December's Blog
Fratelli tutti – Saint Francis and Pope Francis
From Gospel to life: A way of life – not “away” from life
See, Judge, Act and Advocate i.e. talk, write or phone!
From Gospel to life: A way of life – not “away” from life
See, Judge, Act and Advocate i.e. talk, write or phone!
The titles of Pope Francis’ exhortation and encyclicals Evangelli gaudium, Laudato si’ and Fratelli tutti are all based on the words and inspiration of St Francis of Assisi.
Here is a new Vatican website: www.fratellitutti.va
A short extract from the website: “To create an open world with an open heart, it is necessary to engage in politics, and a better kind of politics (Ch. 5) is essential. Politics for the common and universal good. Politics that is “popular” because it is for and with the people. It is politics with social charity that seeks human dignity. The politics of men and women who practice political love by integrating the economy with the social and cultural fabric into a consistent and life-giving human project.” (emphasis added)
Following are some thoughts from Pope Francis who meets author Austen Ivereigh with whom he collaborated in the book, "Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future" published 1 Dec 2020 by Simon & Schuster, NY:
“Solidarity is not the sharing of crumbs from the table, but to make space at the table for everyone”
He takes the “see-judge-act” method of social action — what he calls “contemplate-discern-propose” — and uses it to describe the current state of affairs, to look at attitudes behind many issues and to call for a new way of doing things.
“We need economies that give to all access to the fruits of creation, to the basic needs of life: to land, lodging, and labour.” And, he said, “we need a politics that can integrate and dialogue with the poor, the excluded and the vulnerable, that gives people a say in the decisions that impact their lives.”
Abortion, anti-immigrant sentiments, racism, lack of care of the elderly and the embracing of an economic system that focuses on profit at all costs are all signs of the “erosion of the value of life,” he said.
“Without a vision for society rooted in the dignity of all people,” he said, “the logic of the unfettered market ends up turning life from a gift into a product.”
Pope Francis said in the book that he believes “it is time to explore concepts like the universal basic income (UBI)”.
“Food and Farming - Agricultural Sustainability”
In the Holy Father’s second TED talk (see the TED Talk in the November issue of the Common Good), he focused on three courses of action to address the world’s growing environmental problems and economic inequalities, illustrating how all people of goodwill, of any faith or no faith but good intention, can work together, to protect the Earth and promote the dignity of everyone.
The three courses: (1). education in the care of our common home; (2). focus on water and nutrition (including farming) & (3). transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
Here is a new Vatican website: www.fratellitutti.va
A short extract from the website: “To create an open world with an open heart, it is necessary to engage in politics, and a better kind of politics (Ch. 5) is essential. Politics for the common and universal good. Politics that is “popular” because it is for and with the people. It is politics with social charity that seeks human dignity. The politics of men and women who practice political love by integrating the economy with the social and cultural fabric into a consistent and life-giving human project.” (emphasis added)
Following are some thoughts from Pope Francis who meets author Austen Ivereigh with whom he collaborated in the book, "Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future" published 1 Dec 2020 by Simon & Schuster, NY:
“Solidarity is not the sharing of crumbs from the table, but to make space at the table for everyone”
He takes the “see-judge-act” method of social action — what he calls “contemplate-discern-propose” — and uses it to describe the current state of affairs, to look at attitudes behind many issues and to call for a new way of doing things.
“We need economies that give to all access to the fruits of creation, to the basic needs of life: to land, lodging, and labour.” And, he said, “we need a politics that can integrate and dialogue with the poor, the excluded and the vulnerable, that gives people a say in the decisions that impact their lives.”
Abortion, anti-immigrant sentiments, racism, lack of care of the elderly and the embracing of an economic system that focuses on profit at all costs are all signs of the “erosion of the value of life,” he said.
“Without a vision for society rooted in the dignity of all people,” he said, “the logic of the unfettered market ends up turning life from a gift into a product.”
Pope Francis said in the book that he believes “it is time to explore concepts like the universal basic income (UBI)”.
“Food and Farming - Agricultural Sustainability”
In the Holy Father’s second TED talk (see the TED Talk in the November issue of the Common Good), he focused on three courses of action to address the world’s growing environmental problems and economic inequalities, illustrating how all people of goodwill, of any faith or no faith but good intention, can work together, to protect the Earth and promote the dignity of everyone.
The three courses: (1). education in the care of our common home; (2). focus on water and nutrition (including farming) & (3). transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
| Franciscan Voice Canada sees itself as part of (1) the educational process and has frequently featured the various organisations which promote (3) an end to fossil fuel use especially through Fridays for Future. In terms of (2) it has promoted Development and Peace (Caritas Canada’s) articles on water, food sovereignty, small farmers and sustainable agriculture. |  |
FVC wishes to bring to your attention renowned Indian scholar, environmental activist, food sovereignty advocate, and anti-globalization author Vandana Shiva’s interview for the Economy of Francesco.
