AMECEA: News Correspondents Urged to Raise Awareness on “Going Green” as Preparations for 20th Plenary Assembly Take Higher Gear

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

As the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) prepares for 20^th Bishops Plenary Assembly which will focus on Pope Francis’ invitation on care for creation, the AMECEA Secretary General has asked news correspondents in the region to carry out the role of sensitizing the Church and society at large on how to live an environmentally responsible life and preserve the earth and its non-renewable resources.

Speaking to AMECEA news correspondents during a virtual session on Monday, July 5, Fr. Anthony Makunde noted that many Bishops’ Conferences in the region have begun carrying our activities in relation to care for creation but it is the role of Catholic communicators to enlighten the people of these activities so that those Conferences that have not begun can follow suit.

“We do not have any other efficient means of disseminating information to the people other than using the news correspondents who can reach out to the corners of the world,” Fr. Makunde said and continued, “Use your paper and pen, your iPad, your voice and sensitize people on the need of caring for our environment by creating stories and engaging various groups through the communication channels you have.”

Additionally, the AMECEA Secretary General told participants who were drawn from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, South Sudan, Zambia and Tanzania to come up with a number of programs on Catholic and non-Catholic televisions, radios and other available means of social communications “so as to reach out to a bigger population in the society.”

The Secretary General lauded members of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) who in their just ended 77^th Plenary Assembly themed “Laudato Si: Care and Conservation of the Environment” have begun promoting and implementing Pope Francis’ invitation in the encyclical Laudato Si’ on care for our common home.

“It was reported that TEC has started an initiative of sensitizing young people in schools and in remotest areas of the country since this is the group being affected most today and tomorrow when it comes to issues of environment,” Fr. Makunde disclosed.

He further encouraged the 15 participants to develop documentaries for all the environmental activities being done in the region and disseminate the same.

“Ensure you come up with documentaries for all these activities being done in the region so that they can be shared with the entire world,” Fr Makunde continued, “We rely on you our correspondents knowing that some people still do not know more about AMECEA and the more you engage them on sensitization about this upcoming plenary, the more you will publicize the Association as a unifying umbrella for the Church.”

Reiterating Secretary General’s message on care for creation, AMECEA Social Communications Coordinator Fr. Andrew Kaufa emphasized to participants that many communities, dioceses, parishes and various groups are currently engaged on environmental activities and “this is a priority for us that you should not miss to capture.”

“We have realized that in our conferences and in the society, we have lost some African values which our ancestors had on preserving the forests and caring for the natural environment,” Fr. Kaufa disclosed and advised “It is time we go back to the African ways and see what they can offer regarding addressing climate change issues.”

“We also need to sensitize people on better lifestyles that are environment-friendly,” he concluded.