2012: A FULL AGENDA FOR ALL
Dear Beloved of the Father,
I am presenting below “2012: A FULL AGENDA FOR ALL” written by Fr. Cedric Prakash sj (Director of PRASHANT, the Ahmedabad based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace). Along with it I have attached details of the same for our reading, reflection and action. Hope you will benefit from it and do not forget to pass it on to others too.
2012! We are already in the first week of a year which promises plenty of hope and demands a high degree of commitment from every single individual.
2012! Whilst ushering the World Day of Peace on January 1st, throughout the world, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI themed his message, ‘Educating young people in Justice and Peace’, “in the conviction that the young, with the enthusiasm and idealism, can offer new hope to the world”. Besides, speaking directly to the youth, the Pope also addresses his message, “to parents, families and all those involved in the area of education and formation, as well as to leaders in the various spheres of religious, social, political, economic and cultural life and in the media”.
2012! In India
2012! A year dedicated by the United Nations as the ‘International Year of Sustainable Energy for All’. It is a brute reminder that 1.4 billion people still lack access to energy and to electricity, in particular. A few just misuse energy at their whims and fancies. Above all, very often, access to energy and energy services is based on polluting energy sources. We have not given sufficient importance to alternative forms and to more sustainable energy.
2012! Also dedicated by the UN as the ‘International Year of Cooperatives’. One needs to highlight the fact that cooperatives impact poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. While the focus is socio-economic development, anything that is collaborative based on a value system helps in the cause of transparency and therefore of justice and peace.
2012! It is going to be a full year indeed as we try to educate our young in the ways of justice and peace as we make a paradigm shift towards sustainable energy and above all cooperate with one another towards the building of a more humane, just, equitable and peaceful society.
The only question which remains during the year is whether we have the courage to walk the talk?
* * * * * * * * * *
‘EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE
IN JUSTICE AND PEACE’
“The world must be educated to love Peace, to build it up and defend it.” - Pope Paul VI, 1968.
On January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and also World Day of Peace Pope Benedict XVI’s Peace Message to the world focuses on the theme: Educating Young People in Justice and Peace.
While the Holy Father encourages us to look to 2012 with an attitude of “confident trust”, he points to the “rising sense of frustration at the crisis looming over society, the world of labour and the economy” over the past year. He sees hope in young people. With their “enthusiasm and idealism… they can offer hope to the world.” Indeed, this Message is an affirmation of young people and of the role they can and must play in working for justice and peace and in building the common good.
His message to educators is profound. While he addresses all educators, including “leaders in the various spheres of religious, social, political, economic and cultural life and in the media”, he recognises the importance of parents as the first educators of children and of the role of the family, “the primary cell of society” e.g. in nurturing “human and Christian values”. It is also in the family that they “learn solidarity between the generations, respect for rules, forgiveness and how to welcome others.” While he acknowledges the demands of modern-day life, he notes that children require “the most precious of treasures: the presence of their parents.”
Educators, he says, have a responsibility for the education and formation of young people. When educating young people in justice and peace, adults must not “simply parcel out rules and facts” but must themselves be “authentic witnesses” who live what they teach.
He warns that education can be distorted and destroyed by a “dictatorship of relativism,” which ignores our “conscience” – the natural moral law. A major obstacle in youth formation today is “moral relativism” – “The view that ethical standards, morality, and positions of right or wrong are culturally based and therefore subject to a person’s individual choice” (http://moral-relativism.com). Thus many believe that “if it feels right, just do it”. Educators must lead the young to realise that with “rights” come corresponding “responsibilities”.
The Holy Father urges young people to take responsibility for their own education, to set high standards for themselves and to be open to the example and knowledge their elders have to share. He asks them “to be patient and persevering in seeking justice and peace, in cultivating the taste for what is just and true, even when it involves sacrifice and swimming against the tide.”
