Thecla Pereira
Every breath is a sacrament, an affirmation of our connection with all other living things, a renewal of our pledge to take care of everything. The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations. Our breath is a part of life’s breath, the ocean of air that envelopes the earth.
There is no solution to the ecological crises facing us today. In the realm of ecology the word ‘crisis’ hides an expansive list of issues and concerns. Reckless human activities have led to a large scale destruction of forests as well as air pollution and water. Again and again we are grumbling and are concerned and talking of the coal pollution in some parts of Goa. The quality of air has deteriorated and we have our children and the old suffer from breathing related health hazards.
Pollution makes no contribution to the way we live. The earth and sky and water just deserve more than we give. But you can make the difference and do more than we did. Yes, you can stop pollution. The buses, planes and cars and trains just dirty up our skies.
Their smoke goes in the atmosphere — it isn’t very wise. It coats our lungs and plugs our skin and reddens up our eyes.
Because of wasteful and reckless exploitation of water the water table has receded in most parts of our country. There is real scarcity of safe and clean drinking water. The issues involved in ecological crises are not merely economic, political or scientific in nature they are about values and attitudes. Can we remind ourselves that we are partners with God in caring for creation? Everything is gift to us and when we take all for granted we are as good as spoilt children who do not value what is given to them as gift.
Today we hold the gift of the earth in trust and we need to hand it down to the next generation according to intergeneration justice, since the world we have received also belongs to those who will follow us. Pope Francis says such actions can restore our sense of self esteem; they can enable us to live more fully and to feel that life on earth is worthwhile.
We need new eco spirituality and a new eco culture. Our human arrogance gives way to reverence and wholesome responsibility for creation. Being protectors of this earth is not optional or a secondary aspect of each of our lives as members of this earth community. What are we handing down to our children?
Children’s development with little or no regular contact with the natural world
“Save the environment and you will save life and the future of this planet, our home,” advises Pope Francis.
