An investment for our planet

General Assembly of the Rights of Nature PhilippinesGeneral Assembly of the Rights of Nature Philippines. Photo: Columban Fr John Din

On March 21-22, as the national coordinator of Laudato Si' Movement Pilipinas, I joined the General Assembly of the Rights of Nature Philippines. It was the 5th year since the campaign started in 2018. The campaign came out after a workshop on, Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream facilitated by the Laudato Si' Movement Pilipinas, formerly the Global Catholic Climate Movement Pilipinas.

The last five years have been a time of continuous education and awareness raising of this revolutionary idea that requires a massive paradigm shift to an integral ecology, using the language of Laudato Si' of Pope Francis. Currently, a few countries have adopted the Rights of Nature movement that is growing around the world.

This is an uphill battle in a country where the justice system is beholden to powerful political dynasties and a system characterised by political patronage. Civil society organisations have been battling for the recognition of fundamental human rights for years, and this struggle intensified during the drug war perpetrated by the previous administration. Under the current administration, the son of the former dictator shows no signs of backing down.

With the urgency of the climate emergency, we cannot afford to keep our focus on human rights alone. The recognition of the rights of nature is essential to human rights. We must keep both struggles together since an advance in either would also benefit the other. Promoting and defending human rights are essential to promoting the rights of all forms of life and vice versa.

During the General Assembly of the Rights of Nature Philippines, over eighty faith-based, government and pro-environment groups signed a declaration of Climate Emergency. The order contains the organisation's respective commitments according to their context. It also calls the Philippine government the duty bearers to declare a climate emergency. This move is part of a grassroots strategy of building momentum to pressure the government to declare a climate emergency.

Columban John Din

One of the faith-based groups involved is Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish, a newly established parish in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro run by Columban missionaries through the leadership of Fr. Enrique Escobar. Also, present in the General Assembly of the Rights of Nature Philippines were two members of the parish youth group. In declaring the Climate Emergency, the parish commits to:

  • Awareness raising about Laudato Si by promoting the film, The Letter, and the Rights of Nature Campaign.
  • Take care of the river at the back of the parish church through a tree-growing initiative of the parish in collaboration with other organisations and NGOs.
  • Campaign against the use of single-use plastic in the parish and local communities.

In the upcoming celebration of Earth Day 2023, the campaign to encourage different organisations to declare a climate emergency will continue. The campaign is a crucial way forward since the Philippines is among the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change. Just recently, unexpected floods ravaged the northern part of Mindanao during Christmas, and deforestation and quarrying exacerbated the flash floods and caught people by surprise. As always, the poor are the first to bear the brunt of climate-related events.

The reality outlined above is reflected in the latest IPCC Report 2022, where scientists worldwide are sounding the warning bell against climate catastrophes and the insufficient pace and scale of response. Thus, adverse impacts from human-induced climate change and extreme events will intensify.

The Rights of Nature campaign is about putting into reality what is already implied in the current Constitution of the Philippines1. But that is just part of the bigger campaign task, which is a paradigm shift involving a change of worldview that can only occur through ecological conversion as called for in Laudato Si'.

For Passionist priest Fr Thomas Berry, this new paradigm is moving away from human beings' destructive presence in the community of life to a mutually enhancing presence. Only ecological conversion can bring fullness to the task of recognising the intrinsic rights of all beings.

As we celebrate Earth Day 2023, with the theme Invest in our Planet, together with our partner organisations, we will continue the campaign to motivate organisations, churches, universities, and institutions around the country to declare a climate emergency.

Columban John Din is the Columban JPIC Regional Coordinator Missionaries in the Philippines.

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