AFRICA - Respect for the person and environment, according to the Gospel, for the benefit of all

Thursday, 21 June 2018 ecology   environment   human dignity   natural catastrophe   natural disasters   poverty   human rights  

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Kara (Agenzia Fides) - "The numerous deaths recorded in the Ivory Coast in recent days due to floods and heavy rains, invite once again to seriously examine the problem of the ecological crisis and its negative impact on the African population", says Father Donald Zagore, theologian of the Society of African Missions, to Fides.
"Today we go from drought to rain with a succession of seasons that bring devastation and catastrophic effects on the lives of Africans", continues Fr. Donald commenting on the current alert launched by Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara in response to the floods that have scourged the south of the country, causing the death of at least 20 people.
In fact, Ouattara has invited citizens to follow the precautionary guidelines, warning that the housing areas located in risk areas and near water drainage facilities will be evicted. The city of Abidjan was the most affected by the floods following heavy rains that fell during the night between 18 and 19 June. New rainfall in the country is scheduled for the weekend.
"In his cosmological universe, African man has always lived in true harmony, in perfect symbiosis with nature. The African is a man of nature. He draws the basic elements necessary for his livelihood in terms of food and health from nature", adds the missionary. "The current situation is dramatic and just as dramatic is seeing how nature, which yesterday was a friend of the Africans, has become hostile to him. From its status as a source of life, nature has become a source of death. For the African man the ecological challenge is crucial. We must work to restore the almost ontological link between African and nature. This basically implies an ecological reawakening of consciousness that will lead everyone to adopt radically ecological behaviors without which we will continue to cry our dead.
Ecological behaviors that are part of a real awareness that our actions on the environment affect both our lives and our own people. That is why it must be said loud and clear that our political, economic and technological actions must be based on solid moral values, devoid of any factor of corruption and of a ferocious race to materialism. These actions must be inspired by the Gospel of truth, justice, common good, which promote respect for the dignity of the human person and the environment and for the benefit of all", concludes Zagore. (DZ/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 21/6/2018)



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