ACTIONS AND INITIATIVES OF THE PHILIPPINE CHURCH REGARDING

SOCIAL AND ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines is the development, advocacy and humanitarian arm of the

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)

I. January 14, 2015 CBCP exec sends Pope a letter appealing to address climate change

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Sec-retary Fr. Edwin Gariguez handed a letter to Pope Francis asking him to address the alarming issue of climate change which he said urgently needs the Church‟s moral intervention. The letter, which is a joint sta-men made by NASSA/Caritas Philippines and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, was given through Manila Arch-bishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle during the five-day papal visit of the Holy Father in the Philippines in January 2015.

II. May 11, 2015 CBCP exec links climate change to PH poverty during Rome meeting

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez under-scored the strong link between climate change and the worsening poverty in the country during the presentation of his position paper during the Caritas Internationalis General Assembly in Rome. He cited as example how Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) caused widespread devastation in the Philip-pines, pushing 5.6 million poor people further into extreme poverty.

III. June 5, 2015 NASSA/Caritas Philippines joins campaign against coal mining

The Catholic Church‟s social action arm, NASSA/Caritas Philippines ex-pressed its strong opposition to coal mining during the launch of the “One Million Against Coal Campaign,” which aims to promote resistance on the con-struction of coal-powered plants, and coal mines across the country by gath-ering at least one million signatures.

IV. June 17, 2015 NASSA/Caritas Philippines issues Statement on Pope Francis‟ Encyclical

NASSA/Caritas Philippines‟ Executive Secre-tary Fr. Edwin Gariguez issued a statement supporting Pope Francis‟ encyclical Laudato Si, highlighting the Philippines as one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. He also cited that the Church cannot remain a bystander, that it has a moral imper-ative to give voice to the voiceless.

VI. July 31, 2015 Church groups call for complete closure of Semirara coal mines

NASSA/Caritas Philippines together with the Diocese of Antique Social Action Center called for the complete closure of the Semirara Coal Mines in Antique, which destroyed the man-groves and coral reefs, and contaminated the surrounding waters of the island.

V. July 20, 2015 CBCP Statement on Climate Change

The CBCP called for action ahead of a Paris summit in December 2015. Echoing Pope Francis‟ encyclical Laudato Si (Praised Be), the bishops said the people must transform words into action, keeping the poor and hun-gry at the center of the efforts. And since cli-mate change is also an issue of “social jus-tice,” the bishops said the notion of the com-mon good must extend to future generations.

IX. December 4, 2015 Church Exec scores big polluters in Paris

climate talks

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez presented a petition against 50 so-called „carbon Majors‟ or big polluters of coal, oil and gas for violation of human rights resulting from impacts of climate change. The peti-tion was presented during the sidelines of the climate justice talks in Paris, France.

VIII. November 12, 2015 Church exec urges Aquino admin to ban coal-

fired power plants

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secre-tary Fr. Edwin Gariguez asked Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to execute a moratorium on all coal-fired power plants as a concrete step to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The statement was made during the Interfaith Dialogue on Climate Change held in the Malacañan Palace.

VII. November 8, 2015 March for Climate Justice

Around 15,000 advocates representing climate-impacted communities, religious groups, youth, labor unions, anti-coal and renewable energy campaigners, and other concerned citi-zens took to the streets to join the Global Cli-mate March ahead of the Paris climate talks.

X. March 14, 2016 Priest calls for „ecological conversion‟

to address climate change

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secre-

tary Fr. Edwin Gariguez called for an

„ecological conversion‟ to address the present

climate change crisis. The priest made the

statement alongside former United States

President Al Gore at the Climate Reality Pro-

ject‟s Leadership Training in Manila.

XI. April 19, 2016 CBCP exec slams delayed release of El Niño funds to farmers

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Garigues expressed alarm over reports of delayed release of government funds that would help ease the burden of farmers suffering from the ill effects of the El Niño phenomenon.

XII. April 23, 2016 Haiyan-hit dioceses join Earth Day celebration

NASSA/Caritas Philippines together with the nine dioceses from the provinces previously affected by Typhoon Yolanda joined hands in Cebu City in celebration of the Earth Day. The celebration was highlighted by the unveiling of a symbolic eco wall with hand prints and com-mitments of the dioceses in caring for the earth, and a Eucharistic celebration.

XIII. April 23, 2016 Earthday Jam honors „environmental hero‟ priest

The Earthday Jam Foundation honored NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Ed-win Gariguez as „environmental hero‟ during the 2016 GAIA Awards at the Earth Day Jam for leading various advocacies and movements of the Catholic Church in protecting the environ-ment.

