AMECEA: Church in AMECEA Region Must Work Together to Address Issues of Extractive Industries -Archbishop Okoth
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| Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth, Chairman CJPC |
The Chairman
of Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) for Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB)
Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth, has called the Church in AMECEA Region and across
the African Continent to bring up their efforts together to advocate issues
related to extractive industries whose activities mostly affect the poor people
of the society.
of Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) for Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB)
Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth, has called the Church in AMECEA Region and across
the African Continent to bring up their efforts together to advocate issues
related to extractive industries whose activities mostly affect the poor people
of the society.
Addressing the
participants of extractive consultation workshop organized by AMECEA Justice
and Peace Department in Nairobi Kenya, from 15th – 18th September
2014, Archbishop Okoth said that
although many countries have financed their development through resource
extraction, a myriad of problems such as social conflict, corruption,
displacement of people from their homes and lands, pollution of rivers and
seas, destruction of people’s health, and irreversible biodiversity loss are
often the consequences.
participants of extractive consultation workshop organized by AMECEA Justice
and Peace Department in Nairobi Kenya, from 15th – 18th September
2014, Archbishop Okoth said that
although many countries have financed their development through resource
extraction, a myriad of problems such as social conflict, corruption,
displacement of people from their homes and lands, pollution of rivers and
seas, destruction of people’s health, and irreversible biodiversity loss are
often the consequences.
Most Rev
Okoth who is also Archbishop of Kisumu said that Bishops of every part of the
world have expressed concerns regarding extractive industries. Making reference
to the Encyclical letter “Caritas in Veritate” of Pope Benedict XVI, on the
issue of the environment, Archbishop Okoth echoed the statement that says “Let
us hope that the international community and individual governments will
succeed in countering harmful ways of treating the environment.”
Okoth who is also Archbishop of Kisumu said that Bishops of every part of the
world have expressed concerns regarding extractive industries. Making reference
to the Encyclical letter “Caritas in Veritate” of Pope Benedict XVI, on the
issue of the environment, Archbishop Okoth echoed the statement that says “Let
us hope that the international community and individual governments will
succeed in countering harmful ways of treating the environment.”
He said that
even though such negative outcomes are inevitable; they can be tackled through
effective strategies, legal frameworks and policies. “The important
potential contributions of mining, oil, and other extractive industries to
human development and the common good depend on employing practices that
respect human life and dignity and the environment,” he said.
even though such negative outcomes are inevitable; they can be tackled through
effective strategies, legal frameworks and policies. “The important
potential contributions of mining, oil, and other extractive industries to
human development and the common good depend on employing practices that
respect human life and dignity and the environment,” he said.
Mentioning
Niger Delta, Liberia, Sudan and South Sudan as some of the places where adverse
sufferings of poor people have occurred due to mismanagement and power struggle
over the control of wealth generated from natural resources and extractive
industries in Africa, the Archbishop said that a repeat of the same should be
avoided anywhere else at all costs. “We do not want this to be repeated in
Kenya or some countries in AMECEA that have made discovery of natural resources
in the recent past.”
Niger Delta, Liberia, Sudan and South Sudan as some of the places where adverse
sufferings of poor people have occurred due to mismanagement and power struggle
over the control of wealth generated from natural resources and extractive
industries in Africa, the Archbishop said that a repeat of the same should be
avoided anywhere else at all costs. “We do not want this to be repeated in
Kenya or some countries in AMECEA that have made discovery of natural resources
in the recent past.”
Archbishop
Okoth said that the reality of extractive activities is soon catching up with
Kenya and other AMECEA Countries or already has. He therefore emphasized on the
need to uphold the Church’s social teachings which call on Catholics to uphold
the life and dignity of every human person, to be in solidarity with our
brothers and sisters worldwide, and to care for God’s creation.
Okoth said that the reality of extractive activities is soon catching up with
Kenya and other AMECEA Countries or already has. He therefore emphasized on the
need to uphold the Church’s social teachings which call on Catholics to uphold
the life and dignity of every human person, to be in solidarity with our
brothers and sisters worldwide, and to care for God’s creation.
