Photo by Abigail Lynn on Unsplash
For the first time, Catholic groups from Oceania will participate in the United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, from June 27 to July 1. This is the second United Nations Conference on the oceans, after the first held in 2017 in New York.
Catholic leaders in Oceania, including indigenous peoples, cardinals, Jesuits and members of the Laudato Si’ movement, will seek to amplify the voices of the most vulnerable and champion God’s creation from the perspective of their Catholic faith. , guided by the Laudato Si of Pope Francis. ‘. The conference will focus on promoting UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.”
Bishop Peter Chong of the Archdiocese of Suva, Fiji, and President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops‘ Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO), one of the delegates, said: “Environmental protection and the fight against climate change must go together. We cannot simply plead against the climate crisis while continuing to damage our common home. Our Holy Father urges political and business leaders to stop thinking about short-term gains and work for the common good. Furthermore, Catholic social doctrine teaches that human beings and the care of God’s creation should be at the center of economic development. We will make this prophetic plea throughout the United Nations Ocean Conference.
Pacific island states are increasingly bearing the brunt of the ecological, social and cultural impacts of the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. Scientists say rising global temperatures are exacerbating extreme weather events and causing sea levels to rise across the region. At the forefront are resilient local and indigenous communities struggling to adapt to multiple crises.
An in-person, side-event will showcase these local voices and highlight the role of faith communities and faith-based organizations in championing the gift of God’s creation.
The event, titled “Oceania Talanoa: Faith, Indigenous, and Nature’s Moana Shaping and Safeguarding Innovations of the Sea”, will take place at 6.30pm UK time on Tuesday 28 June. The event will be streamed live on the Laudato Si Movement YouTube and Facebook channels.
A cohort of Catholic partners will host the event, and participants include:
Cardinal Jean Ribat, President of the Federation of Catholic Episcopal Conferences of Oceania and member of the Vatican Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development
Therese Arder, Indigenous Research Liaison Officer at Australian Catholic University, Director and Owner of Gweagal Cultural Connections
Bishop Peter ChongArchdiocese of Suva, Fiji and current President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops‘ Conferences of Oceania
Amy Woolam Echeverria, International Director Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for Colombian Missionaries and co-coordinator of the Ecology Task Force of the Vatican Covid 19 Commission
Malialosa Tapueluelu, Caritas Tonga Program Manager
Father Pedro Walpole, SJGlobal Coordinator of Ecojesuit, Research Manager for Environmental Science for Social Change and Network Coordinator for the Church Network River Above Asia Oceania.
Tevita Naikasowalu, Coordinator for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for the Columban Mission Society in Fiji
LINK
United Nations Ocean Conference – www.un.org/en/conferences/ocean2022
