Honoring Mother Earth

In this edition of the AJANews Newsletter for April 2024 we dedicate space to honor World Earth Day 2024, observed annually on April 22. This year’s theme ‘Planet vs Plastics’, AJAN reiterates its dedication to help care for our common home and to support poor and marginalized people, creating a more Caring and Compassionate African generation full of hope and committed to protect the Planet to think about the impact of plastic waste. “Heeding the words of Pope Francis in Laudate Deum, it is important for us all to take swift action on the environment including reducing plastic usage or we could face immensely grave consequences.”

As part of the AJAN Youth for Youth initiative, in the year 2023, the youths from the the Centre d’Information d’Education et d’Ecoute du Centre Catholique Universitaire de Bangui (CIEE-CCU) in Central Africa Republic took part in a cleaning exercise-working for a healthy and sustainable environment.

Philosopher Mircea Eliade proposed a reflection about the “Mother Earth”. He compared Earth to the mother, on a symbolic level, “Every mother possesses extraordinary abilities, and one of these is boundless resilience. Mother Earth provides us with everything essential for life, including the very air we breathe. For a considerable time, our planet has been sending us signals, though not through words but through unmistakable signs, urging us to halt our indifference toward her and the environment. Whether it’s the air we breathe, the water we drink, or the delicate balance of ecosystems and diverse plant and animal life, she has been quietly pleading with us to listen. Regrettably, we have not heeded her silent yet eloquent appeals. Instead, we have persisted in our actions that harm the planet, intensifying our detrimental impact. Our achievements have come at her expense, as she has lovingly nurtured us while we have taken her presence and generosity for granted.”

Indeed, every cloud has a silver lining. The most effective method of preserving Nature is to simply allow it to thrive undisturbed. Mother Earth, or Nature, possesses the inherent resilience to recuperate from the burdens imposed by humanity and will strive to rebound even stronger than before, for our benefit. But letting Nature be alone is not at all possible, as its recuperation comes with consequences of severe drought and floods that affect humanity.

Pope Francis reminds every one of our duties to protect the planet and safeguard peace. In a post on his X social media platform (formerly known as Twitter), Pope Francis noted that this generation has bequeathed many monetary riches to later generations but has done little to protect the planet. “Our generation has bequeathed many riches, but we have failed to protect the planet and we are not safeguarding peace. We are called to become artisans and caretakers of our common home, the Earth which is “falling into ruin.” #EarthDay”

Moreover, Pope Francis made sustainability and fighting ecological injustice part of the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) “Caring for our Common Home”, young people are presented with an abundance of opportunities, and they hold a significant responsibility in safeguarding the planet they inhabit. In the digital age, Generation Z and younger millennials are poised to embrace innovation and technology. These two generations have the potential to spearhead the development of sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. This includes pioneering renewable energy technologies, devising effective waste management systems, and implementing conservation strategies. Their familiarity with technology and their passion for environmental issues position them as key drivers of change in addressing the pressing environmental concerns of our time.

As part of the AJAN Youth for Youth initiative, in the year 2023, former Coordinator of Projects and programs Fleury Nduwayo, SJ., joined the students in planting fruit trees at ECOFO Gihanga, Bujumbura, Burundi.

Overall, young people have the potential to be powerful agents of change in protecting the planet for current and future generations. We aim to journey alongside them, exploring these possibilities and uncovering the presence of God within the fabric of reality. 

I invite you to Stay updated with the latest highlights of activities from our different AJAN field Centres. Dive into insightful articles and inspiring stories that showcase the impact of our work. Don’t miss out on exciting opportunities and ways to get involved. Happy reading!

By, Dennis Owuoche,

AJAN Communications Officer.