Chapter Seven: Listening and then Action

Here is the link to the Vatican Document; Laudato Si
http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Again, each of these classes are filled with many things, lots of words and images. Please don’t feel that you have to do everything. If something speaks to you, follow your heart. If not, simply let it go.
 

The title of Chapter Five is “LINES OF APPROACH AND ACTION” (#163 to #201)

1. DIALOGUE ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: (#164 to #175)

In these paragraphs Francis looks at the previous international conferences that gathered to protect the environment; “Our Common Home”
This understanding of seeing the bigger picture comes from the ashes of World War Two, where due to Nationalism, Isolationism and much more; millions were slaughtered, and the Earth defamed. We knew instinctively that to make sure this never happens again we needed a place for governments and peoples to gather and stand together. What emerged was the United Nations and international agencies that are called to promote the “common good” of all. “Beginning in the middle of the last century and overcoming many difficulties, there has been a growing conviction that our planet is a homeland and that humanity is one people living in a common home…. A global consensus is essential for confronting the deeper problems, which cannot be resolved by unilateral actions on the part of individual countries.” (#164) This is seen even clearer today amidst a world pandemic. We must work together.

From this understanding of Church teaching and practice, one can develop policy and action plans to safeguard the planet. Yet, Francis is not blind to the challenges before us; “Even as this Encyclical was being prepared, the debate was intensifying,” (#169) due to positions taken by countries which place their national interests above the global common good. 

Francis goes through the many conferences starting from the Stockholm Conference of 1972, where “the obligation of those who cause pollution to assume its costs” was put forward. The Bishops of Bolivia followed up by stating; “the countries which have benefited from a high degree of industrialization, at the cost of enormous emissions of greenhouse gases, have a greater responsibility for providing a solution to the problems they have caused”. BOLIVIAN BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE, Pastoral Letter on the Environment and Human Development in Bolivia El universo, don de Dios para la vida (March 2012),

Well, as you can imagine talk like this causes those with power and control to put up walls and smoke screens. Yet #173 is very clear; “Enforceable international agreements are urgently needed, since local authorities are not always capable of effective intervention.  Relations between states must be respectful of each other’s sovereignty but must also lay down mutually agreed means of averting regional disasters which would eventually affect everyone.  Global regulatory norms are needed to impose obligations and prevent unacceptable actions, for example, when powerful companies dump contaminated waste or offshore polluting industries in other countries.”

The document continues and calls for responsibility, the common good and taking the long road rather than the short easy road of individual profit and gain. In (#178) Francis continues to speak with boldness and clarity. “The myopia of power politics delays the inclusion of a farsighted environmental agenda within the overall agenda of governments.  Thus, we forget that “time is greater than space”, that we are always more effective when we generate processes rather than holding on to positions of power.  True statecraft is manifest when, in difficult times, we uphold high principles and think of the long-term common good.  Political powers do not find it easy to assume this duty in the work of nation-building.”

As looked over this last paragraph the day after I remember this classical traditional Poem by Robert Frost.
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Sit with this. At this time of staying in place, we have had many hours to ponder, wonder and dream.
And then after finding this poem I simply opened-up the Bhagavad Gita and found this prayer of confusion from the warrior Arjuna to Lord Krishna early on as he is discerning his path in life.
Arjuna the warrior says, “My will is paralyzed, and I am utterly confused. Tell me which is the better path for me. Let me be your disciple, I have fallen at your feet; give me instruction. What can overcome a sorrow that saps all my vitality: Even power over people and wealth seem empty (2:7)
Arjuna is in the dark, despondent, and sound depressed (a bit like Job), yet he trusts that being with the Lord along the way (discipleship) is enough and will prove to be the path to fullness and enlightenment.

II. DIALOGUE FOR NEW NATIONAL AND LOCAL POLICIES (#176- #181)
As I read through this subtopic, the theme continues to be the same and that is the obligation to see the common good of all and not forget the poor and those on the fringes of society.
This is an example: “Unless citizens control political power, national, regional and municipal, it will not be possible to control damage to the environment.” (#179)

I just read this article how the people, the poor in rural Louisiana are standing up; yet both government and industry is turning a blind eye to health and environment/the common good.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/louisiana-bill-fossil-fuel-protests-slave-cemetery_n_5ed197d8c5b6eb7566d758d9