As he did in Charity in Truth, he calls for authentic education/human development – of all dimensions of the person and of each person. Such education, he says, teaches the proper use of freedom with “respect for oneself and others, including those whose way of being and living differs greatly from one’s own.” He asks political leaders “to offer concrete assistance to families and educational institutions in the exercise of their right and duty to educate. Adequate support should never be lacking to parents in their task”. In reading the signs of the times, he states that a more just and peaceful world requires “adequate mechanisms for the redistribution of wealth.” He elaborates on issues relating to justice and peace.
He refers to young people as “a precious gift for society” and challenges them: “Do not yield to discouragement in the face of difficulties and do not abandon yourselves to false solutions which often seem the easiest way to overcome problems. Do not be afraid to make a commitment, to face hard work and sacrifice, to choose the paths that demand fidelity and constancy, humility and dedication. Be confident in your youth and its profound desires for happiness, truth, beauty and genuine love! Live fully this time in your life so rich and so full of enthusiasm.”
As they strive to build a better future, he assures them: “You are never alone. The Church has confidence in you, follows you, encourages you and wishes to offer you the most precious gift she has: the opportunity to raise your eyes to God, to encounter Jesus Christ, who is himself justice and peace.”
Let’s educate and empower our young people to become agents of justice and peace.
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
POPE BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE
WORLD DAY OF PEACE
EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE IN JUSTICE AND PEACE
1. The beginning of a new year, God’s gift to humanity, prompts me to extend to all, with great confidence and affection, my heartfelt good wishes that this time now before us may be marked concretely by justice and peace.
With what attitude should we look to the New Year? We find a very beautiful image in Psalm 130. The Psalmist says that people of faith wait for the Lord “more than those who watch for the morning” (v. 6); they wait for him with firm hope because they know that he will bring light, mercy, salvation. This waiting was born of the experience of the Chosen People, who realized that God taught them to look at the world in its truth and not to be overwhelmed by tribulation. I invite you to look to 2012 with this attitude of confident trust. It is true that the year now ending has been marked by a rising sense of frustration at the crisis looming over society, the world of labour and the economy, a crisis whose roots are primarily cultural and anthropological. It seems as if a shadow has fallen over our time, preventing us from clearly seeing the light of day.
In this shadow, however, human hearts continue to wait for the dawn of which the Psalmist speaks. Because this expectation is particularly powerful and evident in young people, my thoughts turn to them and to the contribution which they can and must make to society. I would like therefore to devote this message for the XLV World Day of Peace to the theme of education: “Educating Young People in Justice and Peace”, in the conviction that the young, with their enthusiasm and idealism, can offer new hope to the world.
My Message is also addressed to parents, families and all those involved in the area of education and formation, as well as to leaders in the various spheres of religious, social, political, economic and cultural life and in the media. Attentiveness to young people and their concerns, the ability to listen to them and appreciate them, is not merely something expedient; it represents a primary duty for society as a whole, for the sake of building a future of justice and peace.
It is a matter of communicating to young people an appreciation for the positive value of life and of awakening in them a desire to spend their lives in the service of the Good. This is a task which engages each of us personally.
The concerns expressed in recent times by many young people around the world demonstrate that they desire to look to the future with solid hope. At the present time, they are experiencing apprehension about many things: they want to receive an education which prepares them more fully to deal with the real world, they see how difficult it is to form a family and to find stable employment; they wonder if they can really contribute to political, cultural and economic life in order to build a society with a more human and fraternal face.
It is important that this unease and its underlying idealism receive due attention at every level of society. The Church looks to young people with hope and confidence; she encourages them to seek truth, to defend the common good, to be open to the world around them and willing to see “new things” (Is 42:9; 48:6).
Educators
2. Education is the most interesting and difficult adventure in life. Educating – from the Latineducere – means leading young people to move beyond themselves and introducing them to reality, towards a fullness that leads to growth. This process is fostered by the encounter of two freedoms, that of adults and that of the young. It calls for responsibility on the part of the learners, who must be open to being led to the knowledge of reality, and on the part of educators, who must be ready to give of themselves. For this reason, today more than ever we need authentic witnesses, and not simply people who parcel out rules and facts; we need witnesses capable of seeing farther than others because their life is so much broader. A witness is someone who fi rst lives the life that he proposes to others.
