April web

FEATURE
Photos: Internet
Mother earth cries because of harm
inflicted on her - Pope Francis
BY IRENE LAMUNU
“Seasons have changed, they are no in his Encyclical letter Laudato Si, wrote
longer what they used to be, Uganda warning people to take responsibility
used to have two rainy seasons, look at of their action in degrading the
the kind of rain we received last year,
it messed up the planting season and
environment.
The Holy Father, in his letter quotes
harvests were not good,” lamented a Saint Francis of Assisi reminding us that
citizen. Scientists say the cause of such
weather changes is global warming;
mainly caused by human activities.
our common home is like a sister with
whom we share our life and a beautiful
mother who opens her arms to embrace
They say these activities have brought us. He adds, mother earth sustains and
development in the world but hurt the
earth’s environment so much that if man
does not change his habits, we are ruining
the world. Environmental degradation is
happening worldwide and the greatest
threat is industrialisation.
governs us, and produces various fruits
with coloured flowers and herbs. He
noted that this sister now cries to us
because of the harm we have inflicted on
her by our irresponsible use and abuse of
the natural resources God has endowed
Many natural resources are being her with. Pope Francis says that we have
exchanged for factories and greenhouses come to see ourselves as the lords and
emissions have taken over the world masters entitled to plunder the earth at
because of new technologies in farming. will. The Pontiff said the violence present
Moreover, plastics have covered both in our hearts, wounded by sin is also
the earth and sea. In 2015, Pope Francis reflected in the symptoms of sickness
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evident in the soil, water, air and all
forms of life. The Pope also lamented
that people have forgotten that we are
dust of the earth; our bodies are made
up of her elements, we breathe her air,
and we receive life and refreshment from
her waters.
In the Laudato Si, Pope Francis warns
everyone about pollution. He notes
that exposure to atmospheric pollutants
produces a broad spectrum of health
hazards, especially for the poor and
causes millions of premature deaths.
When one talks about environmental
degradation, everybody on planet earth
is a stake holder. Uganda, the once
Pearl of Africa is losing its glory. Uganda
is naturally endowed with a beautiful
climate, vegetation, lakes and rivers.
Sadly, Ugandans have destroyed forests
and wetlands, and polluted lakes and
rivers. The country has lost one million