Ecology

When I was sent to the communities in Minh Hoa in the summer of 2000, I was dismayed to discover that people were using contaminated water from nearby canals for their drinking, cooking, and other daily needs. Water pollution also affected agricultural production and made their lives more difficult.

On May 25, the Press Office of the Holy See published the Message of Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2023 with the theme: "Let Justice and Peace Flow".

For real change to be apparent, we need systematic change to resolve devastation to our natural eco-systems. Earlier this year, we launched our Water Appeal which centred around world water month and the importance of groundwater for our very survival.

As part of the Youth for Youth initiative of the Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN) partner centres, the Centre d'Information d'Education et d'Ecoute du Centre Catholique Universitaire de Bangui (CIEE-CCU) set up the project "Actions des Jeunes pour un Environnement Sain et Durable" (AJESD).

In April 2022, the Reconciliation with Creation network of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific initiated a search for young people, who with their team or group, are making a significant contribution to their community through projects that respond to the urgent ecological crises of our time.

The environmental crisis is a growing concern for the Honduran population, according to the results of the ERIC survey. Most respondents were against mining, the burning of sugar cane fields, the felling of forests and the privatisation of water. They also demand the implementation of a forest ban to protect the country's natural resources.

By collaborating with CELAM, SARES is recognised by CPAL as a driving force for socio-environmental awareness and a point of contact for creating a sustainable society.

As part of the transition process of the change of president of the CPAL, we had a fruitful meeting in Lima, where we met with the dynamic team of SJPAM, its outgoing president and the newly appointed president of the Conference, with the five Provincials of the Pan-Amazonian territory (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela), the Regional Superior of Guyana and the Delegate for the Amazon of Brazil.

Ketakandriana (Ke) Rafitoson is the Executive Director of Transparency International in Madagascar and coordinates the Publish What You Pay coalition in the country. She speaks to Séverine Deneulin, Director of International Development at the Laudato Si’ Research Institute, about her work and what Jesuit networks and institutions can do to promote integral ecology in the context of mining and just energy transitions.

Since last February, the MAGIS Foundation has participated in the preparation of the event organized by the John Paul II Foundation for Youth on the occasion of the XXXVIII World Youth Day which will be held in Lisbon in August: the fourth international conference on the care of creation.