Laudato Si’, the Encyclical released on June 18^th by Pope Francis, has brought the issue of accelerating climate change back to the front burner of religious, business, and political discussion. And he made it quite clear he doesn’t want bitumen fueling the burner.

Naturally, the encyclical was immediately praised by environmental groups, alternative energy entrepreneurs, and green politicians. And as equally predictable, it was denied by Big Oil, Big Coal, Big Business, Conservatives and Republicans. Jeb Bush, U.S. presidential candidate and a Catholic, quipped about Francis’s encyclical, “I don’t get economic policy from my bishops or my cardinals or my pope.” No, Jeb, but I have a good idea from where you do get your economic policies. And it’s a lot warmer than Florida.

The entire encyclical is available online. To read it is almost like having a conversation with the Pope. And it is a direct and honest conversation. He wastes no time acknowledging humanity’s fingerprints on the acceleration of climate change and the desecration of Our Common Home, the Earth. His main focus is on the ecological crisis, but he spends equal time on social justice issues, recognizing that the poor in both developed and developing countries will pay the greatest price for our consumptive sins.

Most notably, he makes it absolutely clear that the biblical line giving humans dominion over Earth, does not mean we can greedily consume it into extinction. It means we have to live wisely and well for the common good of all creatures, and for the well being of generations to come.

He also holds to account all government leaders who have talked big on the global stage and have done little of significance in policy and practice. He bravely exposed the myth that trading carbon credits, or carbon cap-and-trade deals are solutions to reducing our dependence on fossil fuel extraction and use. All the Canadian political leaders might want to re-examine their policies on that one.

For me, the key point of the encyclical was to make clear that our current Conservative Reform Alliance Party government, and the Canadians who voted for them, could be going straight to Hell if we don’t immediately get back to science-based decision making and come up with some actual policies to deal with and mitigate the impacts of accelerating climate change.

Laudato Si’, Francis!

*****

Skid Crease, Caledon

Yes, Canada, what we sow, so shall we reap – but not until 2080 when our current Prime Minister’s grandaughter will have to deal with the mess.

Except for election marketing, the latest federal budget completely missed the reality of 2015, including global climate change and the rapidly increasing gap between the few rich and the very many not rich. The former mis-manager of the Natural Resources portfolio, Joe Oliver again put foot in mouth when he revealed the long term impacts of “Our Government’s™” latest budget.

Yes, income splitting and pumped up TFSAs will only benefit the top 10% of income earners and seniors in Canada, and it will deplete billions of dollars from federal coffers for future programs, but, what the heck, the grandkids can clean it up.

With not a single mention of climate change initiatives, be that alternative energy research and development investment, or a carbon-pricing policy, or funding for mechanisms to meet our broken-promise reduction targets, the budget was a clear indication of Conservative Reform Alliance Party pre-election values. As one commentator put it the day after the budget was tabled:

“Let’s face it, if you believe in social justice, First Nations equity, women’s and children’s issues, advancement for the 90%, and meaningful environmental policies, you probably weren’t going to vote Conservative anyway.” The 90% reference covered everyone from the poverty line to the upper middle class, most of whom are all working either coupon to coupon or paycheck to paycheck. Of the upper class, it is really the .01% who control just about everything in Canada.

As the Harper’s Magazine April 2015 stated in their Harper’s Index, by the end of 2016, the richest 1% of the population will control 50% of the world’s wealth, and I may add, the world’s politicians. If you are not filthy wealthy or from a major fund-raising cultural block, you are of no value to “Our Government™” so don’t expect the future budgets to change much.

Nice work Joe. I hope those Made-in-China/Vietman/U.S.A. New Balance budget running shoes carry you far and wide. Who knows, with acumen like that you may even pick up a job with Barrick Gold.

*****

Skid Crease, Caledon