EUROPE/ITALY - TODAY ON THE INTERNET: Italian Bishops' message for Thanksgiving Day 11 November: "the environment is a garden to be cultivated not something to be possessed"

Roma (Agenzia Fides) - “Custodians of a land to love and to serve" is the title of a Message issued by the Catholic Bishops of Italy (CEI), on the annual occasion of Thanksgiving Day, Sunday 11 November. In the message with suggestions helpful also for other countries with regard to the important issue of environment protection the Bishops say among other things: "If the ecological crisis is the result of a selfish mentality and life style, it is our duty to adopt a new mentality and a new attitude to the environment…we must have the courage to promote life styles and means of production and consumption based on respect for creation and the real exigencies for sustainable progress. We must rediscover moderation in life, eradicate from hearts the desire for having and restore primacy of being, and cultivate the earth not abuse it, avoid what is superfluous, ephemeral, purify our attitude and discover that rather than something to be possessed, the environment is a garden to be cultivated". On the occasion of Thanksgiving Day the CEI has promoted a Seminar 10-11 November to be held in Lecce on the theme: "Agriculture, Mediterranean area and Climate Change". (C.E.) (Agenzia Fides 9/11/2007; Righe 12 - Parole 166)