Each situation is different and that “There are no uniform recipes” (#180) So yes, it is up to us and individuals, us as parish, us as neighborhood to work together caring for each other and caring for creation, for they are ONE.
I had to add this line from (#181) because we are seeing at this time the dismantling of regulations and laws that have allowed the process of nature to heal. Do you remember when the Bald Eagle almost disappeared from the continental USA and a river in Cleveland caught fire? I remember the rivers polluted and smog hanging over our cities. This is of grave concern for with-out stability and vision who will want to take the next step. “Here, continuity is essential, because policies related to climate change and environmental protection cannot be altered with every change of government.  Results take time and demand immediate outlays which may not produce tangible effects within any one government’s term.”  (LSi # 181)

Here are some photos of what things looked like in early 1970.
https://www.popsci.com/america-before-epa-photos/

ll. DIALOGUE AND TRANSPARENCY IN DECISION-MAKING (#182 to #188)
Pope Francis is not afraid to get his hands duty and enter in the process and the last line of this subtopic is key. (#188) “There are certain environmental issues where it is not easy to achieve a broad consensus.  Here I would state once more that the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics.  But I am concerned to encourage an honest and open debate, so that particular interests or ideologies will not prejudice the common good.” What is important for Pope Francis is that the poor and those whose voices are not often heart and are often taken advantage of by business and government.  

As we talk of transparency, having the appropriate questions would be important. In any discussion about a proposed venture, a number of questions need to be asked in order to discern whether or not it will contribute to genuine integral development.  What will it accomplish?  Why?  Where?  When?  How?  For whom?  What are the risks?  What are the costs?  Who will pay those costs and how?  (LSi #185)
As I read this, I can imagine Pope Francis as parish priest and bishop standing with and supporting his people.

lV. POLITICS AND ECONOMY IN DIALOGUE FOR HUMAN FULFILMENT

This is one of those difficult chapters for me, for Francis is calling for transparency and for life of integrity and integral living. And when “I” look at business or politics at this time, they are speaking another language, one of short-term profits and gains. They are not often mindful of the poor, the voiceless and the environment.
Yet, Francis’s challenge is still clear, “we need to reject a magical conception of the market, which would suggest that problems can be solved simply by an increase in the profits of companies or individuals.” (#190)

One thing that is important, Francis is calling us to look at all things (economics as well as environment) through lens of the Gospel and see the big picture. This next line brings that thought very much to light. “But we need to grow in the conviction that a decrease in the pace of production and consumption can at times give rise to another form of progress and development.  Efforts to promote a sustainable use of natural resources are not a waste of money, but rather an investment capable of providing other economic benefits in the medium term.  If we look at the larger picture, we can see that more diversified and innovative forms of production which impact less on the environment can prove very profitable.” (#191)   

Here is a Youtube report of Pope Frances speaking to the business community.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ecological+conversion+youtube&&view=detail&mid=C03EEED3F0BCC2C22A16C03EEED3F0BCC2C22A16&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Decological%2Bconversion%2Byoutube%26%26FORM%3DVDVVXX

There is a lot more here, yet and can be summed up in (LSi,#196/7) “The mindset which leaves no room for sincere concern for the environment is the same mindset which lacks concern for the inclusion of the most vulnerable members of society.  For ‘the current model, with its emphasis on success and self-reliance, does not appear to favor an investment in efforts to help the slow, the weak or the less talented to find opportunities in life’”.
What is needed is a politics which is farsighted and capable of a new, integral, and interdisciplinary approach to handling the different aspects of the crisis. 

V. RELIGIONS IN DIALOGUE WITH SCIENCE (#199 to #201)
In these three paragraphs Francis is saying that no one has all the insights and answers and that we need to work together. He also points out that each field of study has their own cultural language and that ought not negate the deep truth that they are trying to convey. What we need to do is “listen with”!
Francis he also is calling for people of faith (that is the majority of people living on planet Earth) “to dialogue among themselves for the sake of protecting nature, defending the poor, and building networks of respect and fraternity.”  (#201)   And that “the gravity of the ecological crisis demands that we all look to the common good, embarking on a path of dialogue which demands patience, self-discipline and generosity, always keeping in mind that “realities are greater than ideas”.” (#201)

So, we have come to the end of this challenging Chapter 5 that called us to integrate our faith life/our everyday life with that of economic and government understanding.

Let me close with a National Geographic 4 minute 23 second poetry rap which encapsulates the last 8 sessions. Enjoy and Ponder.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=enviromental+video&docid=608051559381600556&mid=F7B08891CFB2482BBC99F7B08891CFB2482BBC99&view=detail&FORM=VIRE