Ordo Fratrum Minorum Capuccinorum EN

Log in
updated 11:54 AM UTC, Mar 20, 2024

Climate Change and our Response

Ecological concerns are our life realities. As the world community further came together to talk about climate change we could also reflect about it. Some facts:
- According to the World Meteorological organization (WMO) years between 2014-2019 have seen warmest time.


- There are 812 million undernourished people living now on earth and a report says that there are around 1200 billionaires on earth, very few among them have a heart for the poor and needy to share. How could we inspire their hearts?


- Carbon and poisonous gas emission have risen 20% in the recent years
- High sea level rise (estimated 5mm per year (2014-2019). According to Petteri Taalas (WMO Secretary General),”Sea-level rise has accelerated and we are concerned that an abrupt decline in the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, which will exacerbate future rise … As we have seen this year with tragic effect in the Bahamas and Mozambique, sea-level rise and intense tropical storms led to humanitarian and economic catastrophes.” BBC News.

The message of Pope Francis to inspire the humanity is this:
“Along with so many initiatives, not only by governments but by civil society as a whole, it is necessary to ask whether there is a real political will to allocate greater human, financial and technological resources to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and to help the poorest and most vulnerable populations, who suffer the most.
With honesty, responsibility and courage we have to put our intelligence "at the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral" (Laudato si', 112), capable of placing economy at the service of the human person, building peace and protecting the environment.
While the situation is not good and the planet is suffering, the window of opportunity is still open. We are still in time. Let us not let it close
I would like these three key words - honesty, courage and responsibility - to be at the heart of your work…”
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/pont-messages/2019/documents/papa-francesco_20190923_videomessaggio-climate-action-summit.html

God has given big responsibility to National leaders that is to think ecologically and integrally responsible ways of safeguarding the nature. And we all have to also do also our part, however, limited it could be to befriend and save the environment. Integrally optimistic persons cannot remain idle but have to continue to do their part however small it could be. Some of these ways could be helpful:
-Plant at least one tree a year. Our brother Aklilu Petros Ofm Cap, said that recently the good willed people of Ethiopia seem to have planted 353 millions of trees in barren lands of their nation.
http://www.rinnovabili.it/ambiente/etiopia-piantati-alberi-climate-change/

In that way we could also reforest the barren lands in our vicinity and you will be surprised to see birds and animals entering there to dwell again. We can also bring more creature there to dwell and green the earth.
-Go green in our clothing (use more cotton cloths whenever possible), adapt natural food and living ways. While celebrating Feast and Birthdays introduce natural drinks, healthy food and use natural containers than plastic ones.
-Create awareness about artificial food and drinks that can harm the health
-Motivate children and youth to admire nature and become aware of the harm done to the nature. Gift them with inspirational videos, T-Shirts and reading materials
-Support initiatives that proactively attempt to care for the nature. Read more about ecological concerns and inspire the hearts of those who forget to care for the nature.
We have not done sufficient our dear brothers and sisters, let us begin again as called by our Brother Francis of Assisi and Sister Clare of Assisi.
Charles Alphonse & Jaime Rey Ofm Cap
General Secretariat for Formation

You may be also interested in:
http://www.rinnovabili.it/ambiente/etiopia-piantati-alberi-climate-change/
https://jpeofmcap.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/global-climate-strike/