By Sr. (Dr). D. J. Margaret FMA –
The concept of environmental security and safety has gained attention in contemporary society. Modern technology and development, scientific inventions and excessive use of natural resources has increased human beings’ dread over nature’s unwarned predicament and destruction. Every day, the news is filled with more anxious stories about melting ice caps and glaciers, rising seas and receding fresh water supplies, drought and mega-storms, or greenhouse gases and climate change. As a result we are facing the devastating issues of climate change, water pollution, air pollution, sound pollution, acid rain, deforestation, hazardous waste disposal and the total annihilation of many plant and animal species. This environmental degradation has affected and is affecting not only human life and human society, but all of God’s creation.
Despite several decades of research, education programs, agency and advocacy, humanity continues to deplete natural resources and pollute the ecosystem of the planet at an alarming rate. On behalf of the voiceless nature Pope Francis has cried out, “Sister Earth 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”. For he said that to commit a crime against the natural world is a sing against ourselves and a sin against God (LS 8). The Pope is appealing to the human community to realize that the human being is so connected to the Cosmos that destroying God’s creation becomes a moral, ethical, spiritual and a human-rights issue too.
In this article, the author tries to present a very brief context of environmental degradation followed by a working definition for ‘environmental degradation’ and ‘human agency’. After situating the environmental reality, the reflection on a few response-able and responsible responses of human agency such as caretaking or care giving, and stewardship is made. Then a few salient challenges emerging from the Pope’s Francis’ encyclical laudato si such as ecological culture of life; socio-ecological justice; defense of the nature and the poor; and ecological harmony are presented. Finally a few possible responses on behalf of human and Christian collective agency are also highlighted. The conclusion of the article calls everyone to respect the creation and revere the creator. This aspect must be given expression in being and becoming interdependent, responsible co-creator and caregiver of the entire cosmos which is our common home. In order to realize this vision a dialogue between science and religion, between human and faith community should be initiated and carried out responsibly.
Besmirched Environmental Context
The besmirched or deteriorated environmental context has become harmful to all living beings. The primary cause of environmental degradation is human disturbance caused in the creation by unhealthy human activities such as technical ability to manipulate nature, modern urbanization, industrialization, over- population growth, air and water pollution, deforestation, global warming, untenable use of land for agriculture, mining and fishing practices, overconsumption (“affluenza”), unequal distribution of wealth, the rise of the corporation, the developing countries’ debt crisis, militarization, violence and wars etc.
The economics of development and consumerism are spiraling upward unchecked, driven by ruthless advertising and promulgating a worldview based upon dissatisfaction and craving. This drive to earn more, so that we can get more has resulted in a booming economy, but at a disastrous cost to human life and world ecology. Pope Francis speaks about “extreme consumerism” in which people are unable to resist what the market places before them, the earth is despoiled and billions are left impoverished (LS 203). Considering that the ecosystem is finite, explosive growth in human population, rapid depletion of the earth’s resources, and mounting pollution of the environment are inevitably leading to environmental disaster. Erosion and deforestation certainly is leading to desertification, the process by which additional lands are added to the desert because of the encroachment of humans and other animals. Obviously, this is also a danger to water supply and the silting of dams.
Global warming is causing an environmental chain reaction: rising temperature, leading to melting of the ice caps, rise in sea levels, and the loss of coastlines, marsh lands, beaches and resorts. The toxic waste of the hydrosphere such as the disposal of sewage sludge, agricultural run-offs, industrial effluents, radio-active waste from nuclear plants, oil spills on the water ways, and domestic and commercial waste etc are finding their way into human bodies, through the food chain and through polluted drinking water. These pollutants implicate in a number of maladies, ranging from food poisoning, to cancer, to heart disease, to damage to the nervous system… Thus the excessive use of natural resources diminishes the resources and creates imbalance of the environment. The life of the very creature will be in great danger if environment goes on deteriorating in the same way.
To be continued…
Sr. (Dr.) D.J. Margaret has an Under-Graduate and a Post-Graduate Degree in Mathematics. She holds a Diploma in Salesian Spirituality, Rome; a Bachelor and a Master Degree in Theology, VidyaJyoti College, Delhi. She has obtained a Ph. D Degree in Christian Studies from the University of Madras, Chennai, entitled, “An Inquiry into the Role of Spiritual Beliefs and Practices in Post-diagnosis Care of Women Living with HIV/AIDS”. In addition to research articles in the field of women studies, she has authored two books: “Women in Mission” and “Finding God in Illness and Care-giving”. Her intellectual pursuits are complemented by her commitment to education, formation and animation of young girls, women, and teachers.