![Climate, technology and people. An interview with EcoOne.]()
13 Dec 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
A two week-long United Nations conference on climate change. What is your assesment? 
A modest last minute compromise was reached in Durban. The conference lasted a day longer than was foreseen and didn’t produce a new binding agreement, but postponed its drafting to 2015 and its enforcement to 2020. This confirms the general tendency of recent international negotiations on climate change: deadlock. We are witnessing on a global scale, a typical scene of sibling fighting. Everyone is waiting for the other sibling to take the first step to resolve their differences. The Kyoto protocol for reducing greenhouse gases that was extended until 2015, is insufficient because of its limited objectives and because highly-polluting countries do not adhere to it. Some of the big “historic” polluters would like the so-called emerging countries to be the ones to reduce emissions. 
Neverthelss I remain optimistic. I believe that humankind will find a solution. Some countries have already understood the strategic importance of renewable energies. The European Union fits into this context with its ‘20 20 20’ (reduction of greenhouse gas by 20%; reduction in energy consumption by 20% through the use of renewable energy.) Isn’t there a risk of these decisions being to the disadvantage of emerging countries? The risk is there. In fact, some rightly oppose the reduction of greenhouse gases while remaining to stand on the side of emerging countries where a large portion of the population is still without water and electricity. It would involve supporting renewable clean energy. It makes you wonder why the rich countries do not surrender their patents. Why do they export polluting industries? Among those who hold this position there is also the Catholic Church. In Durban there were representatives of a 190 countries who seek large accords among States. But on the micro level, can’t something also be done? Yes, of course. Personal involvement, consumer and voting choice and simpler lifestyle are all important actions that can be taken. Moreover, EcoOne is trying to also develop a debate on the level of the relationship between human beings and nature. . . Could you explain that a bit more? What are EcoOne’s proposals for a more sustainable life? EcoOne’s proposal stems from the thought of Chiara Lubich. What has Chiara taught us? Not so much the latest techniques for saving energy, but an outlook toward nature that is new. She made us gather the presence of God beneath things. She made us understand universal brotherhood, which means brotherhood with other peoples within our generation and among generations as a response to questions such as: ‘What kind of planet will we leave to our children? What kind of air will they breathe?’ By reflecting on a man-nature relationship in this renewed way, we find a possibility for overcoming an excessive anthropocentrism; that is, of considering man as absolute dominator and destroyer of nature in order to make money, of no longer thinking of nature as the center, up to the point that human beings become a “disturbance” in the cosmos. We believe that the answer lies rather in the gift of ourselves, in the human person as a gift along with our fellow men and women and with nature, of which we are not the masters but the custodians, the administrators, because God has entrusted it to us. Luca Fiorani, researcher at the ENEA and professor of Ecology and Environment at LUMSA, is the international coordinator of EcoOne, a cultural project promoted by teachers, researchers and professionals working in the field of Environmental Science, who are united by the desire to enrich their scientific knowledge with a humanistic and sapiential understanding of environmental problems. In 2010, together with Antonello Pasini, he published for Città Nuova, Il pianeta che scotta, capire il dibattito sui camgiamenti climatici (The hot planet, understanding the climate change debate.)
![Climate, technology and people. An interview with EcoOne.]()
12 Dec 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Lonavla is famous for its pleasant climate on the Deccan Plateau, two hours from Mumbai. Sixty scholars have gathered there for the Fourth Christian-Hindu Symposium, which was first held in 2002 at Castelgandolfo, Italy a year after the visit of Chiara Lubich to India where she encountered members of the Ghandian academic community of this Asian nation. It was an absolute first. The Focolare Movement, already active in the field of interreligious dialogue for ten years, had never had the opportunity of addressing academic and theological topics among followers of different religions and traditions. Since 2002 academic projects with Buddhists, Jews and Muslims have taken place in Rome, Italy and other parts of the world. The discovery and growing appreciation for the value of dialogue in the academic field between followers of different faiths, although it should never become the main or exclusive priority, has become increasingly important for a true knowledge of the spirituality, rituals and ethics of the other. The title of the event offers a vital insight into what will be explored intellectually. Among the Christians – in addition to representatives from the Focolare Movement in India – there will also be members of the Focolare’s Abba School (a Focolare center for studies) and from the Focolare’s Center for Interreligious Dialogue. On the Hindu side, the attendees will include Gandhians who are involved in social and practical issues, as well as university professors who are affiliated with various prestigious universities.