XIV. May 16, 2016 CBCP exec asks Duterte to hasten release of El Niño funds to farmers

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secre-tary Fr. Edwin Gariguez appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte for the immediate release of government funds to farmers, who continue to suffer from the El Niño phenomenon. The ap-peal was made during the five-day Farmers‟ National Sustainable Agriculture Training in Tagum City, Davao Oriental.

XV. June 12-19, 2016 June 12-19 has been declared as “Laudato Si Week” worldwide

The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) and its national movements worldwide had orga-nized activities related to Laudato Si to mark the anniversary, to showcase the impact of the encyc-lical on people who are eager to implement it in their own ways. In the Philippines, members of the Ecological Justice Interfaith Movement (ECOJIM), of which NASSA/Caritas Philippines is one of the convenors, coordinated the campaign for ecologi-cal partners to join the Laudato Si week celebra-tion simultaneously from their own provinces and dioceses.

XVI. June 17, 2016 Laudato Si Faith-based Forum for Develop-ment and Ecological Agenda

The National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines, as CBCP‟s social action arm conducted a forum on “The Cry of the Earth is the Cry of the Poor: Faith-based Forum for Develop-ment and Ecological Agenda.” The forum intended to provide venue for the Church through the commis-sions of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phil-ippines (CBCP), interfacing and coordinating with leaders of national organizations and partners from the development and ecological sectors, who brought their sectors‟ respective pressing concerns and is-sues, and reflected together on the message of Laud-ato Si. Guided by Laudato Si, this faith-based forum collated the results of the discussion as agenda from different sectors, which had been submitted to the new administration for action.

XVII. June 18, 2016 Launching of Global Catholic Climate Move-ment - Pilipinas

The Global Catholic Climate Movement - Pilipinas (GCCM-Pilipinas) was launched along with the cele-bration of the 1st year Anniversary of the Pope‟s en-cyclical Laudato Si at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Medicine Auditorium, Manila. GCCM-Pilipinas is an ecological movement of catholic individuals, groups, organizations and institutions in the Philip-pines actively responding together the call of Catholic Church teachings, in particular to the call of Laudato Si.

GCCM-Pilipinas promotes the celebration of creation-centered Lenten and Advent Seasons, Laudato Si Week, Earth Day and Season of Creation. They pro-vide materials to local faith communities and they amplify these celebrations by linking them throughout the world. They facilitate Laudato Si Seminars and conduct Laudato Si Animators Trainings. They net-work and collaborate with different groups and sec-tors for the care of our Common Home.

XIX. January 28, 2017 Caritas exec: Coal-dependent PHL needs to shift to renewable energy

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secre-tary Fr. Edwin Gariguez emphasized the need for the Philippines to immediately shift from coal to renewable energy during the “Catholics & Coal” conference in Chicago, Illinois. The forum is hosted by the Center for World Ca-tholicism and Intercultural Theology (CWCIT) of De Paul University.

XX. February 3, 2017 CBCP exec lauds DENR closure of mining op-erations

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secre-tary Fr. Edwin Gariguez lauded the Depart-ment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its recent closure of 21 mining op-erations across the country.

XVIII. August 8, 2016 CBCP exec lauds CHR probe on landmark case vs carbon producers

NASSA/Caritas Philippines lauded the move of the Philippines‟ Commission on Human Rights to act on the petition filed against 47 of the world‟s largest producers of oil, gas and cement for allegation of human rights violation resulting from climate change.

XXI. April 22, 2017 Walk for Mercy2Earth

Earth Day has been a time to celebrate the environ-ment and bring the green cause into the global spot-light. The observance, however, had a new twist as a coalition of faith-based and multi-sectoral groups held the first “Walk for Mercy2Earth”, which kicked off at 6:00 a.m. from four different locations to Rizal Park. Ac-cording to the Archbishop of Manila, the gathering falls on the day the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsi-us, enters into force for the Philippines. “This makes our celebration even more historic and timely,” he said.

XXII. August 19, 2017 Tree planting in Mt. Cristobal

NASSA/Caritas Philippines in partnership with environmental and farmers‟ group planted trees on top of Mount Cristobal and estab-lished a nursery in San Pablo, Laguna as a manifestation of its pledge to live out Pope Francis‟ teachings on Laudato Si.

XXIII. September 1, 2017 Cardinal Tagle leads „Walk for Creation‟

Thousands of people led by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle gathered at Burnham Green, Luneta Park to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care for crea-tion, and to highlight initiatives that respond to the challenges of eco-logical crisis. The mobilization is a celebration of a global prayer movement for the care of the environment which was designated every September 1

st by

Pope Francis.