KENYA: On 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, JPICFA Encourages Solidarity in Fighting COVID-19
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Franciscan Africa (JPICFA) based in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, has called for team spirit in the fight of COVID-19 as the world marked 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22.
The anniversary convened in collaboration with Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and Mother Earth Network (M-E-Net) was conducted online due to confinement of people across the globe, a directive issued by most states as a measure to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
“The call for solidarity and a global solution is key at this time. This is not time for the world to be divided since we have now seen that nobody is powerful and we all cry for life,” Human Rights, Peace and Climate Justice consultant Mr. Steven Kezamutima who works with JPICFA told AMECEA Online in an interview on Thursday April 23.
According to Mr. Kezamutima, Earth Day has always been marked by people gathering in a big summit, planting trees, attending conferences and concerts. This he said has been altered this year since “it has come in a critical moment when the world is experiencing the Covid-19.”
Keeping in mind that these activities could not be conducted through in-person gatherings yet the Earth Day was still to be celebrated, a group of ten students from CUEA came up with a concert themed “Climate Action” to educate people on the significance of solidarity.
“A Concert that we held was meant to give hope to people around the world that in solidarity we can beat Covid-19; calling for a global and sustainable solution, thus a just recovery,” Kezamutima, member of Franciscan Third Order disclosed.
“We are all in confinement and feeling the pain of this difficult life as well as the pain of people who are losing life, the families affected; the poor people who are struggling to earn their bread,” he explained further what inspired the idea of coming up with the concert.
In the concert which comprised of Kenyans, Malawians, and some others from various parts of the world, they encouraged peace and realization of connectedness with mother earth.
The group performed five songs and each had a message of solidarity and hope.
According to Kezamutima, one of the songs “Anti COVID-19,” was proposed by the Global Catholic Climate Movement, an organization that works within the Catholic Church to better care for the earth our common home and was officially launched during the concert.”
