Healthy Planet, Healthy People Petition
Let’s Be the Change
Within the framework of her mission, as SSVP representative to the United Nations in Geneva, our Secretary-General, Marie-Françoise Salesiani-Payet, takes part in numerous events and seminars to reflect on current global issues. The group of which she is member, made up of other Catholic and Christians NGOs, calls on the Human Rights Council (HRC) to take bolder action on a crisis that is impacting most adversely on the poorest and most vulnerable populations across the planet, and to find a global solution.
For this reason, our Secretary-General would like to raise awareness among Vincentians on the climate issue. In this regard, there are two UN summits coming up by the end of this year: In October, the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP*15), made up of world leaders ratifying the treaty (called the Parties), who meet every two years to review the progress, set priorities and agree on work plans; and from 1-12 November, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), in Glasgow (UK), which will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Ahead of these two UN conferences, our brothers from the Laudato Si’ Movement have launched an online petition call on world leaders at the COPS.
The petition, among other things, advocates for more binding agreements from policy makers to tackle the biodiversity crisis and reduce air pollution emissions. Furthermore, it stresses the need for greater awareness, backed up by active involvement of our community. None of us are immune; however, the gravest effects of this interconnected crisis are suffered by the poorest, as stated in the encyclical letter Laudato Si’ of the Holy Father Francis on care for our common home. Therein, Pope Francis asks us to be more protective and respectful of the environment, since it imbues our relationship to the world with a healthy sobriety.
Hence, the petition launched by the Laudato Si’ Movement lifts up the voices of the most vulnerable, those who suffer the most. This is why, the SSVP prompts its members to sign this petition and to share it with their friends and family:: https://thecatholicpetition.org
The Council General International has already signed this petition. The President General, brother Renato Lima de Oliveira, supports this initiative and encourages all the brothers and sister of the SSVP to study the matter and get involved in this cause which is also a Vincentian matter.
