2024-07-07 12:36:16
The need for joint global actions, “regardless of geopolitical interests and other calculations”, was underlined by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in his video message that was shown last night at the Nisyros Dialogues, organized by the George N. Michalos Foundation, under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Katerina Sakellaropoulou and himself.
Climate change is already a harsh reality with planetary dimensions and effects and not a future scenario, the Ecumenical Patriarch stressed, underlining the need for immediate action.
The technique of small steps, no matter how important it is, is not enough to deal with perhaps the greatest threat to life on our planet, Mr. Bartholomeos said characteristically, pointing out that it is urgent to effectively deal with the deeper causes and not only with the results of of this crisis.
A transition from having to being is required
The Ecumenical Patriarch particularly focused on the spiritual and moral roots of the ecological crisis as well as social problems, pointing out that a dimension of this crisis is also the fact that “man, although he knows the dead ends of his choices, continues to walk as if not knew”. In fact, as he pointed out, “in the face of the ecological crisis, there is a vain hope that nature has the power to overcome its ongoing anthropogenic destruction and reproduce itself”.
After noting that there are obviously healthy reactions and promising developments, valuable initiatives of civil society, dynamic ecological movements, scientific discoveries and interventions, political decisions based on the common good, various resistances in the name of respect for the human person and the integrity of creation, environmental education and more, pointed out the changes needed.
In addition to all this, the Ecumenical Patriarch underlined, “a radical change of mentality and an evaluative upheaval is required, a transition from an orientation towards having to a shift towards being. In an ecophilic culture and in the culture of solidarity”. Changes to which, as the Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized, spiritual forces, such as the great religions, can and must contribute, developing their ecological, social and peace-making potential.
The phenomenon of hypertourism
The Ecumenical Patriarch made special mention of the phenomenon of hypertourism, which was one of the topics of the Nisyros Dialogues, pointing out that its dead ends reveal the value of alternative forms of tourism as a means of developing and protecting the natural environment, but also more generally as a contribution to the spiritual culture. In this context, the correct understanding of the so-called religious tourism is included, Mr. Bartholomeos characteristically mentioned.
Finally, congratulations to the George N. Michalos Foundation for its action.