TALK ON ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS

(Roel L, Vera Cruz, OFM)

I.

SESSION I: LEVELLING OFF INRODUCTION: OUR WORKING PRINCIPLES

A. Scriptural Reading:
Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created them, male and female He created them. God blessed them and God said to them. Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. Gen. 1:26-28

B. The Things We Learn 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Atom is the smallest unit particle of matter. Molecule is the basic chemical unit that makes up the parts of the cell. Organelles are the parts of the cell. Cell is the smallest unit of living things. Tissue is a group of similar cells. 6. Organ is a group of differentiated tissues doing the same work (e.g. liver, pancreas, etc.). 7. System is a group of different organs performing different functions (e.g. muscular system). 8. Organism is an individual living thing either plant or animal. 9. Population is a group of similar organisms occupying a definite area. 10. Community is a group of different populations interacting with one another. 11. Ecosystem is a group of communities interacting with one another and their physical environment. 12. Biosphere is all ecosystems on earth with the physical environment. 13. Earth is the planetary environment.

C. The Seven Environmental Principles. 1. Nature knows best. 2. All forms of life are important. 3. Everything is connected to everything else. 4. Everything changes. 5. Everything must go somewhere. 6. Ours is a finite earth.

7. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of Gods creation. We all learn the same thing here on earth. The facts never change even if we are all confronted with changes. The principle behind us is still a principle. We accepted it from the beginning and up to now is still an acceptance. We find it hard to put all these things into action. We cannot bridge our words to our deeds even in reality we are fond of building bridges. Where do think the problem lies? Is it on the nature we have or on our very nature as human? On the scriptural reading in the beginning we have, try to focus on the two verbs cited, subdue and dominion. Mr. Dictionary says, subdue is to bring somebody under forcible control; and dominion is to have control, power or authority over somebody or something else. And it seems we are very faithful to the definition. But remember the two verbs are just English translations. Those terms subdue and dominions have their own particularity. Meaning those terms have cultural and historical background. Translating those terms into our world, subdue and dominion are equivalent in saying, O sige, ikaw na ang bahala dyan. Meaning ipinagkatiwala sa iyo lahat! If everything is entrusted to you, you are held responsible to it. II. SESSION II: JUMPING BOARD SEEING THE REALITY: GLOBAL SITUATION

A. Ozone Recovery is Slower than Hoped Earth's ozone layer is finally on the mend after decades of damage, two United Nations agencies reported. But recovery has been slower than experts had hoped, the World Meteorological Organization and the U.N. Environment Program said. The ozone layer filters dangerous solar radiation. By 2049, the protective layer will be back to pre-1980 levels over huge areas in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, the agencies said. That's five years later than forecast in the last major scientific report, in 2002. Over Antarctica, where ozone holes have grown over the last 30 years, recovery isn't likely until 2065, 15 years later than previously hoped. The new assessment is in a summary of a report by 250 scientists to be issued next year on the effects of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which committed signatory nations to ban the use of ozone-depleting products. "The delayed recovery is a warning that we cannot take the ozone layer for granted," said the U.N. Environment Program's executive director, Achim Steiner. The ozone layer blocks harmful ultraviolet rays, and holes in it have been blamed for increased risks of skin cancer and cataracts in humans. The holes may also harm crop yields and sea life, according to researchers. The layer's depletion is mainly caused by the release of man-made chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, which are used in some aerosol sprays and cooling equipment.

