As you ponder this chapter, consider your relationship with your particular environment.
As you read and reflect where are you challenged and where do you find hope?
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a. Environmental: “Each organism, as a creature of God, is good and admirable in itself; the same is true of the harmonious ensemble of organisms existing in a defined space and functioning as a system. (ecosystems) So, when we speak of ‘sustainable use,’ consideration must always be given to each ecosystem’s regenerative ability in its different areas and aspects.” (140)
b. Economic: “we urgently need a humanism capable of bringing together the different fields of knowledge, including economics, in the service of a more integral and integrating vision.” (141) We cannot separate economic growth, environmental factors and how they relate to humanity and vice versa.
c. Society: “Within each social stratum, and between them, institutions develop to regulate human relationships. “ (142) Otherwise injustice, violence, loss of freedom, greed prevail.
II. Cultural Ecology
“Ecology, then, also involves protecting the cultural treasures of humanity in the broadest sense.
…it calls for greater attention to local cultures when studying environmental problems, favoring a dialogue between scientific-technical language and the language of the people. Culture…is a living dynamic and participatory present reality….” (143)
Consumerism diminishes quality of life . Cf. 145 especially.
Indigenous communities… the sacredness of the land (146)
III. Ecology of Daily Life
“Authentic development includes efforts to bring about an integral improvement in the quality of human life, and this entails considering the setting in which people live their lives. These settings influence the way we think, feel and act. In our rooms, our homes, our workplaces and neighborhoods, we use our environment as a way of expressing our identity. We make every effort to adapt to our environment, but when it is disorderly, chaotic or saturated with noise and ugliness, such overstimulation makes it difficult to find ourselves integrated and happy.” (147)
The necessity for close, warm relationships, community, a sense of belonging and solidarity… (148)
“More precious still is the service we offer to another kind of beauty: people’s quality of life, their adaptation to the environment, encounter and mutual assistance.” (150)
Where people live, how people live are looked at. As well as the city environment, common places. These affect our daily life-- an—or so many throughout the world, it is very challenging.
Pope Francis ends this segment with recognizing our bodies as gifts: “The acceptance of our bodies as God’s gift is vital for welcoming and acceptin the entire world as a gift from the Fatherand our common home…” (155)
IV. The Principle of the Common Good
Especially #157 which begins with what grounds the common good: respect for the human person. “Finally, the common good calls for social peace, the stability and security provided by a certain order which cannot be achieved without particular concern for distributive justice….”
“…it demands before all else an appreciation of the immense dignity of the poor in the light of our deepest convictions as believers.” (158)
V. Justice Between the Generations
“What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” (160)
“We need to reflect on our accountability before those who will have to endure the dire consequences.” (161)
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