Lessons Inspired By Laudato Si (2020)

Photo Credit: Perry LESSONS INSPIRED BY LAUDATO SI Contributions From L-R, from Bottom Centre: Sandra (Mexico), Xavier (Cuba), Amal (India), Perry (Philippines), Raul (Mexi- co),Solange (Argentina), Isaac (Togo/Italy), Elena (Mexico), Kike (Mexico), Sumit (India), and Nat (Ma- laysia/India) Edition 1/July 2020/Dr. M. Nadarajah/[email protected]/[email protected]

✤ Shows us the way to in-depth material and moral analyses of the global eco-social crises; ✤ Offers a transcendent appreciation of our deep interconnectedness – not our separateness – with everything on this planet and the cosmos; ✤ Draws our attention to ‘ethics of care’ as well as ‘philosophy of stewardship’ in relation to Moth- er/Sister Earth and Creation; ✤ Alerts us not only to the rights of humans but also to the rights of Nature; ✤ Encourages us to go beyond the national to the planetary to the Cosmos; ✤ Challenges our taken-for-granted view of the world, our technological infatuation, our domi- nant consumeristic lifestyle, and the unexamined normality that supports them; ✤ Urges us to rethink the global ‘endless growth’ economics and power politics that normalises human suffering, destruction of Nature, violence and a heartless world; ✤ Guides us away from mass cultures of having/ materialistic possessiveness and hedonism to- wards cultures of letting go, being and happiness; ✤ Asserts that we cannot solve ecological prob- lems we have directly created without also ad- dressing the problems of society; ✤ Breaks down disciplinarity, encourages inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches to the knowl- edge of physical, social and spiritual complexi- Edition 1/July 2020/Dr. M. Nadarajah/[email protected]/[email protected]

ties, and promotes healing the separation of Arts and Sciences through seamlessly integrating them; ✤ Engages with the spirit of Vatican II, public and inclusive theology, deschooling and life-affirm- ing counter-hegemonic imagination/narratives; ✤ Proposes a framework of socially-engaged spiri- tuality to address the “Cry of the Earth” and “Cry of the Poor,” to heal the world; ✤ Empowers vulnerable, marginalised and poor communities to articulate their voices and urges social communicators, among others, to enable and strengthen this process; ✤ Supports value- and meaning-based democracy, and working for justice from private to public domains, from personal to political spheres, and from concern for human beings to the concern for Nature; ✤ Grounds a permanent process that allows con- flicts to be resolved in a thriving dialogue and compassionate communication ecology; ✤ Nurtures integral humanity and an active, inclu- sive spirit amid diversity, urges us to go beyond the narrow orthodoxy of faith, promotes inter- faith/trans-faith co-existence, and shows us the way to mindfulness, friendship and inter-being; ✤ Promotes authentic dialogue for a culture of peace to enable reconciliation, strengthens the public spirit and consolidates the spirit of democ- racy through dialogue and inclusivity; Edition 1/July 2020/Dr. M. Nadarajah/[email protected]/[email protected]

✤ Educates us to the need for the global and local ecological conversation to address our global problem, and to nurture a way of life that brings us back home to Nature; ✤ Helps us remember the nurturing ground of in- digeneity, femininity, motherliness and sacred- ness; and ✤ Inspires the creation of democratic, transparent and trans-media public spheres, the strengthening of public communication practices based on crit- ical awareness, compassion and dialogue, and the rewriting of taken-for-granted hegemonic stories we mindlessly live by so that we may all nurture a network of active mutuality and of love, faith and hope. Compassion and Social Communication Xavier Centre for New Humanities and Compassion Studies (Contact: Dr M. Nadarajah(Nat): [email protected]/[email protected]) International Certificate Programme offered by Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB), India (in partnership with SIGNIS, Belgium) Photo Cedit: Nat Edition 1/July 2020/Dr. M. Nadarajah/[email protected]/[email protected]

