杏MAP导航 Francis: Oceans are God鈥檚 gift for all generations
By Devin Watkins
Panama recently hosted the 8th Our Ocean Conference under the theme 鈥淥ur Ocean, Our Connection鈥� to highlight the importance of knowledge as 鈥渢he basis of our actions and policies to ensure the protection of our ocean鈥�.
The event took place separately but at the same time as national governments held UN-sponsored, breakthrough talks in New York in which they agreed to a new 鈥淗igh Seas Treaty鈥� to codify conservation efforts of ocean areas beyond national jurisdictions.
杏MAP导航 Francis sent a message to participants in the Our Ocean Conference held in Panama, on 2-3 March, which was released on Monday and signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
Gift from the Creator for all humanity
In his message, the 杏MAP导航 highlighted the importance of 鈥渉umility, gratitude, and awe鈥� as we say 鈥淥ur鈥� ocean.
He noted that all people depend on the oceans and are rightly considered the 鈥渃ommon heritage鈥� of humanity.
The oceans, he added, were given to us 鈥渁s a gift from the Creator鈥�, and we must therefore work to use them fairly and sustainably in order to pass them on to future generations.
Tied together by a common ocean
杏MAP导航 Francis urged the politicians and business leaders at the conference to embrace an 鈥渋ntegral vision of ecology鈥� in line with his encyclical Laudato si鈥�.
He noted that the oceans face a host of threats, including pollution, acidification, and illegal fishing, as well as the nascent extractive industry on the seabed.
The 杏MAP导航 also tied in the many migrant tragedies that occur on the high seas and the harsh treatment of seafarers.
In response, he called on governments to recognize the 鈥渋nterconnectedness and interdependence between communities and countries鈥� which the oceans embody.
Three directions toward hope
The 杏MAP导航 went on to offer three directions to improve humanity鈥檚 relationship with the oceans.
First, he said, we need to listen to the cry of the poor and of the Earth, and therefore 鈥渦rgently review growth strategies based on waste and unsustainable models of consumption.鈥�
Second, humanity needs to unite 鈥渢o protect and restore marine, coastal, and river ecosystems鈥�.
Finally, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, governments need to create effective 鈥済overnance systems鈥� to regulate and coordinate activity on the oceans.
鈥淏y working in these directions,鈥� he concluded, 鈥渢here will always be hope.鈥�
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