Dimapur 3 August 2020: In pursuance of the directive from Fr. Jose Kuruvachira SDB, the Provincial of Dimapur Province, the Commission for Don Bosco Green Alliance under the leadership of Fr. Provincial himself, had the first on-line meeting on Monday 3rd August 2020. Fr. Provincial gave us a brief status and purpose of presentation and the commission itself. We would be taking forward the key topic “How to protect and preserve our planet” and taking the cue from the Church with the Pope, the Congregation with the Rector Major and the Salesian Provincial Conference South Asia (SPCSA). The group opted for joining with DB Green Alliance at world level. Coming under the Youth Ministry, the effort would be a seven-year journey.
It would need serious networking with all the stakeholders. It is to be looked at as a movement rather than a series of mere activities. Starting with awareness to taking small steps, it would embrace the entire gamut of the present day living – mankind, earth-that-is-in-danger, climate, our role in climate change, nature, the type of living habits we cultivate and encourage, waste management, energy in all its forms, renewable and otherwise, conservation etc. “I want you to panic” (words of a 16 year old school-going girl, Greta Thunberg) “Our house is a fire. How dare you to steal our future with empty promises. No one is too small to make a difference. I want you to act now. …”
We would start the 7-year effort by drawing up achievable yearly programmes on a priority basis. All the members, (individually) took upon themselves to make a list of around 50 activities that could be undertaken, after careful scrutiny, checking the do-ability. The online meeting adjourned to meet again with the list of possible activites that could be carried out. (Reported by Fr. PX Andrew SDB)
