TANZANIA: In Preparation for AMECEA Plenary TEC wants Environmental Protection to be Media Agenda
Sarah Pelaji
As preparations for the 20th AMECEA Plenary continue, Tanzania Episcopal Conference TEC has called on the media in Tanzania to set as their agenda environmental Conservation, protection and restoration.
TEC has also called for a better legal framework for the use of the environment without causing serious harm to society and other creatures.
TEC Secretary General Father Charles Kitima made the remarks while opening a one-day seminar for journalists who are involved in the environmental media campaign initiated by TEC under the theme “Environmental Protection for Development” which is part of implementation of Pope Francis’ May 24, 2015 encyclical letter on environment Laudato Si.
In the encyclical, the Holy Father urges for the preservation of the environment and all living things on earth since the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis (Gen. 1: 1-28).
Father Kitima said that despite the existence of science, it is impossible to separate God from the environment because the beginning of the universe is God Himself.
“After creating the world and its environment, God entrusted man with the care of that environment (Gen. 1:28),” he said.
According to him, various laws and conventions come to fulfill God’s perfect standards and to achieve this, policymakers and members of society as a whole must be governed by God-fearing consciences when dealing with environmental issues.
“All environmental laws, including international ones and the Tanzania Environmental Management Act of 2004, emphasize stewardship and we must adhere to them… We should do so with a clear conscience, recognizing that environmental degradation harms the human being and the whole ecosystem since all living things depend on each other,” he said.
Father Kitima has urged the media fraternity in the country, including the Catholic media, to conduct in-depth analysis in informing and educating the public about the role of the environment including living and non-living things.
“You should make environmental conservation a media agenda. Set the agenda, involve the government, environmental experts and activists. The protection and restoration of environment involves each individual, and no one is excluded,” he insisted.
Presenting the topic ‘How the Church Talks About Environmental Protection’ TEC Project Manager, Father Chrisantus Ndaga, said the Laudato Si’ document encourages the world to look at the best way to take care of the environment and to remove the challenges rooted in justice, peace, prosperity, development and ecological conversions.
“This is the essence of this Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis, on the preservation of the environment as the home of all…” said Father Ndaga.
He added: “He would like to emphasize the importance of caring for the environment, as part of the justice process, as environmental degradation is equated with poverty.”
In terms of environmental protection, Tanzania is governed by the Environmental Management Act of 2004 (No. 20 of 2004) which, among other things, has established a legal and institutional framework for sustainable environmental management.
This includes taking precautions against environmental hazards, pollution prevention and control, waste management, quality of environmental standards, public participation, law enforcement and laying the foundations for the implementation of international agreements.