Here are some excerpts which remind us why we must collaborate with people of good intentions as Pope Francis reminded us in Fratelli tutti:
“When I read Laudato si’ I felt I was reading our ancient Vedic texts, especially the Atharvaveda on our duty to have reverence for the Earth and all her beings. … The Economy of Francesco has become an ethical and ecological imperative for the survival and well being of the planet and people. … At their core, all faiths teach us to take care of creation, of each other. No faith says destroy the earth, let your neighbour starve. The stories of creation might be different, but the duty to creation is common. Faiths focus on duties and unite us in our common humanity. …Today, the biotech companies working with the tech billionaires want to create digital agriculture and farming without farmers. They want to replace real food and the bread of life with patented lab food. Poverty, hunger and chronic diseases are a consequence of the greed of corporations who push poisons and chemicals to grow food and process it. … I wrote a book on the Green Revolution, which created new markets for the fertilizer industry, destroyed the soil, the water, and contributed to climate change. It left the farmers trapped in debt. Then GMOs were introduced with the same argument. They left a trail of debt and suicides, and even though they were sold as a miracle pest control technology, they failed to control pests. Hundreds of farmers died because of pesticide poisoning… Technology means tools. Tools need to be assessed and chosen with responsibility. Tools are a means to improve human wellbeing while working according to the laws of ecology. The big technology barons are trying to elevate the tools through which they make super profits by mining our data and patenting everything - our seeds, our food, our data -as a new religion. Tools and technologies are being made the higher ends, and humanity and the earth are being reduced to means. ”
Here are some excerpts which remind us why we must collaborate with people of good intentions as Pope Francis reminded us in Fratelli tutti:
“When I read Laudato si’ I felt I was reading our ancient Vedic texts, especially the Atharvaveda on our duty to have reverence for the Earth and all her beings. … The Economy of Francesco has become an ethical and ecological imperative for the survival and well being of the planet and people. … At their core, all faiths teach us to take care of creation, of each other. No faith says destroy the earth, let your neighbour starve. The stories of creation might be different, but the duty to creation is common. Faiths focus on duties and unite us in our common humanity. …Today, the biotech companies working with the tech billionaires want to create digital agriculture and farming without farmers. They want to replace real food and the bread of life with patented lab food. Poverty, hunger and chronic diseases are a consequence of the greed of corporations who push poisons and chemicals to grow food and process it. … I wrote a book on the Green Revolution, which created new markets for the fertilizer industry, destroyed the soil, the water, and contributed to climate change. It left the farmers trapped in debt. Then GMOs were introduced with the same argument. They left a trail of debt and suicides, and even though they were sold as a miracle pest control technology, they failed to control pests. Hundreds of farmers died because of pesticide poisoning… Technology means tools. Tools need to be assessed and chosen with responsibility. Tools are a means to improve human wellbeing while working according to the laws of ecology. The big technology barons are trying to elevate the tools through which they make super profits by mining our data and patenting everything - our seeds, our food, our data -as a new religion. Tools and technologies are being made the higher ends, and humanity and the earth are being reduced to means. ”
 2014 D&P campaign |  |
Report:
Only small farmers and agroecology can feed the world
Industrial agricultural methods can no longer feed the world, due to the impacts of overlapping environmental and ecological crises linked to land, water and resource availability. A new report by an international panel of agriculture experts echoes the conclusion of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food from 2014. The future of food is “agroecology”, the traditional way of farming using methods that are less resource oriented, and which work in harmony with society. Small farmers feed 70 percent of the world population. That percentage should go up in the interest of long-term sustainability. - Optimistdaily.com
Ending long-term drinking water advisories
Only small farmers and agroecology can feed the world
Industrial agricultural methods can no longer feed the world, due to the impacts of overlapping environmental and ecological crises linked to land, water and resource availability. A new report by an international panel of agriculture experts echoes the conclusion of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food from 2014. The future of food is “agroecology”, the traditional way of farming using methods that are less resource oriented, and which work in harmony with society. Small farmers feed 70 percent of the world population. That percentage should go up in the interest of long-term sustainability. - Optimistdaily.com
Ending long-term drinking water advisories
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As of February 2020, 61 Indigenous reserves were under long-term drinking water advisories, half of which remain unresolved after more than a decade. These water advisories warn people to either boil water before use, not to consume it, or avoid it altogether because of toxicity levels.
'This is not the country you believe it is,' Neskantaga First Nation chief says amid water crisis
These will make you think:
Canadian billionaires add $53 billion to their wealth pile during the pandemic - Financial Post
'This is not the country you believe it is,' Neskantaga First Nation chief says amid water crisis
These will make you think:
Canadian billionaires add $53 billion to their wealth pile during the pandemic - Financial Post
| And this from:  Email 29 Nov 2020 from Tzeporah Berman, International Programs Director, Stand.earth. | But over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government has also given over $14 billion of your tax dollars to the fossil fuel industry – that’s 10 times the average of other G20 countries. See Canada Energy Policy Tracker |
| In spite of this: Amazon deforestation surges to 12-year high under Bolsonaro - The Guardian |  |
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We wish you a Merry Christmas
& A Happy New Year!
Peace, all good & joy!
& A Happy New Year!
Peace, all good & joy!
And this English Canadian would sing, or better, say:
“God rest you merry Franciscans:
We want a figgy pudding:
we won’t go until we get one,
so bring it out now!”
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