Renewing our commitment for the environment

Jul 07, 2023

By Marilyn Menezes Simon
To thank God for the gift of our planet Earth and to mark the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, the Creation Justice Ministry (CJM) of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur organised a series of activities in the month of June.

On June 3, 90 enthusiasts gathered for a forest walk at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and to experience the Canopy Skywalk at the Kepong Botanical Gardens. Witnessing different flora, insects, ant hills, colourful mushrooms, lily pads, herbs, etc., was a fun and exciting way to think about how we are a part of nature and how intimately we all depend on it. Viewing ‘The Crown Shyness/ Canopy Shyness’, where the crowns of Dyrobalanops aromatica (Camphor Tree) do not touch each other to aid the growth of all the trees, was a special moment for all.

A beach cleaning session was organised at Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat, on June 10. The dark skies did not deter the 90 environmentalists from different faiths, determined to do their bit for the environment. The group collected bits of plastic, cloth, car tyres, tins etc., before freshening up and bonding over lunch.

An awareness visit to the Kloth Cares factory, Port Klang, was arranged on June 17, to learn how fabrics are kept out of landfills by responsible disposal and recycling of clothes. Kloth Cares has around 350 to 400 fabric bins in the country. Do look out for the one at your parish or in your surroundings.

On June 24, Solemnity of St John the Baptist, a Eucharistic celebration was held at the Church of the Holy Family, Kajang, concelebrated by Frs Andrew Manickam OFM Cap, and Fr Bonaventure Rayappan.

Fr Andrew, during his homily, mentioned that the birth of the saint was ‘no ordinary birth’. Everything was done according to God’s plan and He kept His promise of mercy to Sts. Elizabeth and Zachariah. The responsorial psalm for the day “I thank you for the wonder of my being,” was uplifting.

While the congregation sang ‘Be Praised Most High Almighty God’, gifts from nature were offered as our commitment to adopting green practices, knowing that everything in nature is interconnected and we are responsible for our actions.

World Environment Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1973 and celebrated on June 5, had the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ this year. It is a reminder that our actions regarding the usage of plastic matter. Parishioners were encouraged to bring in their recyclable plastic during this month.