On World Environment Day, girls and women from Aashray Abhiyan – a program for the marginalized of this Indian state – paraded dressed in green through Patna and other cities to raise awareness about caring for our common home. The sister Dorothy Fernandes: “A different world is not only possible, but also necessary”.
Patna () – Girls and women from the poorest neighborhoods have gathered on the streets of the city to raise awareness of the urgency of protecting creation, our common home, for future generations. It is the gesture in the spirit of Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Laudato Sì’ that on June 5, coinciding with World Environment Day, he promoted the Aashray Abhiyan, a program for homeless and marginalized people that assists more than 6,000 families from Patna and other parts of Bihar.
The sister Dorothy Fernandes, religious of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, director and founder of the Aashray Abhiyan, told : “Dressed in green sarees, salwars and shirts, we made an impact down the street, people looked at us and wondered what was going on. Girls and women walked around excitedly shouting slogans to raise people’s awareness. With banners and branches green in the hands, invited to plant trees and save water, using it responsibly, since the water level in Bihar is falling”.
“It was encouraging to see young people walking the streets and energetically conveying their message,” the sister continued. Fernandes. “Some passers-by stopped to try to understand why they were demonstrating. Climate change is a concept we have heard about over the years, but never thought we would get to experience it. The mercury rises and nature gives us an alarm signal: it is now or never. Both this awareness and the encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ pushed us to act.”
“We have launched the Earth Clubs in different settlements,” added the nun, “to bring together young people and reflect with them on the world they imagine, on what we must preserve. I have been surprised by their knowledge and awareness. Young people need to act, so we thought of organizing this activity on World Environment Day. The Earth is being plundered because of greed and insensitivity towards future generations. Consumer models must change. A different world is not only possible, but also necessary; we must all work to stop this madness fueled by an unlimited thirst for profit. The Earth screams and demands that we protect it from our greed.”
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