SOURCE: Pamela Adinda, AMECEA
Social Communications
Social Communications
Below is the Speech of Archbishop
Okoth during the Workshop
Okoth during the Workshop
EXTRACTIVES
CONSULTATION WORKSHOP
CONSULTATION WORKSHOP
15TH
– 18TH SEPTEMBER 2014
– 18TH SEPTEMBER 2014
Opening Remarks
Many
countries have financed their development through resource extraction. However,
there are risks related to natural resource wealth. When exploited, they can
also bring social conflict, feed corruption, displace people from their homes
and lands, pollute rivers and seas, destroy people’s health, and cause
irreversible biodiversity loss.
countries have financed their development through resource extraction. However,
there are risks related to natural resource wealth. When exploited, they can
also bring social conflict, feed corruption, displace people from their homes
and lands, pollute rivers and seas, destroy people’s health, and cause
irreversible biodiversity loss.
Such
negative outcomes of resource extraction, however, are not inevitable. They can
be tackled through effective strategies, legal frameworks and policies.
negative outcomes of resource extraction, however, are not inevitable. They can
be tackled through effective strategies, legal frameworks and policies.
The
important potential contributions of mining, oil, and other extractive
industries to human development and the common good depend on employing
practices that respect human life and dignity and the environment. Too often,
people end up suffering not only from the effects of badly managed extractive
operations but also the conflicts created by the struggle over control of the
wealth generated. The examples where natural resources and extractive
industries in Africa have become a curse than a blessing are eminent in the
DRC, Niger Delta, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan etc. We might not want this to be
repeated in Kenya or some countries in AMECEA that have made discovery of
natural resources in the recent past.
important potential contributions of mining, oil, and other extractive
industries to human development and the common good depend on employing
practices that respect human life and dignity and the environment. Too often,
people end up suffering not only from the effects of badly managed extractive
operations but also the conflicts created by the struggle over control of the
wealth generated. The examples where natural resources and extractive
industries in Africa have become a curse than a blessing are eminent in the
DRC, Niger Delta, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan etc. We might not want this to be
repeated in Kenya or some countries in AMECEA that have made discovery of
natural resources in the recent past.
I thank the
AMECEA Justice and Peace for recognizing the far-reaching impacts of extractive
activities. I hope this consultative meeting bares fruits and generates the way
forward for the regional Church to engage in this front. As the Church we need
projects and strategies implemented in diverse political, social and cultural
contexts.
AMECEA Justice and Peace for recognizing the far-reaching impacts of extractive
activities. I hope this consultative meeting bares fruits and generates the way
forward for the regional Church to engage in this front. As the Church we need
projects and strategies implemented in diverse political, social and cultural
contexts.
The reality
of extractive activities is soon catching up with us in Kenya or already we are
in it. As catholic faithful we should care about the effects of extractive
industries mentioned above. The Church’s social teaching calls on Catholics to
uphold the life and dignity of every human person, to be in solidarity with our
brothers and sisters worldwide, and to care for God’s creation. Since the
extraction activity affects the poor most acutely, the Church in region of AMECEA
should embrace this initiative and run with it.
of extractive activities is soon catching up with us in Kenya or already we are
in it. As catholic faithful we should care about the effects of extractive
industries mentioned above. The Church’s social teaching calls on Catholics to
uphold the life and dignity of every human person, to be in solidarity with our
brothers and sisters worldwide, and to care for God’s creation. Since the
extraction activity affects the poor most acutely, the Church in region of AMECEA
should embrace this initiative and run with it.
Through the
Bishops’ Conference in AMECEA and across the African Continent there must be
consulted efforts towards advocacy addressing issues related to extractive
industries. This has to do with their own governments, international financial
institutions, and extractives companies, urging them to become more
transparent, to reduce the negative impacts of resource extraction on people
and the environment, and to increase benefits for the poor most especially.
