TANZANIA: Implementation of Laudato Si’: Tanzania Episcopal Conference Sets Strategy

Sarah Pelaji

Tanzania Episcopal Conference has set out strategy on environmental protection to promote care for creation as one of top priority in the country.

This aims at promoting the implementation of Pope Francis’s message in the 2015 encyclical letter Laudato Si as it relates to the situation in Tanzania.

The strategies were set during the 77^TH Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Plenary Assembly, held on June 2021 as members proposed recommendations from the study session proceedings led by the theme: “Laudato Si: Care and Conservation of the Environment

Other issues that came up included how bishops could engage with government in addressing other environmental issues in Tanzania such as the destruction of environment through noise, air, cutting of trees carelessly and poor waste management systems.

Among the recommendations which came up, participants proposed the inculcation of the traditional sense of the sacredness of the environmental fauna and flora, in order to use the environment responsibly for the common good and for the cultural formation of the youth and future generations; as well as educate the youth on the ecological significance of the national emblems and symbols.

They also recommended to identify through research critical types of flora and fauna for the purpose of conservation, and critically review cultural, economic and political practices in order to align them with the African and sound ethics of environment.

The promotion of conservation of forests among local communities, botanical gardens in urban areas, eco-tourism for both cultural and educational purposes as well as combatting against cruelty to animal life in particular and wildlife in general also featured highly in the proposals

The use of all types of media to disseminate the critical lessons learnt from Laudato Si, was also recommended whereby participants found communication media as key in calling for ecological conversion and adherence to the moral responsibility of humans to environmental integrity, through education, formation and upbringing in terms of the principles human dignity, the common good, ‘less is more’ (moderation in consumption), and concern for the poor and the marginalized who suffer most because of ecological degradation.

They also recommended advocacy and lobbying among the stakeholders through emphatic homilies and sensitization forums for the formulation and implementation of contextual but effective environmental policies; for the building up of strong systems and institutions which ensure alternative types of energy; as well as campaign for the provision of basic income grants to poor families for a decent economic life.

In July 2022, Tanzania Episcopal Conference shall host the 20^th AMECEA Plenary assembly whose theme also draws from the message of Pope Francis in Laudato Si’.