On Care for Our Common Home, refers to the courageous challenge to leave behind the period of destruction brought about by modern development and make a new start - Photo:canva.com
A boost for carers of God’s creation comes from drawing on the inspiration of the Earth Charter.
The Earth Charter was created by the Earth Charter Commission as a follow-up to the 1992 Earth Summit and was launched in June 2000, at the Peace Palace in The Hague. It was developed through a ten-year process of comprehensive, multi-sector and inclusive collaboration, and continues to be a reference for decision-making in a variety of contexts and ways across the globe.
Mary Evelyn Tucker, a senior lecturer and researcher at Yale University’s Forum on Religion and Ecology and panellist on the webinar, Begin the New Year with a Font of Inspiration: Drink Deep from the Earth Charter,’ stated all the world religions weighed in to the development of the Earth Charter. Pope Francis, in his 2015 Encyclical letter Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, refers to the courageous challenge to leave behind the period of destruction brought about by modern development and make a new start. The Encyclical echoes the call for renewed vision and purposeful commitment towards the common good, “Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.”[1]
Respect and care for the community of life, social and economic justice and peace and non-violence are among key guiding principles. The aim of the Earth Charter is to be a seed of hope and a living document inspired by goals and aspirations that unite peoples. Mary Evelyn Tucker poignantly stated, there is no future without community, its as simple as that, no future too without healthy soil, water, food, the whole community of life. Whilst patience and tenacity are much needed virtues, faith reminds that we are not alone in this quest. Many people from all walks of life are taking part in meaningful action in everyday life and local communities of practice.
Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM
Peace, Ecology and Justice Office
Columban Mission Centre, Essendon
[1] Earth Charter 2000, cited in Laudato Si’ n 207, 2015