Where does true education in peace and justice take place? First of all, in the family, since parents are the first educators. The family is the primary cell of society; “it is in the family that children learn the human and Christian values which enable them to have a constructive and peaceful coexistence. It is in the family that they learn solidarity between the generations, respect for rules, forgiveness and how to welcome others.” (1) The family is the first school in which we are trained in justice and peace.
We are living in a world where families, and life itself, are constantly threatened and not infrequently fragmented. Working conditions which are often incompatible with family responsibilities, worries about the future, the frenetic pace of life, the need to move frequently to ensure an adequate livelihood, to say nothing of mere survival – all this makes it hard to ensure that children receive one of the most precious of treasures: the presence of their parents. This presence makes it possible to share more deeply in the journey of life and thus to pass on experiences and convictions gained with the passing of the years, experiences and convictions which can only be communicated by spending time together. I would urge parents not to grow disheartened! May they encourage children by the example of their lives to put their hope before all else in God, the one source of authentic justice and peace.
I would also like to address a word to those in charge of educational institutions: with a great sense of responsibility may they ensure that the dignity of each person is always respected and appreciated. Let them be concerned that every young person be able to discover his or her own vocation and helped to develop his or her God-given gifts. May they reassure families that their children can receive an education that does not conflict with their consciences and their religious principles.
Every educational setting can be a place of openness to the transcendent and to others; a place of dialogue, cohesiveness and attentive listening, where young people feel appreciated for their personal abilities and inner riches, and can learn to esteem their brothers and sisters. May young people be taught to savour the joy which comes from the daily exercise of charity and compassion towards others and from taking an active part in the building of a more humane and fraternal society.
I ask political leaders to offer concrete assistance to families and educational institutions in the exercise of their right and duty to educate. Adequate support should never be lacking to parents in their task. Let them ensure that no one is ever denied access to education and that families are able freely to choose the educational structures they consider most suitable for their children. Let them be committed to reuniting families separated by the need to earn a living. Let them give young people a transparent image of politics as a genuine service to the good of all.
I cannot fail also to appeal to the world of the media to offer its own contribution to education. In today’s society the mass media have a particular role: they not only inform but also form the minds of their audiences, and so they can make a significant contribution to the education of young people. It is important never to forget that the connection between education and communication is extremely close: education takes place through communication, which influences, for better or worse, the formation of the person.
Young people too need to have the courage to live by the same high standards that they set for others. Theirs is a great responsibility: may they find the strength to make good and wise use of their freedom. They too are responsible for their education, including their education in justice and peace!
Educating in truth and freedom
3. Saint Augustine
Only in relation to God does man come to understand also the meaning of human freedom. It is the task of education to form people in authentic freedom. This is not the absence of constraint or the supremacy of free will, it is not the absolutism of the self. When man believes himself to be absolute, to depend on nothing and no one, to be able to do anything he wants, he ends up contradicting the truth of his own being and forfeiting his freedom. On the contrary, man is a relational being, who lives in relationship with others and especially with God. Authentic freedom can never be attained independently of God.
Freedom is a precious value, but a fragile one; it can be misunderstood and misused. “Today, a particularly insidious obstacle to the task of educating is the massive presence in our society and culture of that relativism which, recognizing nothing as definitive, leaves as the ultimate criterion only the self with its desires. And under the semblance of freedom it becomes a prison for each one, for it separates people from one another, locking each person into his or her own self. With such a relativistic horizon, therefore, real education is not possible without the light of the truth; sooner or later, every person is in fact condemned to doubting the goodness of his or her own life and the relationships of which it consists, the validity of his or her commitment to build with others something in common”(4).
