By Agnes Chai
Sep 2 2020
KARAMUNSING – The Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu is poised to be alongside the Catholic arch/dioceses nationwide in embarking on a bold five-year campaign to save all life on earth.
The campaign, dubbed the “Protect our Earth, Protect our Children Campaign” or in short the “PROTEC Campaign”, is an ecological action, spearheaded by the Creation Justice Commission and supported by the Malaysian Bishops, to save all life on earth.
In response, we, as disciples of Christ, are bound to safeguard all creation on earth, especially the children of today and tomorrow. Pope Francis says in his encyclical letter Laudato Si “The work of the Church seeks not only to remind everyone of the duty to care for nature, but at the same time “she must above all protect mankind from self-destruction” (LS 79).
For the KK Archdiocese, the launching of the inaugural campaign to save life on earth will take place on 5 September 2020 at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 9.00-11.00 am.
Head of KK Archdiocese, Archbishop John Wong, in his recently released communique urges all parishes, religious congregations, church organizations/offices, as well as all the faithful to support, implement and to promote the recommended practices to save all life on Earth.
What is the PROTEC Campaign all about? It is aimed at protecting humanity from self-destruction and ensuring intra and intergenerational justice for current and future generations. It is a call to deepen our ecological spirituality and to turn it into action.
The COVID-19 pandemic should not detract us from ecological action. In fact, it should strengthen our resolve to advance creation justice and stop ecological destruction. Climate Change and the loss of biodiversity are larger realistic crises that are already threatening the very fabric of life on Earth.
How does the PROTEC Campaign work? It focuses on one different theme each year. This means that there will be five different themes over five years to serve the whole nation. The first theme chosen for Year One, spanning from 1 September 2020 to 1 August 2021, is “Use Less Electricity”.
The Commission has decided that the campaign will take off during the Special Laudato Si’ Anniversary Year declared by the Vatican to mark five years of Laudato Si, which runs from 24 May 2020 – 24 May 2021.
