AMECEA PLENARY: Fight Against Climate Crisis Calls for Collaboration, President of Tanzania tells AMECEA Bishops
Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
At the ongoing plenary assembly of the Catholic bishops of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) the President of the United Republic of Tanzania has emphasized that overcoming ecological crisis requires combined efforts and not just an individual’s concern.
In her message while addressing the prelates from nine AMECEA countries and other delegates invited from across the globe on Tuesday, July 12, her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan said: “The fight against climate crisis is not a one man’s struggle. It involves all of us since environmental degradation affects all people.”
President Samia Suluhu noted that care for creation is a concern for all irrespective of religion. Quoting the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran on significance of protection of environment by all, the Head of State said: “In the book of Genesis, God instructs that we till land and take care of it. In the Quran, we read about God who created the universe with a delicate balance so that disturbing this balance risks creating natural disasters.”
The 20th AMECEA plenary assembly is held under the theme, “Environmental impact on integral human development.”
According to the president of Tanzania, some strange diseases have emerged in the recent past which have been connected to poor care for creation.
“We have witnessed strange illnesses that come about when people disturb God’s creatures that were meant to stay in the wilderness and by invading their natural homes,” President Suluhu said and continued, “God’s grace is close to those who fear him and respecting creation is one way through which we fear God by obeying His law on creation.”
The President appreciated the bishops for choosing the theme on care of environment and for the Catholic Church to uphold values that preserve nature.
“It is encouraging that Pope Francis has seen it necessary to direct our focus towards the protection of mother earth. We will look into resolutions that the Catholic Bishops will arrive at and incorporate some in our own environmental strategies,” she said.
She asked the Bishops to continue reminding Christians to see the need of caring for creation so that all are involved in this fight against Climate Crisis.
