Comments on: Catholics, Climate Change and Copenhagen http://www.passionistjpic.org/2009/12/catholics-climate-change-and-copenhagen/ Offering the world a passion for life Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:29:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: John http://www.passionistjpic.org/2009/12/catholics-climate-change-and-copenhagen/comment-page-1/#comment-168 John Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:52:00 +0000 http://www.passionistjpic.org/?p=861#comment-168 Here is a very good and realistic analysis of the Copenhagen Accord by the National Resource Defense Council. As expected, Copenhagen did not create a legally binding agreement, but nevertheless it is a step forward. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ddoniger/the_copenhagen_accord_a_big_st.html By the way, Hugo, that was a wonderful video from the Orthodox position. Thanks for sharing. Here is a very good and realistic analysis of the Copenhagen Accord by the National Resource Defense Council. As expected, Copenhagen did not create a legally binding agreement, but nevertheless it is a step forward.
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ddoniger/the_copenhagen_accord_a_big_st.html

By the way, Hugo, that was a wonderful video from the Orthodox position. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: hugo http://www.passionistjpic.org/2009/12/catholics-climate-change-and-copenhagen/comment-page-1/#comment-149 hugo Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:14:04 +0000 http://www.passionistjpic.org/?p=861#comment-149 I agree that Copenhagen is a step towards the right direction. However, there is something lacking. While I do believe that there is a sense of urgency in tackling the root causes of Global Warming, the most effective approach to the issue is to create a culture of appreciation and respect for nature. This could involve the number one issue facing the devastation of natural resources primarily done by the Global North, the over consumption of goods. Here's a video by Aljazeera on the Green Patriarch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apx77ixqRbQ I agree that Copenhagen is a step towards the right direction. However, there is something lacking. While I do believe that there is a sense of urgency in tackling the root causes of Global Warming, the most effective approach to the issue is to create a culture of appreciation and respect for nature. This could involve the number one issue facing the devastation of natural resources primarily done by the Global North, the over consumption of goods.
Here’s a video by Aljazeera on the Green Patriarch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apx77ixqRbQ

]]> By: John Gonzalez http://www.passionistjpic.org/2009/12/catholics-climate-change-and-copenhagen/comment-page-1/#comment-148 John Gonzalez Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:06:39 +0000 http://www.passionistjpic.org/?p=861#comment-148 The following message came from Fr. Rey, CP who is the Passionist JPIC coordinator for the Phillipine Province and the assistant mission director of the CMIP (catholic mission to the indigenous people). Indeed your presentation is very true, our country in particular is experiencing unpredictable calamities due to climate change. i presume you know how the northern part of our country was devastated by the typhoon ondoy. the same concern that we are bringing to the mountain. in the mission in particular, we remain prophetic in our stand against mining. one of our staffhouse in the mission was burned down and our care-taker was killed last august 5, we suspected a lot that it was related to our fight against mining. you can visit @ www.dadbulol.com. we are facing big foriegn companies and we stand firm against them as we collaborate with our diocese. CO2 emission is not that bad here. reforestration here and there is what we are encouraging to the people under our ministries now. more than 20 passionist filipino priests and brothers are organizing the so called "passionist bikers". you can visit that at www.passionistbikers.ning.com or cpbikers@ning.com. this is our little way of saving our mother earth by promoting bicylce and minimizing air pollutions. The Copenhagen conference is a big help. it could be one of the best avenue of a better international agreement as we all try to address our problem on climate change. i do hope and pray that everything would be well in all our jpic endeavors. i am happy to belong to this faith who values a lot in stewardship of creation. i am willing to collaborate whatever plans we may have in this office. this is just all about creation and i still have to collaborate with the other jpic's here as we fight for justice and peace. i know you know about the maguindanao massacre that happened last November 23 here. we are fighting for justice for all the victims. The following message came from Fr. Rey, CP who is the Passionist JPIC coordinator for the Phillipine Province and the assistant mission director of the CMIP (catholic mission to the indigenous people).

Indeed your presentation is very true, our country in particular is experiencing unpredictable calamities due to climate change. i presume you know how the northern part of our country was devastated by the typhoon ondoy.

the same concern that we are bringing to the mountain. in the mission in particular, we remain prophetic in our stand against mining. one of our staffhouse in the mission was burned down and our care-taker was killed last august 5, we suspected a lot that it was related to our fight against mining. you can visit @ http://www.dadbulol.com. we are facing big foriegn companies and we stand firm against them as we collaborate with our diocese.

CO2 emission is not that bad here. reforestration here and there is what we are encouraging to the people under our ministries now. more than 20 passionist filipino priests and brothers are organizing the so called “passionist bikers”. you can visit that at http://www.passionistbikers.ning.com or cpbikers@ning.com. this is our little way of saving our mother earth by promoting bicylce and minimizing air pollutions.

