DINAGYANG revellers left Iloilo City with tons of garbage. It was appalling. They didn’t have compunction throwing their thrash indiscriminately. It is this devil-may-care attitude toward the environment that seriously threatens our planet.
What happened over the weekend in Iloilo City was not unique. It is happening everywhere.
We are reminded of a document released by the Vatican in September 2016 to coincide with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. Pope Francis lamented that mankind is turning Earth into a “polluted wasteland full of debris, desolation and filth.”
He then urged people of all faiths: “We must not be indifferent or resigned to the loss of biodiversity and the destruction of ecosystems, often caused by our irresponsible and selfish behaviour. Because of us, thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence…We have no such right.”
Since the release of his Laudato si‘ in 2015, a provocative encyclical on the environment, the Pope has been transforming the climate change conversation — hopefully for the better — from a mere scientific issue to a serious humanitarian concern. The worst impact of global warming is being felt by those who are least responsible for it — the poor, he says.
We all share the responsibility to protect and care for the Earth, our common home, for this generation and the generations to come. Nations, governments and citizens should translate the Pope’s message into action.
The Pope’s call is a warning but at the same time a message of hope that there is still something we can do to save our planet from destruction if all nations will place environmental protection as a priority concern.
Each one of us can start by not throwing our trash indiscriminately. Is that too much of a task?