In order to exercise his freedom, then, man must move beyond the relativistic horizon and come to know the truth about himself and the truth about good and evil. Deep within his conscience, man discovers a law that he did not lay upon himself, but which he must obey. Its voice calls him to love and to do what is good, to avoid evil and to take responsibility for the good he does and the evil he commits(5). Thus, the exercise of freedom is intimately linked to the natural moral law, which is universal in character, expresses the dignity of every person and forms the basis of fundamental human rights and duties: consequently, in the final analysis, it forms the basis for just and peaceful coexistence.
The right use of freedom, then, is central to the promotion of justice and peace, which require respect for oneself and others, including those whose way of being and living differs greatly from one’s own. This attitude engenders the elements without which peace and justice remain merely words without content: mutual trust, the capacity to hold constructive dialogue, the possibility of forgiveness, which one constantly wishes to receive but finds hard to bestow, mutual charity, compassion towards the weakest, as well as readiness to make sacrifices.
Educating in justice
We cannot ignore the fact that some currents of modern culture, built upon rationalist and individualist economic principles, have cut off the concept of justice from its transcendent roots, detaching it from charity and solidarity: “The ‘earthly city’ is promoted not merely by relationships of rights and duties, but to an even greater and more fundamental extent by relationships of gratuitousness, mercy and communion. Charity always manifests God’s love in human relationships as well, it gives theological and salvific value to all commitment for justice in the world”(7).
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Mt 5:6). They shall be satisfied because they hunger and thirst for right relations with God, with themselves, with their brothers and sisters, and with the whole of creation.
Educating in peace
5. “Peace is not merely the absence of war, and it is not limited to maintaining a balance of powers between adversaries. Peace cannot be attained on earth without safeguarding the goods of persons, free communication among men, respect for the dignity of persons and peoples, and the assiduous practice of fraternity.”8 We Christians believe that Christ is our true peace: in him, by his Cross, God has reconciled the world to himself and has broken down the walls of division that separated us from one another (cf. Eph 2:14 -18); in him, there is but one family, reconciled in love.
Peace, however, is not merely a gift to be received: it is also a task to be undertaken. In order to be true peacemakers, we must educate ourselves in compassion, solidarity, working together, fraternity, in being active within the community and concerned to raise awareness about national and international issues and the importance of seeking adequate mechanisms for the redistribution of wealth, the promotion of growth, cooperation for development and conflict resolution. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”, as Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:9).
Peace for all is the fruit of justice for all, and no one can shirk this essential task of promoting justice, according to one’s particular areas of competence and responsibility. To the young, who have such a strong attachment to ideals, I extend a particular invitation to be patient and persevering in seeking justice and peace, in cultivating the taste for what is just and true, even when it involves sacrifice and swimming against the tide.
Raising one’s eyes to God
6. Before the difficult challenge of walking the paths of justice and peace, we may be tempted to ask, in the words of the Psalmist: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains: from where shall come my help?” (Ps 121:1).
To all, and to young people in particular, I wish to say emphatically: “It is not ideologies that save the world, but only a return to the living God, our Creator, the guarantor of our freedom, the guarantor of what is really good and true … an unconditional return to God who is the measure of what is right and who at the same time is everlasting love. And what could ever save us apart from love?”(9) Love takes delight in truth, it is the force that enables us to make a commitment to truth, to justice, to peace, because it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (cf. 1 Cor 13:1-13).
Dear young people, you are a precious gift for society. Do not yield to discouragement in the face of difficulties and do not abandon yourselves to false solutions which often seem the easiest way to overcome problems. Do not be afraid to make a commitment, to face hard work and sacrifice, to choose the paths that demand fidelity and constancy, humility and dedication. Be confident in your youth and its profound desires for happiness, truth, beauty and genuine love! Live fully this time in your life so rich and so full of enthusiasm.
Realize that you yourselves are an example and an inspiration to adults, even more so to the extent that you seek to overcome injustice and corruption and strive to build a better future. Be aware of your potential; never become self-centred but work for a brighter future for all. You are never alone. The Church has confidence in you, follows you, encourages you and wishes to offer you the most precious gift she has: the opportunity to raise your eyes to God, to encounter Jesus Christ, who is himself justice and peace.
