sewage being clogged. " When the rains come, a clogged sewage will not let water through. That's what causes floods. Another example: There are cases when trees were cut down to make way for big All because of a sandwich wrapper carelessly thrown away..and other small acts of negligence. HI Covering the soil with cement makes it worse.Trees absorb carbon dioxide (which is harmful to humans) from the air. They purify the air. Trees also help control floods. Cutting down trees without replacing them is like shooting ourselves in the foot.hat kind of world do we want to v leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” (#160) Pope Francis asks this in his encyclical addressed to “every person living on this planet” and invites us to enter into a dialog about our common home. The letter takes its name from the opening of the Canticle of the Creatures by St. Francis of Assisi, Laudato Si’ or Praise be, to remind us that the earth, our common home “is his guide is for those who are interested in studying the words of Pope Francis and taking action. It may be used individually or in a group, one chapter at a time or as a whole. Each chapter of Laudato Si‘ is addressed in two ways: study and like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her be arms to embrace us.” The encyclical centers around the concept of integral ecology to describe the relationships of the person: with God, with one's self, with other human beings, with creation. In six chapters, Pope Francis teaches that science is the best tool by which we can listen to the cry of the earth. Our faith and Church teaching call us to right relationships and dialog, particularly between politics and economy, and between religion and science, as they pertain to the care of our common home. &© action. We offer a summary and questions for reflection, as well as ways you and your school, family or community can take action in order to care for our common home. “All it takes is one good person to restore hope!” (#71) You may need a Bible and a copy of the encyclical, which you may read online or download as a PDF life, by visiting laudatosi.com.Jur home is where we live or stay to nourish our well-being. If our home ceases to nourish our life, we would have a problem. Pope Francis calls the Earth “our common home." It was created by God not just for one person, or a few In our common home, persons, but for all of humanity and other species. there is pollution... There is waste brought about by a = throwaway cultureThere is loss of biodiversity. More than anybody else, the poor suffer much from these. Climate change is controversial because not all believe that the global warming we experience is caused by man. Some scientists argue that it is part of the natural cycle. There is decline in the quality of human ind a breakdown of so Unlike the rich, the poor don't have the means to escape the effects of these problems. But climate scientists belonging to a group called “Berkeley Earth" have proof that global warming is in fact caused by humans.Perhaps the confusion results from the "Greenhouse effect" is interchangeable use of the terms “climate change," caused by carbon dioxide, “global warming" and “greenhouse effect.” methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. If the blanketing effect by these gases is excessive, too much could be trapped. GLOBAL Wap NGE GREENHOUSE CNS. aa warming" then is the result of the"green- house effect." The most serious projected result of climate change is the melting of ice caps. Kr KS which, in turn, wal lead to the rise of sea water level. ‘| Many island countries like Kiribati and Typhoons and hurricanes will intensify in strength and frequency.Laudato Si talks about other environ- mental concerns. Pollution of water, air and land ie becoming woree. When these contaminate our food chain, humans, plants and animals intake their poison. DEVELOPED NATIONS The encyclical focuses on the subject of water. Access to safe drinkable water is essential to human survival. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) threaten biological diversity by altering genetics. WE MUST ALL Do SOMETHING AND WHEN NE SAY 'NE" WE MEAN You | DEVELOPING NATIONS Developed (rich) countries owe develop- ing (poor) countries much “ecological debt" because they have been causing harm to the environment since the Industrial Revolution. Pope Francis says so far there are weak reactions to confront the crisis. We ignore the crisis and pretend that nothing will happen. We have “disappointed God's expectations” to take care of our common home. 9his sister [the earth] now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor. — Laudato Si #2oy c fe) a ig Po ey 2] = o) STUDY GUIDE he environment belongs to all of us. All of humanity share a common home. Studies indicate that “most global warming in recent decades is due to the great concentration of greenhouse gases ... released mainly as a result of human activity.” (#23) Pope Francis writes that climate change is “one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day.” Five times Pope Francis names a “throwaway culture” as a root cause of the ecological crisis. We face pollution and waste, scarcity of water, loss of biodiversity, decline in the quality of life and breakdown of society, extreme. consumerism and global inequality, and weak international responses. Atrue “ecological debt” (#51) exists, particularly between the rich and poor nations, connected to “the disproportionate use of natural resources.” Great attention must be given to “the needs of the poor, the weak and the vulnerable” (#52). Like his predecessor, Saint John Paul II, Francis calls us to a “global ecological conversion”: “We need only take a frank look at the facts to see that our common home is falling into serious disrepair. Hope would have us recognize that there is always a way out, that we can always redirect our steps, that we can always do something to solve our problems.” (#61) Poe ee ea What images come to mind when | read “throwaway culture”? How have | participated in or reacted to a throwaway culture? How can | contribute to a sustainable future for the earth in my personal life, in my community, and as a global citizen? Time for acti © Evaluate your water “footprint,” that is, your water consumption. Visit www.watercalculator.org. @ Evaluate your carbon “footprint.” Visit http:/www.carbonfootprint. com/calculator.aspx. 7 @ Join local incentives for reasonable use of water and other natural resources in your community. >