2015-10-05 15:48:00

Philippine priests, nuns join campaign for 'climate justice'‎


Priests and nuns in the Philippines joined faith and civil society groups in a ‘climate walk’ on Sunday to demand urgent action from the government for “climate justice” and care of the environment.  "We hasten, and there is no putting off our initiatives when it comes to acting for the care of our common home," said Franciscan Father Dexter Toledo, executive secretary of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines.  "We must work towards climate justice at once," Fr. Toledo said, stressing on the urgency of the matter.  With regard to climate change, he said Pope Francis himself is in a hurry.

Hundreds of people from faith-based groups and civil society organizations marched from different locations in Quezon City converging in the national capital, Manila.  The Ecological Justice Interfaith Movement composed of various religious groups in the country headed the march called the "Ecology Walk for the Care of Our Common Home." 

The march coincided with Oct. 4th feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Italy’s patron saint of the 12th century, whose name Pope Francis adopted, because of his poor and humble lifestyle as well as his love for God’s creation.   Oct. 4th was also the closing activity of Manila Archdiocese's "Season of Creation."  In a speech at the end of the march, Father Edu Gariguez, executive director of the Philippine bishops’ social action secretariat noted that the nation’s ecosystem, aggravated by destructive mining activities, will have difficulty recovering, thus threatening people's food sources, livelihoods, and ultimately tearing apart the social fabric that holds the community together.  "Together we can act on it and protect our environment," Father Gariguez added.  The groups called for urgent government action to demand climate justice from rich countries responsible for a large percentage of greenhouse gasses.

On Sept. 30, the Philippine "climate pilgrims" started a 60-day "people's pilgrimage" from Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican to Paris where global leaders will attempt to forge a new treaty aimed at limiting global warming during a United Nations summit in December.  The 2015 U.N. Climate Change Conference, aims to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate.  (Source: UCAN) 








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