International Earth Day 2022

April 22, 2022

The theme for the United Nations International Mother Earth Day 2022 is 'Invest in our Planet' to bring about the healing and health of our planet Earth, the protection of all species, including our own, and the provision of opportunities for everyone. International Mother Earth Day is not about one day, it's a movement towards transformative change. The latest comprehensive reports on climate change published by international experts this year, emphasize that it is critical to accelerate action to keep global warming within safe levels. This involves a commitment to major transformation to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

During the 26th meeting of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change held in November 2021, world leaders from 141 countries signed the Glasgow Leader's Declaration on Forests and Land Use. This is a commitment for collective action to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation, whilst delivering sustainable development and limiting global warming. The declaration recognizes the key safe-keeping role of small land-holders, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who depend on forests for their livelihoods and need more support. Indigenous Peoples and small land-holders in Fiji and other countries in which Columban Missionaries serve are having to relocate due to the impacts of climate change and ecological degradation.   

Life needs many things to flourish and sustainable development is only one part of the process. The Church has an important role to play in leading transformative change. Church leaders invite all Christians to commit to ongoing spiritual transformation by recognizing God's presence and action and living respectfully with our Creator, one another, and creation. Indigenous Peoples remind us of the sacredness of Earth. There is a sacred trust to live in harmony with all creation, to ensure the support of everyone, particularly those in most need, and to offer back in thanks for the gifts received from Earth. 

Fr Joshtrom Kureethadam SVD, who is a co-cordinator of the Vatican's Ecology Taskforce says it is important to understand the causes of suffering brought about by human activities in a relatively short period of time in history. The Ecology Taskforce is one of four pillars of the work of the Vatican's COVID-19 Commission which was established at the request of Pope Francis in 2020. The goal of the COVID-19 Commission is "to usher forth the transformation of hearts, minds and structures to prepare a better future for all." Protecting each other and all creation "is a loving relational response" to the current crises we face. In an audience prior to the announcement of the COVID-19 Commission in February 2020, Pope Francis said, "I ask you to prepare the future in two ways; with science and imagination to rise above the challenge in front of us." Based on their vast experience, the St Columbans Mission Society has been invited to contribute to this key initiative of the Church. Ms Amy Echeverria who is the Columban International Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator and a former Lay Missionary in Chile, was appointed as a co-coordinator of the Vatican's Ecology Taskforce in January 2022. 

Having an expanded view of the horizon opens us up to hopefulness as co-creators in God's mission. The story of the creation of the universe revealed by science situates Earth, our common home in its largest context. The unique opportunities that evolved for the flourishing of life on our planetary home of Earth, is part of a 14 billion-year history of evolution which commenced with the first flaring forth and continues today. Human activity contributes to this process of unfolding.

Columban Fr Kevin O'Neill says, "Over the past decades, humankind has been blessed to come to know so much about the universe and how the world was created. Science is telling us that we have an ongoing evolving universe. The universe is not static but rather it is in a continual process of becoming. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life. And so, our faith tells us of the movement of the Holy Spirit in the ongoing becoming of the universe. In the ongoing evolving universe science and faith come together."

In his 2014 book 'Creation in Crisis', Fr Joshtrom Kureethadam retells the sense of awestruck wonder and gratitude that was expressed by astronauts of the Apollo 8 spacecraft mission to the moon in 1968. At the sight of Earth rising on the lunar horizon captured in extraordinary images conveyed around the world, Commander Frank Borman stated: "it was the most beautiful, heart-catching sight of my life. People down here don't realize what they have." 

Earth rising on the lunar horizon captured by Apollo 8 Mission to the moon in 1968

Our call as Christians is to continue to be open to transformation in relationship and offer the depth of our commitment in service to one another and all God's creation.   

Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM
Peace, Ecology and Justice Team member
Columban Mission Centre, Essendon.