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A long-held basic human right, the right to adequate food for the world’s 854 million hungry people, is being threatened once again – this time by the conversion of wheat, sugar, palm oil and maize into agricultural fuel. A crime against humanity.
A raft of new studies reveal European and American multibillion dollar support for biofuels is unsustainable, environmentally destructive and is much more about subsidizing agribusiness corporations than combating global warming.
Not long ago, the rich world was used to cheap food and big surplus. Not anymore. For the first time in several decades, food prices − from rice to corn, from milk to meat − are worrying many countries. Some governments, afraid of social unrest, are already controlling the market. It is the case of Russia and China. The rise of prices has already caused protests in Italy and riots in Mexico, and is a growing threat to the poor of the Earth.
Through the path of interreligious dialogue, we can build peace in our world. This dialogue is not reserved only for the elite – every believer is encouraged to engage in it.
In the Philippines, the country that I know best because of my thirty years of mission in Mindanao and my commitment through the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, I observe that many Christian religious groups are now doing programs in line with dialogue for peace. In more recent time, we can observe a similar spirit among Muslims.
If nothing is done to curb the emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate changes, the future of the Earth and humanity is at stake. The Nobel Peace Prize shared by Al Gore and the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reminds the world that, without a healthy environment, there will be no peace.
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.
