On the occasion of the Season of Creation, the Church Environment Commission (KA) wishes to share some thoughts inspired by Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’, on the value of Life and the need to respect it in all its aspects. This in a time when many end up accepting fallacies and misconceptions presented in the media, which are nothing but a distortion of reality…

There are various references to trees in the Bible, including some that refer to the “tree of life”. Apart from their metaphorical meanings, trees do provide a great service to humankind. Their greatest contribution is much closer to home than the inspiration that they provided and continue to provide to poets, painters and musicians over the ages. Apart from providing the raw material for various goods they also provide an immense service in the form of carbon sequestration, reducing pollution, shelter from the sun, recreational space where people can interact with nature and the obvious aesthetic value both in rural as well as urban areas…

The Church Environment Commission (KA) appeals to political parties so that during this
pre-election time, they do not make unsustainable promises which later on will turn out to be detrimental to all especially to the most vulnerable. The KA appeals to the parties to promise that in the environmental sector they will commit themselves so that, with facts and with laws and policies that contain no loopholes which give rise to abuse, to protect the natural environment, the Outside Development Zones, the historical built heritage and buildings that have architectural value…