The green vision of Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY - Main points of Pope Francis's Encyclical on the environment, released on Thursday:

- Main Challenge -

Climate change represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our time. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades.

"The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek sustainable and integral development."

- A man-made problem -

Scientific studies indicate that most global warming in recent decades is mainly as a result of human activity.

Humanity must recognise the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption.

- Conflict and war -

"It is foreseeable that, once certain resources have been depleted, the scene will be set for new wars."

- Throwaway culture -

"The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth...

"These problems are closely linked to a throwaway culture."

- Carbon emissions -

"We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels – especially coal, but also oil and, to a lesser degree, gas – needs to be progressively replaced without delay."

- Consequences -

"If present trends continue, this century may well witness extraordinary climate change and an unprecedented destruction of ecosystems, with serious consequences for all of us."

A quarter of the world's population lives on, or near, the coast so sea level rises would be extremely dangerous.

- Drastic reductions -

Polluting gases must be "drastically reduced" with the reduction of fossil fuels and development of renewable energy.

- Rich to blame -
Developed countries ought to significantly limit their consumption of non-renewable energy and assist poorer countries to support policies and programmes of sustainable development.

"Many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms."

- Drinking water -

"Access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right.... Some studies warn that an acute water shortage may occur within a few decades unless urgent action is taken."

- Biodiversity -

"The earth’s resources are also being plundered because of short-sighted approaches to the economy, commerce and production. The loss of forests and woodlands entails the loss of species which may constitute extremely important resources in the future, not only for food but also for curing disease and other uses."

- Binding agreements -

Enforceable international agreements are urgently needed, since local authorities are not always capable of effective intervention.

- Carbon credits -

The strategy of buying and selling carbon credits "can lead to a new form of speculation which would not help reduce the emission of polluting gases worldwide".

It may simply become a ploy which permits maintaining the excessive consumption of some countries and sectors.

- Religion -
"Most people profess to be believers. This should spur religions to dialogue among themselves for the sake of protecting nature, defending the poor, and building networks of respect and fraternity."

- Economy and growth -

"We need also to think of containing growth by setting some reasonable limits and even retracing our steps before it is too late...

"That is why the time has come to accept decreased growth in some parts of the world."

- Consumerism -

"Obsession with a consumerist lifestyle, above all when few people are capable of maintaining it, can only lead to violence and mutual destruction."

- Technology and profit -

"The economy accepts every advance in technology with a view to profit, without concern for its potentially negative impact on human beings."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Abused husbands also need help, SC justice says

MANILA - Men can also be victims of domestic violence committed by their wives or partner, a Supreme Court associate justice said.

However, this should not be reason for the high tribunal to declare invalid the law on violence against women and children, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said.

Leonen, in a concurring opinion with a Supreme Court ruling upholding the constitutionality of Republic Act 9262, said domestic violence is a power and not a gender issue.


"Portraying only women as victims will not always promote gender equality before the law," he said. "In some cases, men as human beings can also become victims."

Leonen cited 3 cases handled by the Quezon City Police District Crime Laboratory wherein men complained of spousal abuse, as well as another study involving abused of 6 Filipino husbands.

"Four out of the six participants admitted that their spouses’ abusive behavior would initially start with verbal attacks and put-downs then would shift to physical abuse as their verbal tussle intensified," he said, quoting the study on abused men.

"The constant threats, in the long term, affected the emotional and psychological well being of the participants," he added.

One of the victims mentioned a "flying monobloc chair" that hit him "right on the nose."

Another said he had to go to a doctor on his own to have his injuries treated.

Another sustained a wide and deep knife wound that needed "some stiches."

"JL had to contend with the long scratches in his chest and back. RE almost lost an eye when he was hit with a straight punch of the spouse. JL, RE, and DL would lie to colleagues to avoid being laughed at. DL had to be absent from his work after being hit by a flying de lata (canned good) thrown at him during a fight," Leonen said.

"Emotional abuse co-existed with verbal and/or physical abuse. The participants who were recipients of physical abuse were also emotionally abused when they became susceptible to stress and threats of the abuser," he added.

Leonen explained that social and cultural expectations on masculinity and male dominance urge men to keep quiet about being a victim.

"This leads to latent depression among boys and men. In a sense, patriarchy while privileging men, also victimizes them," he said.

Leonen, in his concurring opinion on upholding RA 9262, said abused men also need protection under the Constitution and the country's laws.

"We should be open to realities which may challenge the dominant conception that violence in intimate relationships only happens to women and children," he said.

"This may be predominantly true, but even those in marginal cases deserve fundamental constitutional and statutory protection.

Leonen said that cases of men being victims of abuse should not be reason to reject the constitutionality of RA 9262.

Doing so would mean removing the protection afforded to women, he said, adding that it will only result in "an even worse state of laws where none is protected from intimate violence."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com