Our Planet, Our Selves
Global Witness,
an international NGO (non-governmental organization) reports that in
2016 there were 200 environmental defenders, wildlife rangers and
indigenous leaders murdered as they defended natural resources,
wildlife, or community land. Thus nearly four a week.
Environmentalists
are threatened by the interests representing mining and oil, illegal
logging, agribusiness and dam building. Conflicts persist over water
and land, pollution and evictions.
Globalization
of incentives for economic interests trumping ecological interests is
often cited as the cause for this culture of impunity where
environmental defenders can be eliminated without repercussions.
Assaults are attributed to corporations' private security guards, state
forces and contract killers.
How
might you and I, as a part of the ecumenical movement respond?
Investment portfolio divestment from offending companies is a start.
Or, as investors, we could vote to have the company report on how
climate change, for example, will affect its "bottom line". Recently
ExxonMobil shareholders voted overwhelmingly to do this.
If
our tradition seems to urge support of extremist theologies and
politics that jettison human rights, disrespect the rule of law, or fail
to take a stand against environmental destruction, perhaps you and I
have cause to re-think, seeking values that are more life-affirming.
If
political will is lacking, and corporations elude accountability, and
if the hope of the environmental movement is challenged, and when
science alone cannot solve environmental problems, we need to rely on
the influence of spiritual leaders in the decision-making process by
invoking their moral authority to frame the struggle for ecological
integrity as a humanitarian one.
Each of us reading this column can make some contribution of helping.
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Note:
This column began in October 1997 and thus now completes 20 years. It
is issued mid-monthly, Sept.--May, by the six-decades-old ecumenical
United Churches of Lycoming County, based in Williamsport PA. To see
this column in that context, go to www.uclc.org and then search the newsletter for the "Creation Corner Column."
