PROTECTING EARTH
Have you heard about the Lumad or Indigenous People that assert their right to self-determination? Are you also
familiar with Greta Thunberg who emerged as the face of the youth on climate movement? She is actually at the
forefront in the fight for the protection and conservation of our environment. And of course, we all know about the
Perils of Plastics, here and there!
We need to recognize the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of our society; and protect
the indigenous people who helps protect our environment, fight climate change, and build resilience to natural
disasters, as they own, occupy, or use a quarter of the world’s surface area, and they safeguard 80% of the world’s
remaining biodiversity. The Youth activist Greta Thunberg speaks at the climate change, elevating the voices of young
people to protect the future of our planet, demanding greater action from governments to fight climate change. We
need to recognize and support them in their continued struggle for environmental and climate justice. Let us help them
by doing simple ways like lessen landfill waste, conserving natural resources, cut down on energy consumption and
reduce pollution.
For some reason, why do we really have to take good care of our environment… because it is a gift from God, it is
created for us to be able to live and survive; and in return it is our responsibility to take care of it. Practice the 3R’s and
educate ourselves and be disciplined, conserve and plant trees. As the environment is the one that provide us raw
materials and resources for medicines and other purposes. We have to take good care of our environment, because all
of these may vanish one day if we don’t make a change now. All things here in the world have limitations, we need to be
responsible enough to protect our environment as we get our needs in it, and without it we cannot live and survive this
world. We need to protect and respect our environment if we don’t want to suffer from scarcity of goods.
And have you asked yourselves about this mining activities all over the world? Are you in favor of mining? Do you know
what the benefits of mining is? How about the by-products of mining?
Economically speaking, yes it is helpful. As according to some sources, the Philippines is currently the fifth most mineral-
rich country in the world. Fossil fuels are key in providing reliable, and affordable energy; and it is important in terms of
constructing roads, generate electricity, and build automobiles and houses. And wastes can be a waste rock, mill tailings,
coal refuse, wash slimes, and spent oil shale. Mining results in the production of large quantities of residual wastes that
are for the most part earth or rock-like in nature.
Based on the information about the environment from the perspectives of the Catholic Church, Sustainable
Development Goals and Environmental Laws, my understanding on care for creation is knowing that everything is
connected with each other, so if our environment is not protected and people continue to disrespect it and misuse it,
then, all of us including the animals and other creatures are affected. There are already extinct species due to lack of
protection of our nature. Number one reason is the man-made destruction and the natural occurrences. Due to these, a
lot of problems arise like pollution in land, air and bodies of ocean; contamination of water, loss and destruction of
biodiversity, climate change, global warming, and sudden extinction of animals, unexpected forest fires, and so on. It is
not only us who will lose their homes, but also the animals. We destruct and take their habitat away from them, and it
highly affects the whole ecosystem. And if this keep on going, and we still don’t make a move and change for the better,
we will surely lose everything and severely suffer because of what people do to our environment. So, now is the right
time to protect and conserve our nature, not only for our sake, but also for the future generations.
