Papua New Guinea's cardinal has bigger concerns than Amoris Laetitia

[JPUSC]

Catholic News Agency: Papua New Guinea’s cardinal has bigger concerns than Amoris Laetitia

Rome, Italy, Feb 17, 2017 / 02:50 am (CNA/EWTN News).- While many in different sectors of the Church are pulling out their hair trying to resolve the Amoris Laetitia communion debate, Papua New Guinea’s new cardinal said his country has a much more immediate problem.

“For us, Amoris Laetitia will always be there,” Cardinal John Ribat told CNA Feb. 11.

“You can have time to talk about this,” he said, but stressed his country is facing one major problem that can’t wait for a solution: climate change.

“It is really the biggest issue for us. We cannot keep quiet about it. We have to come out with it,” he said, noting that the “king tides, king waves” and rough winds “belting” the island nation are already forcing many people from their homes.

These are the things “we cannot stop. They continue to come, and they are more powerful than us,” the cardinal said, explaining that while temporary sea walls have been set up, “they won’t hold.”

“Our situation, it’s timely, you either talk about it or you see these people finished…There’s not timing for it. The time is either now or never.”

Cardinal Ribat, a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was one of the 19 prelates that got a red hat from Pope Francis in November’s consistory, and is a prime example of the Pope’s affinity toward the global peripheries.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/papua-new-guineas-cardinal-has-bigger-concerns-than-amoris-laetitia-33686

 

[po18guy]

Other than enforcing a global reversion to cave-man lifestyles, and massive elimination of the human population, what can tiny, impotent man actually do to alter the climate of an immense planet - a planet whose temperature is externally controlled by the sun? Our lives, even the earth itself will end before consensus is achieved.

We look for worldly solutions when they originate in heaven.

 

[SAVINGRACE]

Yes, this is a huge problem on Australia’s doorstep. New Zealand is taking leadership on this role while others bicker over the science of climate change. New Zealand has agreed to take ALL citizens of Kiribati and re-establish them in NZ. The Kiribati islands will be under sea in the next 50 years.

 

[lynnvinc]

Catholic News Agency: Papua New Guinea’s cardinal has bigger concerns than Amoris Laetitia

Rome, Italy, Feb 17, 2017 / 02:50 am (CNA/EWTN News).- While many in different sectors of the Church are pulling out their hair trying to resolve the Amoris Laetitia communion debate, Papua New Guinea’s new cardinal said his country has a much more immediate problem.

“For us, Amoris Laetitia will always be there,” Cardinal John Ribat told CNA Feb. 11.

“You can have time to talk about this,” he said, but stressed his country is facing one major problem that can’t wait for a solution: climate change.

“It is really the biggest issue for us. We cannot keep quiet about it. We have to come out with it,” he said, noting that the “king tides, king waves” and rough winds “belting” the island nation are already forcing many people from their homes.

These are the things “we cannot stop. They continue to come, and they are more powerful than us,” the cardinal said, explaining that while temporary sea walls have been set up, “they won’t hold.”

“Our situation, it’s timely, you either talk about it or you see these people finished…There’s not timing for it. The time is either now or never.”

Cardinal Ribat, a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was one of the 19 prelates that got a red hat from Pope Francis in November’s consistory, and is a prime example of the Pope’s affinity toward the global peripheries.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/papua-new-guineas-cardinal-has-bigger-concerns-than-amoris-laetitia-33686

This is exactly my sentiment. I read thoroughly Laudato Si, but didn’t even pay attention to Amoris Laetitia. (For one thing I’ve been faithfully married for 48 years to my one and only husband – and we know hypothetically we should be more loving and kind to each other. We try every so often. .)

But climate change is one thing we are contributing to, which amounts to contributing to people’s harm and death. So this is really important that we do all we can to mitigate CC in our personal lives and strive to get others to do likewise. It would be a sin for me not to bring up CC ALL THE TIME in every way I could. My husband gets sick of my ranting, but has gone along with all our CC mitigation measures, down to a 60%+ reduction in GHG emission below our 1990 level.

 

[lynnvinc]

I remember the 2008 UN CC talks in Bali and the words of the Papua New Guinea rep – reported here:

Kevin Conrad, a young man representing one of the world’s least influential nations, Papua New Guinea, gained a worldwide spotlight as he faced down the sole superpower, the United States…

“I would ask the United States, we ask for your leadership,” he said. “But if for some reason you’re not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way.”

Here is it on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=iePXZt4zwyo

 

[lynnvinc]

And the Philippines, CC-enhanced super cyclones since 2010:

Rammasun (Glenda), 2014
Haiyan (Yolanda), 2013
Bopha (Pablo), 2012
Nesat (Pedring), 2011
Megi (Juan), 2010

from wiki: “Typhoon Haiyan, known as Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record, which devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, on November 8, 2013.[1] It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record,[2] killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone.[3] Haiyan is also the strongest storm recorded at landfall. In January 2014, bodies were still being found.[4]” at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Haiyan

Image of Haiyan’s destruction:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

“After Super Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines, climate change representative Yeb Sano pleaded with the world to take immediate, drastic action to reduce climate change-causing carbon dioxide”

Words of Yeb on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=7SSXLIZkM3E

 

[lynnvinc]

other than enforcing a global reversion to cave-man lifestyles, and massive elimination of the human population, what can tiny, impotent man actually do to alter the climate of an immense planet - a planet whose temperature is externally controlled by the sun? Our lives, even the earth itself will end before consensus is achieved.

We look for worldly solutions when they originate in heaven.

Suggest reading Laudato Si - w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

You can start down the road of CC mitigation with small steps, The Little Way of Environmental Healing. God will lead the way. Start taking reusable bags when shopping, turn of engine in drive-thrus, …

There are 100s of things one can do to reduce their GHG emissions, esp if we understand that each product entails GHG emissions in resource extraction & shipping, processing, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing, shopping, etc.

So Reduce, Reuse, Recycle become very important, as well as going on alt energy when feasible and affordable.

You will be surprised to find out you can actually save money while saving the Earth, God’s creation, which He pronounced good.