All you men and women throughout the world, who take to heart the cause of peace: peace is not a blessing already attained, but rather a goal to which each and all of us must aspire. Let us look with greater hope to the future; let us encourage one another on our journey; let us work together to give our world a more humane and fraternal face; and let us feel a common responsibility towards present and future generations, especially in the task of training them to be people of peace and builders of peace. With these thoughts I offer my reflections and I appeal to everyone: let us pool our spiritual, moral and material resources for the great goal of “educating young people in justice and peace”.
From the Vatican 8 December 2011
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
* * * * * * * * * *
‘INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL’
In December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2012 the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, recognizing that “… access to modern affordable energy services in developing countries is essential for the achievement of … the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development.”
During the Year in order to “increase awareness of the importance of addressing energy issues, including modern energy services for all, access to affordable energy, energy efficiency and the sustainability of energy sources and use” at local, national, regional and international levels.
In response, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, with support from UN-Energy and the United Nations Foundation, is leading a new global initiative – Sustainable Energy for All. This initiative will engage governments, the private sector, and civil society partners globally with the goal of achieving sustainable energy for all, and to reach three major objectives by 2030:
· ensuring universal access to modern energy services
· doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency
· doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
Eliminating energy poverty is of paramount importance in eradicating poverty. It is also essential for the achievement of the other development Goals. At the same time, a vast potential for energy efficiency improvements across the energy supply and delivery chain remains largely untapped. Two goals to be achieved are: universal access to modern energy services and improved energy efficiency. A global campaign can help raise awareness and galvanize countries and the international community into action.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY
Energy is at the heart of most critical economic, environmental and developmental issues facing the world today. Clean, efficient, affordable and reliable energy services are indispensable for global prosperity. Developing countries in particular need to expand access to reliable and modern energy services if they are to reduce poverty and improve the health of their citizens, while at the same time increasing productivity, enhancing competitiveness and promoting economic growth. Current energy systems are inadequate to meet the needs of the world’s poor and are jeopardizing the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For instance, in the absence of reliable energy services, neither health clinics nor schools can function properly.
Access to clean water and sanitation is constrained without effective pumping capacity. Food security is adversely affected, often with devastating impact on vulnerable populations. Worldwide, approximately 3 billion people rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating,1 and about 1.5 billion have no access to electricity. Up to a billion more have access only to unreliable electricity networks. The “energy-poor” suffer the health consequences of inefficient combustion of solid fuels in inadequately ventilated buildings, as well as the economic consequences of insufficient power for productive income-generating activities and for other basic services such as health and education. In particular, women and girls in the developing world are disproportionately affected in this regard.
A well-performing energy system that improves efficient access to modern forms of energy2 would strengthen the opportunities for the poorest few billion people on the planet to escape the worst impacts of poverty. Such a system is also essential for meeting wider development objectives. Economic growth goes hand in hand with increased access to modern energy services, especially in low- and middle-income countries transitioning through the phase of accelerated industrial development. A World Bank study3 indicates that countries with underperforming energy systems may lose up to 1-2 per cent of growth potential annually as a result of electric power outages, over-investment in backup electricity generators, energy subsidies and losses, and inefficient use of scarce energy resources.
