Page 47 - AECA.org.uk ¦ Koinonia 66

The future is open; the choice is ours
Dear friends, the future is open; and the choice is ours, yours. On the one
hand, our world is indeed in crisis. Yet, on the other hand, never before in
history have human beings had the opportunity to bring so many positive
changes to so many people and to the global community. There has never been
so much turmoil on our planet; but equally so, there has never been greater
opportunity for communication, cooperation and dialogue.
Interfaith dialogue, environmental awareness and the culture of
solidarity are responsibilities that we owe not only to the present generation.
Future generations are entitled to a world free from fanaticism and violence,
unspoiled by pollution and natural devastation, a society that is a place of
solidarity. This is the role and responsibility of religion.
As we already noted, the choice is ours! We stand at a critical moment in
the history and future of our planet, a time when our human community must
choose about the future of our earth community. The protection of our planet’s
vitality and diversity is a sacred task and a common vocation. At a summit
organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate three years ago, former NASA
climate scientist Professor James Hansen observed: “Our parents honestly did
not know that their actions could harm future generations. But we, our current
generation, can only pretend that we did not know.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, then, you will now appreciate why a religious leader is concerned
with the ecological crisis. We are convinced that we must make the strongest
possible call for change and justice at the Climate Conference in Paris next
December. This is our ethical and honorable obligation; this is our word of
promise and hope to the entire world.
As we stand before you and look into your eyes, we draw a great deal of
encouragement, inspiration and hope for a bright future. For your sacred task
is undoubtedly to transmit to your colleagues a spirit of openness. It is you that
will carry the responsibility for social values, for religion and culture, for
freedom and justice, for the respect of otherness, for solidarity with humanity
and with the whole of God’s creation. It is you that must educate our world
about a vision of participation and a culture of sharing, of existence as
coexistence and of life as communion.

45