Know. Initiate. Act. Critical information. Innovative ideas. Inspiring stories. Action strategies. Cam- paigns. Social Movements. Explore the web sites below.Take your time. Imagine it as learningful encounters. Allow yourself to be informed of what is available out there for you to actively participate. Or, to share. Allow yourself to be deschooled. Get out of your comfort zones. Be part of the solution. Allow yourself to create new stories to live by. Act at a personal level. Or public level. Act locally, globally or glocally. (Note: Some web sites below provide you more links, expanding your opportunities to know, learn and act to build a better world. Or, to reach out to those who need your help. There are many more sites out there to be explored offering you many opportuni- ties to act.) ๏ https://www.curbed.com/2017/6/7/15749900/how-to-stop-climate-change-actions ๏ https://www.caritas.eu/laudato-si-in-grassroots-action/ ๏ http://simplicityinstitute.org/take-action ๏ https://earthcharter.org/get-involved/ ๏ https://contemplativelife.org/ ๏ https://easterinordinary.blogspot.com/2015/06/50-ideas-for-making-laudato-si- part-of.html ๏ https://catholicclimatemovement.global/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Laudato-Si- Study-and-Action-Guide-2016.pdf ๏ https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/world-kindness-day ๏ https://charterforcompassion.org/peace-economy-and-social-justice/11-reasons- we-must-take-a-stand-against-inequalityhttps://www.amnesty.org.au/10-ways- can-change-world-today/ ๏ http://buynothingday.org/the-top-five-ways-to-reduce-energy-consumption/ ๏ https://www.foei.org/take-action (Friends of the Earth) ๏ http://greenworldcharter.org/ ๏ https://www.ecojesuit.com/category/programs/ ๏ https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/topics ๏ https://our-global-u.org/oguorg/ (Global University for Sustainability) ๏ https://panap.net/agroecology-in-action/ ๏ https://www.localfutures.org/learn-take-action/ ๏ https://www.antislavery.org/take-action/campaigns/ ๏ https://www.cadtm.org/Debt-campaign?lang=en (Abolition of Illegitimate Debt) ๏ https://www.unodc.org/blueheart/en/-about-the-blue-heart.html ๏ https://empathylibrary.com/ ๏ http://vikalpsangam.org/ ๏ https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ ๏ https://therightsofnature.org/how-can-i-become-a-member/ ๏ https://www.betterworld.info/ ๏ https://www.slowfood.com/get-involved/ ๏ https://www.who.int/campaigns ๏ https://cnduk.org/campaigns/anti-war/ (Nuclear Disarmament) ๏ https://secure.avaaz.org/page/en/highlights/ ๏ https://globalforestcoalition.org/campaigns/ Edition 1/July 2020/Dr. M. Nadarajah/[email protected]/[email protected]

๏ https://www.goldenruleday.org/pledges ๏ https://mirpurifoundation.org/programs/marine-conservation/save-the-ocean- campaign/ ๏ https://transitionnetwork.org/get-involved/ ๏ http://inebnetwork.org/ (Engaged Buddhism) ๏ https://uri.org/ (United Religions Initiative) ๏ https://www.onebillionrising.org/ ๏ https://ecocidelaw.com/ ๏ https://cpnn-world.org/new/ (Culture of Peace News) ๏ https://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_57983.html ๏ https://haiweb.org/join-our-network/ (Health Action) ๏ https://neweconomics.org/section/campaigns ๏ https://www.standup4humanrights.org/en/campaigns.html ๏ https://celdf.org/advancing-community-rights/rights-of-nature/ ๏ https://ensia.com/features/indigenous-knowledge-biodiversity/ ๏ https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ ๏ https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/get-involved/https://www.tni.org/en/pro- grammes ๏ https://www.oxfam.org/en/take-action/campaigns/fight-inequality-beat-poverty ๏ https://inequality.org/research/billionaires-sign-econ-failure/ ๏ https://www.globalpolicy.org/home.html ๏ https://charterforcompassion.org/index.php/compassion-and-religion/islamopho- bia-guidebook#speaking-out-and-taking-action ๏ http://www.citizens-international.org/ci2017/campaign/ ๏ https://bhoomicollege.org/ (Nature/Ecology Education) ๏ http://www.shikshantar.org/ (Alternative/Non-Factory Model of Education) ๏ https://www.gff.global/ (Forest Fund) ๏ https://indianredcross.org/ircs/getinvolved ๏ https://rsf.org/en (Reporters Beyond Borders) ๏ https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/takeaction ๏ https://kalpavriksh.org/our-work/alternatives/ ๏ https://progressive.international/movement ๏ http://www.theworldcafe.com/key-concepts-resources/reading-list/ (Unconferenc- ing) Gerd Altmann, www.pixabay.com ACT GLOBALLY. ACT LOCALLY. ACT GLOCALLY. Edition 1/July 2020/Dr. M. Nadarajah/[email protected]/[email protected]

• Asserts that we cannot solve ecological prob- lems we have directly created without also solv- ing the problems of society; • Breaks down disciplinarity, encourages inter-and trans-disciplinary approaches to the knowledge of physical, social and spiritual complexties, and promotes healing the separation of Arts and Sciences through seamlessly integrating them; • Engages with the spirit of Vatican II, public and inclusive theology, deschooling and life-affirming counter-hegemonic imagination/narratives; • Proposes a framework of socially-engaged spirituality to address the “Cry of the Earth” and “Cry of the Poor,” to heal the world; www.pixabay.com • Empowers vulnerable, marginalised and poor communities to articulate their voices and urges social communicators, among others, to enable and strengthen this process; •

