KENYA: Laudato Si’ Movement Advocates for “Healthy Planet Healthy People Petition”
A section of participants during the webinar session on Healthy planet, healthy people
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Laudato Si’ Movement, formerly Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM), is advocating for “healthy planet healthy people’s” campaign with the intent of collecting hundreds of thousands of petitions from Catholics and collaborators around the world to take bold action “demanding for a just and more ambitious action by world leaders on care for creation and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”
At a Webinar session Thursday, August 12, with over 160 participants from across the globe, the Laudato Si’ Movement leadership called on “leaders to set a new biodiversity global goal of 50% conservation of lands and waters, with restoration and sustainable management of land and water bodies to ensure no more biodiversity loss.”
Explaining the urgency for the petition campaign the leadership said, “We face twin environmental crises today: a global warming which is exacerbating the spiraling loss of various species, and the loss of nature which will jeopardize our capacity to deliver on the 1.5-degree limit to global warming.”
“Besides, there are two United Nations summit this year related to care for creation: the COP15 on biodiversity and COP26 on climate change. Catholics and collaborators have the opportunity to remind world leaders on this ecological crisis,” one of the leaders Ms. Ana Paula told the online participants adding, “the petition can encourage world leaders to boldly act.”
According to Ms. Ana, the petition raises awareness on the link between biodiversity and climate change. At the same time, it is a demand to the world for transformative action to respond to the cry of the earth and of the poor.”
Early in the month of May, the Laudato Si’ Movement launched an online petition dabbed “a healthy planet and healthy people” calling on people to take action and support the campaign by gathering signatures.
The petition in a way is expected to foster equity, protect people’s rights especially the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
At the Webinar session, participants were encouraged to involve their networks to sign the petition so that a greater impact can be created knowing that when we join other thousands in the world, “we will build a better future, alleviate the cry of the earth and of the poor, and we will act urgently to care for creation.”
Several Catholic institutions, Religious congregations and civil organizations across the globe have joined hands appealing for more signatures which can be done online either as an individual or as an organization under the theme ‘Healthy planet healthy people’.