![Climate, technology and people. An interview with EcoOne.]()
11 Dec 2011 | Non categorizzato
It all began at Christmas 1985 when Chiara Lubich was passing through the downtown area of a big city. She was baffled and shocked by the illuminated windows, “filled with dwarfs, fairies, and Father Christmases.” But where was Jesus? The one we are meant to celebrate at Christmas was totally absent, eclipsed by the thousands of colorful lights, sleds and expensive Christmas gifts that filled decorated store windows. This is where the writing “They have dislodged Jesus!” came from: “My heart was overcome with disbelief, then rebellion: This rich world has appropriated Christmas and all that goes with it, and it has dislodged Jesus!” The Gen4 boys and girls – children of the Focolare Movement – were among the first to respond to Chiara’s appeal to bring Jesus into the world. Each year in hundreds of cities across the world, Gen4 involve friends in making small statues of the Baby Jesus, which they give away everywhere. In squares, schools, and markets – they try to find a home for Him and to warm the hearts of many on the day when He came among us. There would be many stories to tell. . . In Cordoba, Argentina, the father of one Gen4, who belongs to the Charismatic Renewal, was so touched by Chiara’s writing, “They’ve dislodged Jesus” that he said: “This was a great inspiration that this woman had, and we should not let this opportunity to give Jesus escape us. This is what today’s society needs.” He immediately set out to work in his parish, getting the NavidadSolidaria group and other people involved in the project. And so, several people from the Charismatic Renewal made 150 statues of the Baby Jesus. The Scouts made 300; the Catholic school made 300; and the Gen 4 boys and girls made 450. The total came to 1200 Baby Jesus to be given away. In Scafati, near Naples, Italy, the Gen4 wrote a letter to the Mayor, requesting permission to hand them out in front of City Hall. The Mayor met with the Gen4, listened to them and happily gave his permission, offering a donation for the first little statue himself. Many people are deeply touched by the love of the children. The Gen4 in one Tuscan region go street-by-street, door-to-door, offering Baby Jesus to families. One rather serious-looking man opened his door and when he heard the children telling him that they were Gen4 and that they were there to offer the Baby Jesus to him, he responded dryly: “Not interested, I’m an atheist!” Little Lorenzo asked him, “What does atheist mean?” And the man asked back: “And what does Gen4 mean?” “The Gen4 are people who do acts of love,” Lorenzo explained. The man was moved: “I don’t believe the same things that you do, but I also want to do an act of love!” And he quickly accepted a statue of Baby Jesus. Many people who receive a little statue of the Holy Child offer a donation to help support the Gen4 project. This year all the funds that are collected will be sent to Africa. As the poster prepared by the Gen4 states: “We Gen4 want to bring happiness into the world.” and “Jesus, living in the poor, You won’t have to suffer any longer, not as long as we are here!” Enjoy the video and have a Happy Christmas!
![Climate, technology and people. An interview with EcoOne.]()
8 Dec 2011 | Non categorizzato
“The notice gives me joy and I feel honoured by the trust shown by the Pope and the Pontifical Council. This nomination commits me to ensure that my life and that of all those linked to me in the Focolare Movement is evangelised and therefore evangelising. I am aware that many will never have the opportunity to read the Gospel if not through our life.” This is what Maria Voce declared on the announcement of her nomination, which arrived on the 7th December, anniversary of the date that historically indicates the birth of the Focolare Movement in 1943. The purpose of the council is to “promote a renewed evangelisation in the countries where the first announcement of the faith has already been heard, and there are present churches of ancient foundation, but they are living in progressive secularisation of their society and a sort of “eclipse of the sense of God”, that constitute a challenge to find adequate means to reannounce the everlasting truth of the Gospel of Christ.”
