Nuala Brangan*
As we commemorate World environmental tomorrow, here is a reflection on the theme Adopt a River or Forest from the Association of sisterhood of Kenya
The time to commemorate World Environment Day (Sat), June 5 is here once again. The United Nations (UN) has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity and proposed the theme “Many Species, One Planet, One Future.” However considering Kenya’s environmental realities, we have chosen a sub-theme: “ADOPT a RIVER or FOREST”. This theme echoes the UN urgent call to preserve and conserve our environment upon which millions of people and millions of species depend.
When children are adopted, we understand that this means treating them as our very own. It means loving them, caring for them each day and becoming attentive to their needs, protecting them from harm and having dreams for their future even to the extent of sacrificing ourselves for them. This year, as we invite you to adopt a river or forest (or stream, mountain etc if none is close to you), we are asking you to lavish care and protection on it and the wonderful variety of life that it contains. It is an invitation therefore to be part of the countrywide efforts to protect and conserve the variety of life found within and around our rivers or forests. If we fail to act, it may soon be too late as scientists estimate that a species of life is being destroyed every day. This will, most likely, include working with others, and will entail the sacrifice of your time and energy to bring it back to its former glory.
The Passionist priest and famous environmentalist, Fr. Thomas Berry, calls us to look at spirituality (eco-spirituality) which engages not only our whole being but the whole universe itself. It is his belief, as well as a growing belief among theologians today, that as Religious we should be at the forefront of environment care because we are part of creation itself. This call is central to the teaching and example of Jesus; is echoed in the Old Testament, especially the psalms, and has also a central place in many of our own cultural beliefs.
We invite you to communicate news of World Environment Day to all the members of your community as well as to all your communities in Kenya, encouraging each other to celebrate WED through some activity. (The enclosed leaflet may give you some ideas but you may come up with better ways yourselves of celebrating.). We would be grateful for a brief report before July 30, 2010. However we encourage you to extend this activity to the whole year.
At this time when our politicians are in danger of dividing us along a Yes or No Referendum vote, may we be encouraged to gather together as Religious of all faiths to save our environment through peaceful environmental initiatives. We wish you God’s blessings on your daily effort of caring for our world.
*Nuala Brangan is a Loreto Sister and the AOSK-JP Commission, Coordinator in Kenya
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
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