Climate change is no more a question of light debates over a glass of wine. It happens to be one of the major problems our world is facing, as we are approaching the 6th mass extinction, according to recently published studies from the most trustworthy institutes and universities.
The issue gained such depth that it reached the Vatican gates, with Pope Francis releasing an official and documented critique on environmentalism. Or the environmentalist failed initiatives, as the effects of each and every action against global warming are delayed, to use a euphemism for invisible. The world is getting literally hot and this kills habitats, ecosystems and makes industry have a hard time evolving without the controversial gas emissions.
The Pope saw himself forced to react publicly against the stagnation of authorities in front of climate change. We are not sure if he managed to make the most relevant and significant statement, but he surely raised awareness on the topic, with the entire world of media publications debating the Pope’s reaction.
Pope Francis is not the only one to have issued bracing critiques of modern Western Culture. What he does differently is that he goes deeper into the matter, by stating that the excesses of science, technology and capital markets are fatally flawed.
Media is now screaming with critique, describing the Laudatio Si encyclical as a dark and pessimistic paper that does nothing but throw barren critique over the world we ourselves have created. At a time where blood shed makes victims in large parts of the world and Christians are being prosecuted, and genocide and oppression are spreading, media criticizes the Pope’s bold initiative and says it gets lost in the socialist weeds.
On the other hand, genocide and oppression have been going on since forever and it’s nothing new that the human race is breeding to its own destruction. And if the Pope cannot comment and raise awareness on the topic that delicately covers these matters of importance, then who would be more entitled to do so?
Pope Francis productively denounces the “economy of exclusion” and he is right to do so. There are many examples of businesses befouling the environment and leaving the costs for the communities. Rich countries will continue to get rich, on the back of the poor people who are being exploited, along with entire areas around them being destroyed by abusive industry and natural resource manipulation.
Yes, the critique coming from the Pope is undoubtedly pessimistic, as it criticizes almost everything we used to call evolution. Evolution means making the world a better place to live, but it seems humankind has managed to reverse the concept and concentrate on futile matters that do nothing more than encourage further destruction, misuse and abuse. Even if the Pope’s Encyclical fails to bring smiles on people’s faces and bring praise to Vatican, it is a legitimate statement on the matter of facts and on the disastrous effects we have created in the world and that is certainly no easy pill to swallow. All the rest is as futile as the past environmentalist actions with no echoes. The Clockwork Controversy of Laudatio Si is the best thing that could happen to really make a stand against the most important matter of our present: climate change.
Image Source: factnet.org