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The UN Conference on Climate Change, scheduled for this month in Bali, is going to deal not only with one of the biggest problems of the world, but also of the most serious ethical issues facing humanity and the Church in the 21st century.
In a recent and long document, “Water, an Essential Element for Life,” Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace states the need for a deep and worldwide engagement in favor of increased access to safe water and sanitation: the only way to save millions and help poor countries to develop. Some excerpts:
Considered as a universal and fundamental right of all human beings, water can also be used as a weapon against enemies in cases of conflict, or it can itself be a source of conflict among peoples. Studies carried out by the United Nations affirm that, in 50 years time, water will be more precious than oil. This is not a surprising statement because water is already, nowadays, a scarce good, which many people misuse.
The perspective of “mission-as-gift” contains several insights on the approach or manner of mission in Asia, which is necessarily the mode of dialogue. Christianstreasure the gift of their Trinitarian faith, offering it freely, even enthusiastically, to others. The gift is offered with a sincere heart; yet, they know that the other person is free to accept or reject the gift. The dialogue partner – Muslim, Buddhist – also has a gift to offer; thus, a wonderful “exchange of gifts” can result.
There are proverbs about almost any situation that affects people’s life. Let us see some about youth, friends, thieves, justice and love:
Words in Africa have weight, there is strength in them: “They create and give you life.” Some words are as solid as the yam (roots) and as sweet as kola (nuts), especially those spoken by the ancestors, who have handed them down to their descendants: for them … to eat. And to make them tastier,
they have flavored them with the oil of proverbs. The proverbs are like the oil with which we eat the words, the Igbo used to say.
Nairobi has a population of 4 million inhabitants, 2.5 million of whom live in over 200 slums – covering less than 5% of the whole urban area. Indeed, the towns of the world need to hear the liberating Good News of Jesus Christ, as well as see a committed Christian community taking charge of social change, such as in this city.
In 2015, Metro Manila will have 15 million people and much more problems. One way to solve them is to have governments listen to the voice of the lower-income groups and allow them to participate in important decision-making processes. The Church also has an important role: it can intercede on behalf of the poor and help them form their organizations.
The world economy, driven as it is by neo-liberal economists and politicians, excludes 80% of the world’s population from gainful and humanly meaningful employment. Only 20% of workers in the world take pride in and meaningfully gain from their work. As an agent of mission, the Church needs to address the issues of globalization and its effects on human beings, especially in the cities.
Half of the world’s population is already living in the cities, a big part in overcrowded and miserable slums. Urban poverty and exclusion are growing fast and will be worse in the near future. Even the Pentagon is worried.
