Published in the July 22 – Aug. 4, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mario Banuelos
Mario Banuelos
Pope Francis released June 18 an encyclical letter addressing the “human roots” of a global ecological crisis that has serious consequences for all inhabitants of our “common home,” the planet Earth. The six chapter document draws on history and theology to examine the political, economic and scientific forces that have contributed to our world crisis.
A papal encyclical letter articulates and takes a position on Catholic doctrine or significant issues worldwide. On the topic of climate change, the pope is “preaching to the choir” to one particular group in the U.S., mainly Hispanics.
A study conducted earlier this year by the New York Times, Stanford University and Resources for the Future shows that Hispanics are more concerned about global warming than their white counterparts. The nationwide poll revealed that among Hispanics, 54 percent considered global warming as extremely important compared to 37 percent of whites.
In the same study, 63 percent of Hispanics thought the U.S. government should do more to address global warming, compared to 49 percent of whites. When asked if “the United States government should or should not give money to poor countries to help them reduce the damage that global warming might cause,” two-thirds of Hispanics said the United States government should give money, in contrast to two-thirds of whites who said they should not.
The disparity between the groups might be attributed to the understanding between developed and underdeveloped worlds or countries. In the letter, the pope places the responsibility on the developed world: “Many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms, simply making efforts to reduce some of the negative impacts of climate change.”
As a society, we do a good job of isolating ourselves from the environment, thereby minimizing the visual impact our consumption of resources has. For many Americans who lack a basic foundation of scientific knowledge, climate change can be an abstract idea that can be easily debated if you’re isolated regardless of what the scientific community asserts.
A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine from the North Bay area told me that the drought in California was overly exaggerated. “We’re not in a drought,” he said, “There’s plenty of water.” I won’t call him a drought or climate change denier, but I could easily understand that his point of view was based on his immediate surroundings. He’s fortunate to live in a region with an infrastructure of dams and irrigation systems that provide water even in lean years, including lush green golf courses. The drought and the overconsumption of water can be ignored if one is isolated from the direct impact.
In underdeveloped or poor countries, climate change is not an opinion that is debated. It’s a reality that is readily visible. Without irrigation, when the seasonal rains don’t arrive on time, harvests are lost; agriculture is directly dependent on climate and water. When one is not isolated from the environment but completely dependent on it, one sees the impact of changes, such as global warming. The increasing unpredictability of weather patterns in different parts of the world directly affect those in underdeveloped countries.
A follow-up survey conducted by Stanford University revealed: “the heightened level of concern and support for action among Hispanics was caused in part by their heightened level of perceived personal vulnerability to global warming.” Interestingly, Hispanics and whites are both vulnerable to the effects of global warming. The survey simply reveals that one group does not feel as close a connection to the threat as another group. Regardless of whether one resides in a developed or underdeveloped country, the impact of global warming is very real.
The final chapter of Pope Francis’s encyclical letter reminds us that, “many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. We lack an awareness of our common origin, of our mutual belonging, and of a future to be shared with everyone.” I anticipate that the papal message on the care of our “Common Home” will start a conversation on the challenges we face and the steps we must take for a healthier, prosperous and sustainable future.
Mario Banuelos is a resident of Morgan Hill. He wrote this for Morgan Hill Life.
