ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINIBILITY

Unless we have a healthy planet, we can not have solid economies, sustainable societies or healthy inhabitants. The uncontrolled use of the natural resources is provoking alarming changes in our environment. The consumption of electricity and water mark clearly the difference between rich and poor people in the world. The latest Nobel Prize awarded to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the UN has been a warning about the dangers of the global increase in temperature and the lack of better policies addressed to protect the environment and reverse the loss of environmental resources.

In the last 20 years, forests have been disappearing alarmingly; due to pollution, the fishing zone has collapsed. In the poor countries, about one thousand million people do not have running water and 6,000 boys and girls die per day because of preventable infections propagated by dirty water or unsuitable sanitary facilities. It is calculated that about 1,000,000,000 people do not have access to electricity supply, therefore, they are obligated to cut down trees to obtain firewood or to burn very polluting combustibles as Kerosene, that really damage the human health. Meanwhile, the elevated and frequently excessive energy consumption of the rich countries increases the emissions of greenhouse gas.

Climate Change is causing the increase of the sea level. This threatens the coast zones and even some entire countries. The poorest inhabitants of the world are the most vulnerable and they often are the most exposed to the climatic instability and to the strongest storms that probably will be more frequent if the alteration of the climate continues. Despite there are many sceptical people, without a doubt if we continue with the wrong use of the environmental resources, the sanitary consequences will affect everybody!

However, this situation may change. The world has enough financial resources and practical knowledge to increase the economic productivity and the prosperity by the time we protect our natural resources. The only missing thing is the political will to change this reality. Many small groups are working to make the people aware, especially the young and to press the States, so that, they assume their responsibility in the development of politics of environmental protection. You and your group can also help to protect our environment… Pope Benedict XVI has made echo of this goal “Without doubt, one of the fields in which urgent efforts are necessary is that of the defense of creation. New generations will be entrusted with the future of the planet, which bears clear signs of a type of development that has not always protected nature’s delicate equilibriums. Before it is too late, courageous choices must be made aimed at recreating a powerful bond between man and the earth. What is needed is a decided 'yes' to safeguarding creation and a deep commitment to invert tendencies that risk leading to conditions of irreversible degradation." (Sep. 2, 2007).

To reflect:

1. - Do your group’s members know the environment protection policies developed by the authorities in your country? Have they noticed this topic is not interesting for the politic leaders and the taken actions are minimal?

2. - Do you know any organization in your town or city that fosters the environmental protection?

3. – Could your VMY group organize some activity in the school or in the community to make children and young aware of the problem and to suggest them alternatives?

4. - If you have already been doing this kind of activities, write and share it with us.

For further information visit:
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/mdg2007.pdf

Dorys Castillo,

VMY International Council.

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