Geo-theology

October 27, 2015

T/Th - 3:30-5pm

Rev. Jay Choi

FINAL PAPER

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JENER E. JULAO
M. DIV - Senior

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Land

and Ecology: The Present

Ecological Crisis of the Land in our Times
Introduction
When we say ecology, it refers to the earthly habitation which human beings share with other
living beings and specifically to the mutual relations and their environment. When we also talk
about ecology, I used to closely relate it to the biblical text in Psalm 24:1-2 saying, the earth is
the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for God has founded it on the
seas, and established it on the rivers.
The present ecological problems are at hand caused by man-made destructions really brought
ecological injustice to our Earth. Despite warnings that mining and logging are hazardous to life
on Earth, these two extractive activities continue without much concern to its effect and are
becoming widespread because they provide economic benefits to growing economies. We know
that the mining industry is one of the biggest industries in the world to date. Mining is a vital
industry of the techno-industrial society. In every part of the world where there are minerals,
mining companies from different countries and many parts of Europe compete to exploit the
resources which they can gain profit from. However, through the coming of neo-liberalism has
made the industry more powerful and oppressive. Pope Francis stresses his strong comment
and says that economic powers continue to justify the current global system where priority

tends to be given to speculation and the pursuit of financial gain. As a result, whatever is
fragile, like the environment (land and others) is defenseless before the interests of the deified
market, which become the only rule. The mining industry has put tragedy to various corners of
the globe in just few decades. Consequently, this has leads to the destruction of the environment.
Life support system such as water-sources such as rivers, lakes, seas, forests and wildlife are
destroyed every day to serve the mining companies profit motive. Moreover, in the real scenario
local peoples means of livelihood are affected or got lost in the process. Farmers, fishermen,
and even indigenous/tribal people are being harassed, threaten, bribed with money and other
tactical incentives, displaced and inevitably, some people get killed if they militantly oppose
mining operation in their area. It seems that economic material benefits are more important than
the welfare of the planet that sustains life.
Global warming has manifested itself all over the world. The effects of climate change manifest
more severely not only in the environments degradation but to the whole ecosystems. Global
warming also affects energy, agriculture, health, water and marine resources. The typhoons, the
floods, the unpredictable weather patterns, the food shortages and poverty we are experiencing
are the inevitable effect. Scientists and experts from all over the world agree that emission of
fossil fuel, such as methane and carbon dioxide which end up in the earths atmosphere, is the
main culprit of global warming because it damages the ozone layer. Because of that our food
production decreases including marine life. We must take specific action to lessen if could not
totally eliminate our greenhouse gas emissions to avert further unwarranted environment
destruction. We could not deny the fact that the signs are clear and we must heed the call of
nature.

The harmful effects of climate change and the disasters it induces bear heavily on the most
vulnerable or marginalized segments of the Philippine population, especially the poor peasants.
For example, the floods in Leyte and other parts of the country was a clear manifestation of
devastating effect of climate change. The bill filed for a total logging ban on virgin forest has
not taken root (not seriously considered) and illegal loggers are truly responsible for the
catastrophe. Likewise, I remembered the tragedy in Ormoc where more than one thousand lives
were lost in floods and landslides due to wide illegal logging. Such tragedy is more enough for
us to learn a lesson which cannot be forgotten. Heavy rains and flooding has devastated area in
Mindanao, especially Zamboanga and the Visayan region particularly in Leyte, Tacloban and
Samar that hardly hit by typhoon Yolanda last November 2014. Mindanao has never been part
of the typhoon path in the past but nowadays, it is very observable that the region is frequently
affected by numerous typhoons.

