A
delegation of Pan-Amazonian Church Network, or REPAM led by Brazilian Cardinal
Claudio Hummes (Brazil) and Archbishop Barreto Jimeno of Huancayo, Peru and a
delegation of Indigenous leaders from Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil were
recently in Washington DC to share stories, opportunities and challenges facing the
people living in the Amazon forest. The
delegation provided testimony before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
and also presented to diverse public audiences around Washington DC, sharing
their encounter of discriminations and human rights abuses from some companies
operating in the Amazon forest and lack of respect for indigenous rights by
some national governments.
Speaking a public forum at Catholic University on March 23, Brazilian
Cardinal Claudio Hummes described the Amazon as the “lungs of the planet” and
interconnectedness of the environment, “water care for the forests, the forests
care for the water.” Pope Francis
encyclical Laudato Si’ has energized many
communities and given hope to leaders to speak about environmental justice in
the Amazon. Staff from the Oblate JPIC participated in meetings organized by
REPAM and indigenous leadership. The Oblate residence in DC offered hospitality
to REPLAM leadership.
Pictures courtesy: JCooke.
No comments:
Post a Comment