B. Tilt I have received several emails about a website claiming that the Earth is tilting wildly from its usual 23.5 inclination, and that this is causing global catastrophe that has been covered up by the government. From what I have read, it appears the author is claiming that solar activity has caused the polar ice to melt, tilting the Earth into 26 degrees, moving the positions of sunrise, changing weather patterns, and so on. Why has no one noticed? It did not slip all at once. It has been a slow change over the past 20 years, but two of the most significant axial shifts occurred between Dec 4 and 6, 2006. Despite common misperception, an event like this can happen silently rather than a catastrophic sudden change. A 2000 mile shift would not be felt any more than you can feel the rotation of the earth. The earth rotates nearly 25,000 miles every day. About 1038 miles every hour. You cannot feel a 2000 mile change in the axis any more than you can feel the earth rotate or orbit the sun. C. The Greatest Invention of Humankind The aim for inventing something is to improve our quality of life, which means making our work easier. From communications to food and beverages, from cosmetics to gadgets we all have experience all these products. Yes, indeed these products improve our life and even our thinking. Our behaviour is greatly affected by our innovations and the way we treat nature. The earth now is just like a barrio. We can have an access to wherever and whatever we want. E-access is everywhere. In terms of communication, we can already directly relate to our love ones who are unavailable speaking of space. We can talk to them even they are on the other side of the world. But the irony of it, even if we have improved our communication, we can hardly communicate with our classmates, roommates, etc. or even render our sweetest smile. While travelling, I have read some of the billboards Learn to eat with your feet because your hands are busy! III. SESSION III: LANDING OUR REALITY: ECOLOGICAL ISSUES CONFRONTING US A. B. C. D. E. F. Mal-practices in Marine Ecosystem Big and Small Scale Mining Indiscriminate Logging Improper Garbage Disposal Mal-practices in Farming and Other Agricultural Activity Conversion of Agricultural Lots to Housing

IV.

A SUBJECTIVE REFLECTION

St. Francis of Assisi has been declared as Patron of Ecology by the late Blessed John Paul II. Perhaps, it is good to ask ourselves what he did to preserve nature and maintain ecological balance of his time. We know already then, that he did not lead a crusade against wanton destruction of nature. I was not his concern to fight against illegal logging and exploitation of nature which is our concern today. As a lover of nature, St. Francis of Assisi is always portrayed talking to the birds and to the fierce wolf of Gubbio by his biographers and famous artists. He called the sun, the moon and the stars as brothers and sisters. Perhaps, St. Francis of Assisi knew very well the Scriptural passage from the Book of Genesis which you have heard in the beginning. He begun a new lifestyle that of a radical discipleship. Francis did not pretend to know that his simple and joyful lifestyle if followed religiously would later provide a radical solution to injustices, wars, hostilities and global warming. The information presented above is just a parcel of the reality where we are today. For instance, in school, we already know what is ecology, environment, etc. We have already a conception of what is is, and what is, is not. We have already a picture of what is whole and what is broken. We have already felt how it is to be connected and be separated. We have already seen and experienced what is arranged and disarranged. I have stated a while ago, that human has already taken a big leap in terms of improving his life. We succeed in life prolongation while on the other hand; many are dying which are caused by catastrophe- natural and manmade. We are all busy using our hands perhaps in communicating but sometimes we failed to communicate with our neighbour. We have improved our food but many are starving because our resources are inadequately distributed. Nowadays, we are fond of instant...Anything but instant- instant noodles, instant coffee and even instant relationship like the email bride or groom later on. Our attitude adapted also to these phenomena. We find it hard to wait like for example 20 years ago, before we eat chicken meat we have to wait at 5 months, now only 30 days. 2005 and 2006 I was assigned in Payatas Dump Site B and I have observed that most of the garbage is diapers and sanitary napkins. Next are the sachets of shampoo and coffee. I said to myself, are we run out of lampin and pasador? Are we tamad or because we are influence by the media. Media nowadays are the one creating our needs. We have no control of ourselves. We become impatient to wait. We like to collect of is best. We like that everything works just in one click!

In all our activity, nature is always affected because nature does not like what we want.

V.

WORKSHOP 1: JUDGING THE REALITY GLOBAL AND LOCAL

(The participants are grouped according to their place of origin) A. Guide: 1. Enumerate some of the ecological problems in which our world is facing today. 2. Enumerate some of the ecological problems in which our place is facing today. VI. WORKSHOP II: ACTION: OUR CONTIRBUTION TO GLOBAL Suggestions to the Global Community WORKSHOP III: ACTION: OUR CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL Concrete Campaign, Workable Solutions The participants are requested to make workable action plan. VIII. SYNTHESIS: People who capture Francis spirituality would not engage in accumulation of wealth and property anymore nor lust for power and control which brings a devastating effect on our planet. Instead, without anything to hide, anything to protect, they would go around without fear proclaiming the reign of God, calling each creature as brother and sister thus restoring the humankind to its original image and the harmony in the garden of Eden.

VII.