Poverty is a
very significant cause of environmental destruction, and environmental
destruction is a major cause of poverty. Many people in developing countries
live in rural settings, relying directly on nature— fishing, hunting and
small-scale farming—particularly vulnerable to the effects of pollution and
climate change. Because of climate change (even aside from water shortages)
crop yields are expected to decline as temperature patterns change in most
tropical regions, and the frequency of severe natural disasters inevitably play
a role in the mass destruction of poorly-constructed homes. Climate change
refugees are joining other migrants as some of the poorest people on earth, and
with them contribute to the desperate exploitation of scarce resources. And --
is the owner of a dirty mine likely to live next to it? Who gets the
profits from a logged rain forest? Who produces the most greenhouse
gases?...not the poor.
"My heart is moved
by all I cannot save:
So much has been destroyed
I have to cast my lot with those
who age after age, perversely
with no extraordinary power,
reconstitute the world."
-- Adrienne Rich
Rio+20 is
only the first step in a process. People all over the world are being
invited to make Voluntary Commitments. Schools, businesses, NGOs,
public and private groups are getting their pledges ready. One of the first was
given by 10,000 Japanese schoolchildren, who pledged to save 100 Watt hours of
electricity a week, saving 1500 tons of coal / day. To help us be involved, the
United Nations has launched a Volunteer Action Counts campaign. Visit www.volunteeractioncounts.org
and think how you might make a personal or group commitment: support of a
sustainable development project, a change in personal or community practice,
policy advocacy, or public education / awareness-raising? Or pray for the
ones making this effort!
(Material taken from Unanima International
Update edited by Sister Michele Morek)
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