Bishops’ Conference in AMECEA and across the African Continent there must be
consulted efforts towards advocacy addressing issues related to extractive
industries. This has to do with their own governments, international financial
institutions, and extractives companies, urging them to become more
transparent, to reduce the negative impacts of resource extraction on people
and the environment, and to increase benefits for the poor most especially.
Our Strategy
should be broad to the governance of extractive industries. Our mission should
be to ensure that natural wealth is used to improve people’s lives.
should be broad to the governance of extractive industries. Our mission should
be to ensure that natural wealth is used to improve people’s lives.
We must work
to protect the lives and dignity of poor people and to assure that potential
benefits of natural resource extraction are realized, all parties involved in
the extractive industry sector.
to protect the lives and dignity of poor people and to assure that potential
benefits of natural resource extraction are realized, all parties involved in
the extractive industry sector.
AMECEA and
Bishops Conference ought to urge the governments to:
Bishops Conference ought to urge the governments to:
·
Ensure that
they manage extractive revenues in ways that reduce corruption and promote
human development in areas such as education and health;
Ensure that
they manage extractive revenues in ways that reduce corruption and promote
human development in areas such as education and health;
·
Promote
human rights, democracy, and transparent, responsive management of the proceeds
of extractive industries;
Promote
human rights, democracy, and transparent, responsive management of the proceeds
of extractive industries;
·
Put in place
social and environmental standards that ensure respect for communities,
workers, human rights, and the environment, and that promote availability of
information on extractive projects;
Put in place
social and environmental standards that ensure respect for communities,
workers, human rights, and the environment, and that promote availability of
information on extractive projects;
·
Legislate on
management of the natural resources and extractive activities
Legislate on
management of the natural resources and extractive activities
The
conferences and diocese justice and peace offices should have initiative to
check whether extractive industry companies:
conferences and diocese justice and peace offices should have initiative to
check whether extractive industry companies:
·
Respect
human rights
Respect
human rights
·
Collaborate
with communities where extractive projects are implemented to assure that
information is freely available and local communities are involved in decisions
that affect them
Collaborate
with communities where extractive projects are implemented to assure that
information is freely available and local communities are involved in decisions
that affect them
To conclude,
let me acknowledge that Bishops of every part of the world have expressed
concern regarding extractive industries. I hereby retaliate the concerns of
Pope Benedict XVI, on the issue of the environment as stated in Caritas in
Veritate:
let me acknowledge that Bishops of every part of the world have expressed
concern regarding extractive industries. I hereby retaliate the concerns of
Pope Benedict XVI, on the issue of the environment as stated in Caritas in
Veritate:
“Let us hope
that the international community and individual governments will succeed in
countering harmful ways of treating the environment. It is likewise incumbent
upon the competent authorities to make every effort to ensure that the economic
and social costs of using up shared environmental resources are recognized with
transparency and fully borne by those who incur them, not by other peoples or
future generations: the protection of the environment, of resources and of the
climate obliges all international leaders to act jointly and to show a
readiness to work in good faith, respecting the law and promoting solidarity
with the weakest regions of the planet (No. 50)”. But this can only happen if
our governments have policies and laws to protect the environment and their
people from the negative effects of extractive activities.
that the international community and individual governments will succeed in
countering harmful ways of treating the environment. It is likewise incumbent
upon the competent authorities to make every effort to ensure that the economic
and social costs of using up shared environmental resources are recognized with
transparency and fully borne by those who incur them, not by other peoples or
future generations: the protection of the environment, of resources and of the
climate obliges all international leaders to act jointly and to show a
readiness to work in good faith, respecting the law and promoting solidarity
with the weakest regions of the planet (No. 50)”. But this can only happen if
our governments have policies and laws to protect the environment and their
people from the negative effects of extractive activities.
__________________________________
The Most
Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth
Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth
Chairman
KCCB-Catholic
Justice and Peace Commission
Justice and Peace Commission