As fellow Filipino, I truly felt sad with the death and

destruction of properties due to the illegal logging activity in our country. The failure of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a government office whom function is to
monitor and protect the countrys forest brought added misery to degradation of our natural
resources. The arguments and issues of selective and total logging ban are the same and the
players- the illegal loggers are the same but the victims are the people. I perceived corruption
and capitalism collaborate with each other which hinder for the strict implementation of law.
What we needed is a total commitment to correct and fully implement the law on logging to at
least if not totally eradicated the effects of flood that ruin lives and properties of the most
vulnerable community.
Tracing the culprit on the other side, let us analyze the real fact that under the WTO, IMF-WB,
the neo-colonized Philippines was again coerced to adjust its economic policies to adhere to
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neo-liberal policies. Through the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, the government has reaffirmed
the economic orientation views that the Philippines is a mere resource export base for extracted
raw minerals and clearly favors foreign mining interests which have control of both capital and
technology and almost ensures sell-out of the countrys sovereignty and patrimony. The policy
of the Aquino government on mining remains the same according to environmental-group
advocate. The mining liberalization continues to worsen the landlessness of poor and indigenous
peoples (IPs like Lumad in Mindanao) in the country.
Source from IBON Foundation, Inc. a non-profit research, education and informationdevelopment and advocacy support institution reveals that there are 15 biggest mining operations
both local and foreign companies (refer to attached picture/diagram) in Mindanao cover up to
131,775 hectares of land which are situated on or near Lumad communities and all recorded
present mining operations in Mindanao cover up to 948,209 hectares.
I used to cite the much-concerned position of the environmentalist group is totally against large
scale, open cast and mechanized mining operations which virtually destroy the lands, forests,
rivers, and oceans leading to habitat alteration, loss of rich biodiversity and irreversible impacts
on climate change. The weather and the times are changing. Global warming is real and must be
stopped at all possible solutions.
Our government has not taken full action, manifesting inadequate political will to protect our
people and environment. Concrete action needs to be taken now to abate the worse effects of
global warming and climate change which we started experiencing nowadays is in alarming
ways. As for the Philippines, the issue of climate change is an issue closely linked to social
justice and national development. The country needs to come up with a solution based on the
peoples welfare and interests. I used to quote what several ecological/environmental advocates
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said that to effectively confront climate change, the Philippine government needs to initiate a
radical shift in its overall framework to one that has a basic appreciation of the root of the current
crisis, that would identify who are responsible and thus must be held accountable and that deals
with climate change not simply as an environmental crisis.
Once an ecosystem is destroyed, it cannot be replaced. Id like to quote what Pope Francis
admonish us as wake-up call/reminder for the humanity, if we destroy creation, creation will
destroy us. We cannot eat the gold that is extracted nor drink the waste that it gives. In Ezekiel
34:18 warn us, It is not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the
rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clean water? Must you
muddy the rest with your feet? Also this passage only reminds us to eenjoy but not to destroy
nor abuse creations fruitfulness.
So with this, we reiterate our call on the government and leaders of the world to have the
political will to protect and conserve our environment and natural resources or we all face the
consequence of ecological disaster. But realistically ALL are responsible to do our part as
Gods steward of creation. According to Genesis 2:1-17, God gave us dominion over creation
(use and preserve) but what people did is exploitation (use and abuse). Let us remember that
Gods creation is made for benefit of his creatures.
Quoting as Christopher J. H. Wright (1947), an Anglican clergyman and an Old
Testament scholar says, in relation to Deuteronomy 28-30, The land itself will be both the
arena and agent of Gods blessing or curse. I used to believe there is such a law of nature
which physically governs the ecological balance. Certainly I am convince for what we do with
the land will also reap the consequence or effect on it.
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Cause and effect are always are inter-related. Why? At one level this is simply common sense
because bad cause would result bad effect. If we allow destroying our land, then it will also give
out an environmental crisis to the land.
We measure our stewardship by healthy ecosystems and sustainable, responsible consumption.
The Bible says that God expects, even demands, that we be stewards of His creation. God
created the different species of plants and animals, blessed them, protected them and made a
covenant with them. We are at the crossroads, able to choose to save or to destroy. It is our
choice. The Bible is clear that creation expresses Gods wisdom and power. Time is running out
and the Mother Earth is dying. We only have one Earth and the Earth has changed and we are to
blame for allowing it. Humankind has to act and save the Planet or we will lose everything. Let
us conserve the Earths natural capital. We must remember that we are all living citizens of the
Earth. As Pope Francis says, we have a moral obligation to future generation to address the
threats of climate change. We are her custodians and must nurture, protect, and preserve His
creation for everyone who are still living here and for the future generations to come. Lastly, I
agree with this premise that a healthy ecology is a good economy.
Conclusion
Greed, over-consumption, waste and pollution mean we are reaping what we have sown in terms
of ecological disaster. Yet, the consistent message of the Old Testament is that it is not only poor
stewardship, but also failure to keep Gods moral law that causes the land to suffer. To put it
simply, and in terms of the God-people-land triangle, sinning against the earth damages the land
directly, but sinning against God and neighbor also damages the land and our relationship to it, in
a less obvious but equally damaging way.
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Chris Wright, Living as the People of God, IVP, 1983, p.37-38

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https://www.google.com.ph/?
gfe_rd=cr&ei=dUTAVb3JMKzC8Afe_JKQCw&gws_rd=ssl#q=Theology+of+the+Land:
+Foundational+Principles (accessed July 25, 2015)