AMECEA PLENARY: Ecological Predicament, a Unifying Factor
Elizabeth Asasha
The 2022 AMECEA Plenary Assembly held in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania will go down as a historical milestone factor in the spirit of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, which the holy father of the Roman Catholic Church emphasizes in his encyclical letter, Laudato Si to all people; young and old, Christians and non-Christians.
The move by her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, a staunch Muslim to attend a Catholic gathering and pledge to engage in constructive interfaith dialogue geared towards mitigating environmental impact on humanity is a great step in strengthening ecumenism, which is accorded much higher precedence in the Catholic Church than in any other Christian denomination.
“My government is open and ready to collaborate with any non-governmental, social, and religious institutions including the Catholic Church, and to work with them. The catholic church, just like other Christian churches holds a common belief based on the ten commandments of God on protecting the environment for our benefit and that of the future generations.” said the first female president of the United Republic of Tanzania as she called on all religious leaders to unite in efforts to conserve the environment.
President Samia Suluhu also touched on the volatile issue of civil and interstate conflicts and wars, particularly their implication on Mother Nature as well as the struggle to salvage our common habitat advocating the need for peace and stability as a prerequisite to achieving meaningful results in protecting our surroundings.
“Wars and conflicts contribute significantly to environmental degradation. When war breaks out no one cares about the life of other living things hence the need to ensure that our regions remain peaceful at all times so as not to alter the ecological balance,” Said Suluhu Hassan.
While lauding Pope Francis for prioritizing care for the environment, the head of state reiterated that the battle against environmental pollution can only be won through joint efforts.
“It is encouraging to see that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has given attention to environmental conservation as part of your mission and strategic plan to ensure it’s accorded the priority it deserves, and as the Holy Father states, the earth is our common home.” She added.
The president later hosted the AMECEA prelates, Muslim and political leaders at the state villa where she continued sharing her thought on collective responsibility in the fight against ecological destruction.
Could the collaborative efforts in the fight against a common enemy, Environmental Degradation be the unifying factor for the different religious groups and faiths across the globe?