• Supports virtue, value and meaning-based democracy, and working for justice -- from private to public domains, from personal to political spheres, and from concern for human beings to the concern for Nature; • Grounds a permanent process that allows con- flicts to be resolved in a thriving dialogue and compassionate communication ecology; • Nurtures integral humanity and an active inclu- sive spirit amid diversity, urges us to go beyond the narrow orthodoxy of faith, promotes inter- faith/trans-faith co-existence, and shows us the way to mindfulness, friendship and inter-being; Gerd Altmann , www.pixabay.com • Promotes authentic dialogue for a culture of peace to enable reconciliation, strengthens the public spirit and consolidates the spirit of democ- racy through dialogue and inclusivity;

• Educates us to the need for global and local ecological conversations to address our glocal problems, and to nurture a way of life that leads us back home to Nature; Photomix-company, www.pexel.com • Helps us remember the nurturing ground of in- digeneity, femininity, motherliness and sacred- ness; and • Inspires the creation of democratic, transparent and trans-media public spheres, the strengthening of public communication practices based on critical awareness, compassion and dialogue, and the rewriting of taken-for-granted hegemonic stories we mindlessly live by so that we may all nurture a network of active mutuality and of love, faith and hope.

kk



Know that there is a more compassionate world that is struggling to be born. Be part of it. The web sites below (not exhaustive) have critical information, innovative ideas, action strategies and campaigns. Check them out. Imagine it as a learningful encounter. Allow yourself to be informed of what is available out there to be involved actively. Or to share. Or, to think of your own project. Allow yourself to be de- schooled. Allow yourself to build new stories to live by. Act at a personal level. Or public level. Act locally, globally or glocally. In some web sites below, you may find many more sites offering you the opportunities to know, learn and act to build a better world. There are many more sites out there to be explored offering you an opportunity to act. Add to the list. Create your own lists for different categories and share them with your friends and teachers. Use ithem in your assignments and for raising concerns in classrooms and meetings. Get friends to act on issues. • https://www.curbed.com/2017/6/7/15749900/how-to-stop-climate-change- actions • https://www.caritas.eu/laudato-si-in-grassroots-action/ • http://simplicityinstitute.org/take-action • https://earthcharter.org/get-involved/ • https://contemplativelife.org/ • https://easterinordinary.blogspot.com/2015/06/50-ideas-for-making- laudato-si-part-of.html • https://catholicclimatemovement.global/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ Laudato-Si-Study-and-Action-Guide-2016.pdf • https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/world-kindness-day • https://charterforcompassion.org/peace-economy-and-social-justice/11- reasons-we-must-take-a-stand-against-inequalityhttps:// www.amnesty.org.au/10-ways-can-change-world-today/ • http://buynothingday.org/the-top-five-ways-to-reduce-energy- consumption/ • https://www.foei.org/take-action • http://greenworldcharter.org/

• https://www.ecojesuit.com/category/programs/ • https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/topics • https://our-global-u.org/oguorg/ • https://panap.net/agroecology-in-action/ • https://www.localfutures.org/learn-take-action/ • https://www.antislavery.org/take-action/campaigns/ • https://www.cadtm.org/Debt-campaign?lang=en • https://www.unodc.org/blueheart/en/-about-the-blue-heart.html • https://empathylibrary.com/ • http://vikalpsangam.org/ • https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ • https://therightsofnature.org/how-can-i-become-a-member/ • https://www.betterworld.info/ • https://www.slowfood.com/get-involved/ • https://www.who.int/campaigns • https://cnduk.org/campaigns/anti-war/ • https://secure.avaaz.org/page/en/highlights/ • https://globalforestcoalition.org/campaigns/ • https://www.goldenruleday.org/pledges

https://mirpurifoundation.org/programs/marine-conservation/save-the-ocean- campaign/ https://transitionnetwork.org/get-involved/ http://inebnetwork.org/ https://uri.org/ https://www.onebillionrising.org/ https://ecocidelaw.com/ https://cpnn-world.org/new/ https://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_57983.html https://haiweb.org/join-our-network/ https://neweconomics.org/section/campaigns https://www.standup4humanrights.org/en/campaigns.html https://celdf.org/advancing-community-rights/rights-of-nature/ https://ensia.com/features/indigenous-knowledge-biodiversity/ https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/get-involved/https://www.tni.org/en/pro- grammes https://www.oxfam.org/en/take-action/campaigns/fight-inequality-beat- poverty https://inequality.org/research/billionaires-sign-econ-failure/ https://www.globalpolicy.org/home.html https://charterforcompassion.org/index.php/compassion-and-religion/ islamopho-bia-guidebook#speaking-out-and-taking-action http://www.citizens-international.org/ci2017/campaign/ https://bhoomicollege.org/



“Doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain. We may well be leaving to coming generations debris, desolation and filth. The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world..” “Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home.” Pope Francis, Laudato Si