“The degradation of nature is closely linked to the culture that models human coexistence.”

Laudato Si’ n.10.

Every June 5th is celebrated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as World Environment Day  (UN, 2022), where the leaders of the countries seek to address the problems concerning Mother Earth by promoting positive changes to carry out a sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature.

  Before the initiative carried out by UNEP, the Church made a call through Paul VI in 1970 in his speech for the 25th anniversary of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in which he exhorted the nations to take care not only of our sister, Mother Earth, but also to seek out the most needy and establish a moderate and rational use of natural resources. Likewise, he noted evidence of an ecological catastrophe that would lead us to “biological death” if strong measures were not taken to change the destiny of both the earth and  of humanity. (Paul VI, 1970).

You can watch this animated short that shows the main problems of forced displacement in the armed conflict in Colombia and that are also replicated in other Latin American countries

52 years have passed since the words spoken by Paul VI, and this “celebration” for the environment is still far from being a celebration, our lifestyles guided by consumerism continue to promote an environmental crisis that is affecting Mother Earth and to a great extent the economically unprotected population of the countries of the periphery and/or semi-periphery, forcing them to migrate from their places of origin, initiating migrations and displacements for environmental reasons.

The prevailing world economic system opposes any positive transformation. Many of those who raise their voices to denounce and demand change in the different countries are assassinated or silenced for wanting to seek a change that not only benefits a few current pantheistic philosophies, but seeks to monetize the knowledge of the original peoples–knowledge that is universal–and “export” this knowledge to developed countries.

We leave you our podcast, The Flight of the Butterflies, where you will listen to Diomirna tell how her family migrated like the monarch butterflies that inhabit the South of Canada and a good part of the United States.

However, in the face of this bleak panorama, Pope Francis in his Encyclical Laudato Sí, invites us to have hope in renewing humanity through ecological ministry, in which we feel compassion and reconcile ourselves with all of creation, developing a universal fraternal love that invites us to live in community with everything created, because we are all connected. From this new perspective, we are invited to propose concrete actions that praise creation in the manner of Saint Francis of Assisi:  “Praised be, my Lord, in all your creatures (…), Praise be to you, my Lord, for our sister mother earth, who sustains and governs us and produces various fruits with colorful flowers and herbs. (…) Praise and bless my Lord and give him thanks and serve him with great humility.” (Canticle to the Creatures.

Fotografía portada: Eric Luna

Did you know that climate-displaced persons are not considered refugees under international refugee law? It is very likely that the most vulnerable feel the most pressure to migrate. Climate migration affects all the inhabitants of the Earth, and what do you think? Let us read you in the comments?  You liked the article? Please  share it!

Keep reading our article from last year to learn  about how the earth has become unreliable as a place to sustain human existence.

World Environment Day: The permanent challenge of caring for and defending our Common Home