Pope Francis' recent encyclical, "Laudato Si:On Care for Our Common Home," is aimed not just at the faithful, but at the whole world. It calls on the people of the world to recognize that the human-caused damage to our planet has reached such critical proportions it now requires decisive, cooperative action from the peoples of the world. Further, the pope believes the time has come to go beyond treating the symptoms to treating the disease: we need to become more proactive in the redevelopment of our world cultures such that caring for creation becomes intrinsic to all. He calls such an integrated way of life integral ecology, and he calls the world to something new: an ecological conversion.
As Protestant and Orthodox leaders in Alaska, we want to join with the pope in declaring our belief the time for meaningful ecological reformation has come to humanity. As residents of Alaska we want to go further and state our belief Alaska needs to be a part of that reformation.
Recognizing the ecological urgency of this time is a moral issue. The scientific evidence on climate change, species extinctions, ocean acidification, deforestation, ocean dead zones, the unregulated use of toxic chemicals, and many more issues, tell us we have reached a critical stage. There is a cascade of events happening at this time, each of which is urgent but which, when taken together, describe a human-caused moment of planetary crisis.
The pope also takes time to describe the Christian theological necessity for responsible action. Humanity responds faithfully to God, and to the web of life of which we are a part, when we dare to feel the suffering we have caused other creatures, when we feel the pain of the poorer and less empowered people of the world who have been the first to suffer the human consequences, and when we take committed action to restore what we have damaged.
We therefore agree with Pope Francis a failure to act now would be a failure to pass a thriving planet on to the generations that follow. Intergenerational compassion and solidarity simply must be a part of any current social ethic. We are speaking out in the hopes others will add their voices and energy to this effort.
We therefore challenge Alaska's political leaders to accept an ecological ethic as an underlying value for current political action. We all recognize effective leadership will take real courage. We know the financial realities of the current political system make meaningful action difficult. We have seen how strongly business lobbies have resisted change for the common good when their profits were at risk. Even so, an adequate human response is not possible without effective political action.
With that in mind the pope asks an important question: "What would induce anyone, at this stage, to hold on to power only to be remembered for their inability to take action when it was urgent and necessary to do so?"
The challenge, however, is not just to political leaders. We all must make changes if the world is to change. A great beginning is to take personal actions like participating in local movements focused on a better future, reducing personal transportation, reducing transportation costs by buying local, using renewable energy when possible, living more simply, and becoming intentional about which products we buy. Making our ecological future a core value for personal life, as well as for elections and economic decisions, can have real power for good.
For Alaskans, whose economy and government are so dependent on fossil fuel industries, the environmental conversion needed will face many questions, one of which is the questions of timing. Some have said our current budget crisis dictates that environmental concerns be placed on the back burner for now so we can address them when the state is more stable. We would posit a contrary position.
Change is actually more difficult when things are stable. The current budget crisis need not be a barrier to the change needed, but can be a catalyst. The budget urgently requires action over time. That action can be in the service of building a future for Alaska that reflects the changes needed for these times.
The challenge for Alaskans, and for the world, is two-fold. First, we must care for the whole of creation, including people, deeply enough that we care about their suffering. Second, we must develop strategies that lead us to a future where our very way of life provides jobs and human dignity in harmony with ecological processes and life. If this is to happen there must be real passion. There must also be committed decisions for processes that invite new strategies for a truly sustainable way of life.
Curt Karns is executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Yukon, PC (USA). Also contributing to this commentary were Shelley Wickstrom, bishop of the Alaska Synod, ELCA; Carlo Rapanut, superintendent of the Alaska United Methodist Church; Mark Lattime, bishop of the Alaska Diocese of the Episcopal Church USA; Alphonso H. Meadows of Alaska District of the AME Church; and David Mahaffey, bishop of Sitka and Alaska of the Orthodox Church in
America.
The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com