The Copenhagen conference is a big help. it could be one of the best avenue of a better international agreement as we all try to address our problem on climate change. i do hope and pray that everything would be well in all our jpic endeavors. i am happy to belong to this faith who values a lot in stewardship of creation. i am willing to collaborate whatever plans we may have in this office.

this is just all about creation and i still have to collaborate with the other jpic’s here as we fight for justice and peace. i know you know about the maguindanao massacre that happened last November 23 here. we are fighting for justice for all the victims.

]]> By: John Gonzalez http://www.passionistjpic.org/2009/12/catholics-climate-change-and-copenhagen/comment-page-1/#comment-145 John Gonzalez Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:08:19 +0000 http://www.passionistjpic.org/?p=861#comment-145 Fr. Sebastian, Thank you for your historical insight. No matter what effect of climate change is caused by human contribution the fact is that climate change is happening and we are able mitigate its effects (we cannot stop it) and establish defensive policy measures with regards to its effects. I am proud of our Church for responding spiritually to this. It is now our obligations to promote the Church's position. While I agree with you that the UN is essential both the UN and the political will of Nation States will only be as strong as its citizens. Our obligation with either climate change, human rights or the global economy is to support the work of multinational organizations such as our Church and the UN while on the ground promoting local initiatives and resources for individuals. Because of the nature of global politics I do not believe that a very strong agreement with absolute binding commitments will surface. That should not deter our work. We should probably look at conferences like Copenhagen as a step in the right direction rather then a solution. A step that we need to promote to the local community so that in their adjustment the global political will might change to move on to the next step. Fr. Sebastian,

Thank you for your historical insight. No matter what effect of climate change is caused by human contribution the fact is that climate change is happening and we are able mitigate its effects (we cannot stop it) and establish defensive policy measures with regards to its effects.

I am proud of our Church for responding spiritually to this. It is now our obligations to promote the Church’s position.

While I agree with you that the UN is essential both the UN and the political will of Nation States will only be as strong as its citizens. Our obligation with either climate change, human rights or the global economy is to support the work of multinational organizations such as our Church and the UN while on the ground promoting local initiatives and resources for individuals.

Because of the nature of global politics I do not believe that a very strong agreement with absolute binding commitments will surface. That should not deter our work. We should probably look at conferences like Copenhagen as a step in the right direction rather then a solution. A step that we need to promote to the local community so that in their adjustment the global political will might change to move on to the next step.

]]> By: Sebastian http://www.passionistjpic.org/2009/12/catholics-climate-change-and-copenhagen/comment-page-1/#comment-143 Sebastian Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:35:20 +0000 http://www.passionistjpic.org/?p=861#comment-143 The significance of the Copenhagen conference on global warming (and its predecessors) is that it concerns an issue affecting every nation in the world. Every nation, though to varying degrees, contributes to the escalation of global warming, and every nation suffers the results of global warming. And the scientific data surrounding the issue need not be absolutely convincing about the causes of global warming. Even should it be true that this is a cyclic phenomenon occurring every so many millennia, everyone admits that contemporary industrial and deforestation practices contribute to the warming of the globe. For there is irrefutable evidence that such is occurring. This is probably the first time in human history when everyone on the planet is affected by the same phenomenon, short of the universal flood in the time of Noah, and that was likely pre-history. Everyone contributes to global warming; everyone suffers from it. The U.N. is the only worldwide institution in existence capable of addressing this problem. The series of conferences including Copenhagen is a moment for the U.N. to shine. Though subjected to bitter criticism since its inception, the U.N. is "the only thing going". So far as it is concerned, the good should not be sacrificed to a best or even a better that is nowhere in sight. This may be the moment for the U.N. to rise to the occasion by demonstrating how civil conversation can be "more than just talk", by leading to concerted collaboration that is meaningful. The significance of the Copenhagen conference on global warming (and its predecessors) is that it concerns an issue affecting every nation in the world. Every nation, though to varying degrees, contributes to the escalation of global warming, and every nation suffers the results of global warming.
And the scientific data surrounding the issue need not be absolutely convincing about the causes of global warming. Even should it be true that this is a cyclic phenomenon occurring every so many millennia, everyone admits that contemporary industrial and deforestation practices contribute to the warming of the globe. For there is irrefutable evidence that such is occurring.
This is probably the first time in human history when everyone on the planet is affected by the same phenomenon, short of the universal flood in the time of Noah, and that was likely pre-history. Everyone contributes to global warming; everyone suffers from it.
The U.N. is the only worldwide institution in existence capable of addressing this problem. The series of conferences including Copenhagen is a moment for the U.N. to shine. Though subjected to bitter criticism since its inception, the U.N. is “the only thing going”. So far as it is concerned, the good should not be sacrificed to a best or even a better that is nowhere in sight. This may be the moment for the U.N. to rise to the occasion by demonstrating how civil conversation can be “more than just talk”, by leading to concerted collaboration that is meaningful.

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