At the global level, the energy system – supply, transformation, delivery and use – is the dominant contributor to climate change, representing around 60 per cent of total current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Current patterns of energy production and consumption are unsustainable and threaten the environment on both local and global scales. Emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels are major contributors to the unpredictable effects of climate change, and to urban air pollution and acidification of land and water. Reducing the carbon intensity of energy – that is, the amount of carbon4 emitted per unit of energy consumed – is a key objective in reaching longterm climate goals. As long as the primary energy mix is biased towards fossil fuels, this would be difficult to achieve with currently available fossil fuel-based energy technologies. Given that the world economy is expected to double in size over the next twenty years, the world’s consumption of energy will also increase significantly if energy supply, conversion and use continueto be inefficient. Energy system design, providing stronger incentives for reduced GHG emissions in supply and increased end-use efficiency, will therefore be critical for reducing the risk of irreversible, catastrophic climate change. It is within this context that the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC) was convened to address the dual challenges of meeting the world’s energy needs for development while contributing to a reduction in GHGs. AGECC carried out this task in a rapidly changing environment in which energy was often a key factor: the sensitivity of the global economy to energy price spikes; increased competition for scarce natural resources; and the need to accelerate progress towards achievement of the MDGs. The world’s response to climate change will affect each of these issues. Pursuant to the Copenhagen Accord promulgated at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in December 2009, the Secretary-General has established a High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing. It is hoped that this report will be helpful to that and other similar initiatives.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS
AGECC recommends the following actions toward achieving the two goals of ensuring universal energy access and of reducing global energy intensity:
This campaign would be focused on improving access to modern energy services and enhancing energy efficiency, as well as raising awareness about the essential role of clean energy in reaching the MDGs while addressing climate change, promoting economic growth and conserving natural resources and biodiversity. The campaign should ensure that energy is made an integral part of the MDG review process in 2010 as well as other major inter-governmental processes — including those on climate change, biodiversity, desertification, food security, and sustainable development. The campaign should encourage the United Nations and its Member States
2. All countries should prioritize the goals through the adoption of appropriate national strategies.
National strategies should create a predictable, long-term policy environment for investment and a road map for accelerating the establishment of the required human and institutional capacity and delivery mechanisms. For high-income countries, this may entail: (a) national plans to benefit from the energy efficiency dividend; (b) increased investment in R&D; and (c) more focused commitments to support developing countries in helping to achieve their goals in the areas of both energy access and efficiency.
For middle-income countries, this may involve: (a) national plans to capture the energy efficiency opportunities as an integral part of their National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and Low Carbon Growth Plans (LCGPs); (b) targeted interventions to reduce residual pockets of energy poverty; (c) a phased withdrawal of untargeted energy subsidies; and (d) technical support for the energy access and efficiency programmes of low-income countries.
For low-income countries, this may require: (a) national plans to accelerate the deployment and provision of modern energy services; (b) incorporation of these plans, if based on low-GHG emissions technologies, into their NAMAs/LCGPs; (c) re-orienting regulatory policy frameworks, including tariff structures and market regimes, to stimulate business innovation and private sector participation; (d) improvement in the design and careful targeting of energy subsidies; (e) further investment in the capabilities of public utilities; and (f) a phased introduction of low-GHG emitting technologies, as well as energy efficiency measures wherever feasible.
In a broader context, all countries have to work towards: (a) accelerated harmonization of technical standards for energy-using products and equipment; (b) increased R&D investments, especially in technologies that would reduce the cost and GHG intensity of energy services; and (c) trade-related measures that would support market expansion for products that increase energy efficiency or enhance access.
3. Finance, including innovative financial mechanisms and climate finance, should be made available by the international community.
A combination of financial support mechanisms and a significant increase in international finance – both bilateral and multilateral – will be needed to catalyze the existing public sector funding mechanisms and to leverage increased private sector investments, in order to meet the capital requirements needed for providing access to modern energy services and energy efficiency programmes in low- and middle- income countries. For universal access to modern energy services to meet basic needs,9 it is estimated that $35-40 billion10 of capital will be required on average per year to achieve basic universal access by 2030.
* * * * * * * * * *
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF COOPERATIVES
2012 has been recognised as the International Year of Co-operatives by the United Nations. This is an acknowledgement by the international community that co-operatives drive the economy, respond to social change, are resilient to the global economic crisis and are serious, successful businesses creating jobs in all sectors.
Co-operatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility. - Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary GeneraL
International years are declared by the United Nations to draw attention to and encourage action on major issues. The International Year of Cooperatives is intended to raise public awareness of the invaluable contributions of cooperative enterprises to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The Year will also highlight the strengths of the cooperative business model as an alternative means of doing business and furthering socioeconomic development.
For further details read the attachment.
Fr. Lawrence Louis Rodrigues
(FOR SOCOM.BARODA)
No comments:
Post a Comment