eConnections - September 2015

Connecting Peace, Ecology and Justice from the Gospel Perspective - September 2015


Image: James Steidl

The ideology of endless growth continues and must be challenged. It is unhealthy - for people, societies and the planet as Haydn Washington outlined at the recent FEN Forum: “Healthy Earth, Endless Growth, are they Compatible?”  

Pope Francis says it so well in “Praise Be”, “Human beings and material objects no longer extend a friendly hand to one another: the relationship has become confrontational. This has made it easy to accept the idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers and experts in technology. It is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth’s goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry beyond every limit.” #106

This September, Pope Francis will speak to the United Nations as the nations of the world put together “sustainable development” goals, which include “end poverty in all of its forms everywhere” and “take urgent action to combat climate change.” There he will encourage the kind of dialogue among nations that forges a global economy based on sustainability for the earth and solidarity with the poor, rather than “the maximization of profits” and unlimited growths.
 
Those who see and care for new economic alternatives are denigrated in this country and elsewhere with labels like “green vigilantes” or “lefties” because the market is “god”. Pope Francis is being criticised by those in financial circles and even in the church who feel threatened. But he is bringing new hope to those with the least and to those involved in the struggle for peace, ecology and justice.

In the Peace, Ecology and Justice section we bring two stories by some of those involved in this struggle: “Economic Hitmen” by Fr Shay Cullen and “A View From Pakistan” by Fr Dan Harding. You can read the Statement on Economic Growth by a Coalition of Religions developed for the FEN Forum. It is a good educational and communication tool for you to share wherever you can. As usual, we encourage your action.   

Anne Lanyon
Co-ordinator of the Centre for  Peace, Ecology and Justice

	Peace, Ecology and Justice The Greek government has struggled and wrestled against compromising their principles not to give in to the stringent demands of their creditors. They failed and have had to enact tough austerity laws that will bring hardship on the ordinary citizen. The Economic Hit Men  (read more) The View From Pakistan (read more) Statement on the growth economy by a coalition of religions (read more)
	Reflection Being a servant, being ‘lowly’ - (as distinct from being a doormat - allows us see life from a different ‘angle’: looking up rather than looking down. (read more)
	Growing a Culture of Peace Bulletin- Listening to God in the Earth Many today are mute in the face of the relentless negative impact the current global economic system has on God’s wonderful life-filled creation.  (read more)
	News from the Centre We have collated Columban resources to support the implementation of Laudato Si’. They are already available online but we have put them all in one folder as a “one stop shop” for your easy access.  (read more)
	Take Action “As Christians we wish to contribute to resolving the ecological crisis which humanity is presently experiencing. In doing so, we must first rediscover in our own rich spiritual patrimony the deepest motivations for our concern for the care of creation. (Laudato Si’, # 216).  (read more)

Read other eConnections editions:

• November 2015
• October 2015
• September 2015
• August 2015
• July 2015
• June 2015
• May 2015
• April 2015
• March 2015