ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Caritas: poverty, development and climate justice on the political agenda

Monday, 20 June 2016 caritas   natural catastrophe   development   food safety   human rights   indigenous  

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Manila (Agenzia Fides) – Work towards development and put the poor "at the center of the political agenda": is the appeal of Caritas Philippines and of a group of about 30 religious and civil organizations to newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte. Caritas calls on the government to make "further efforts to improve the lives of poor countries and the marginalized" in view of a "real change". If the President defines himself as responsible for this renewal - observes a note sent to Fides on the occasion of the first anniversary of the encyclical "Laudato Sì" - "we ask that the change is based on justice and human dignity".
The note is shared by more than 30 religious groups and civil society organizations seeking to "protect the rights of small farmers, especially the ownership of land", inviting them to review the mechanism of subsidies "to support local production and fair trade", promoting "sustainable and organic farming and fishing", applying "a true agrarian reform".
The note also mentions "the gradual elimination of the rights of indigenous peoples", victims of human rights abuses, and proposes a plan to "promote climate justice", eliminating all the building permits for coal plants and to put a stop to the concessions for mining exploitation, often assigned to multinationals that trample the rights of local populations.
"The change is desirable if it brings the common good, justice and peace for humanity", said Father Edwin Gariguez, executive Secretary of Caritas Philippines, remembering the theme of climate change and global warming. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/06/2016)


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