Youth of Ecological Justice in Baram

Apr 09, 2015

BARAM (Herald Malaysia): The Catholic student movement School of Acting Justly, Loving Tenderly and Treading Humbly with God (Mica 6:8) or SALT organized a joint programme with the cooperation of the indigenous community and a non-government organization Save Sarawak River Network (SAVE RIVER) from 23 January – 7 February 2015.

With the theme Youth of Ecological Justice in Baram: Solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples as stewards of Creation, the programme was aimed to train students to become leaders who are sensitive to environmental issues and social justice based on the social teachings of the Catholic Church.

The main camp was based at Tanjung Tepalit Lepo’Gah. There were 21 students and youths from the Catholic Student Society (CSS) BASIC Melaka, CSS GIFT Johor, Catholic Varsity Student (CVS) Shah Alam, Archdiocese Single Adult and Youth Office (ASAYO), Borneo Care, PR Mamakat Kampung Rantai Bundu, Taskforce Against Kaiduan Dam and Menuntut NCR Luba-Surun.

During the two-week programme, the participants were given the opportunity to live with the indigenous people to experience their life style and their struggle against the construction of the Baram dam.

The dam is designed to generate 1200 megawatts of electricity that, when built, will destroy the ancestral lands belonging to the indigenous tribes of the Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Penan and Ibans as well as displacing 20,000 people from 26 kampungs.

The participants were exposed to the skills to make a critical analysis of the political, economic and social issues of the indigenous people based on the social teachings of the Catholic Church given by Dr John Phua, a lecturer with the University Malaya Sarawak (UNIMAS).

In addition, the theological reflection also concerned the environment which is connected to the experiences of the indigenous people and made the participants realize the importance of human beings to be more understanding of the environment as God’s creation which is increasingly threatened by more development.

To further complete their experience, the participants were continuously exposed to other skills to enhance their abilities and confidence when dealing with societal issues based on human rights and the social doctrine of the Catholic Church by Mark Bujang, Director of the Institute of Borneo Resources.

This experience was also a way to learn more about the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church, which is often emphasized by the Church as “one of the biggest secrets of the Catholic Church.” In the Book of Genesis, 1:1-31, God created all life on earth by giving a soul and spirit to all living things. God has entrusted this earth to man to look after and not to become the owner. Thus, humans have violated the trust given to them by God in the building of the Baram dam that will destroy part of His creation in Baram, Sarawak.

One of the results of this programme was the participants sharing their personal experiences with the residents of Tanjung Tepalit on how God speaks through other humans, especially on the environment. After considering all the factors, SALT, together with the villagers, took a consensus to oppose the building of the dam by Sarawak Energy Sdn Bhd (SEB) as the project not only destroys people’s lives but also the national treasure given by God.

At the end of the programme, the participants had the opportunity to mingle with the villagers and watch cultural performances by the Kenyah tribe that had been handed down through the generations.

SALT would like to suggest that more students and youth experience for themselves the lives of the minorities, to be more open to social issues because the voice of the youth is needed to fight for the rights of minorities in line with the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church.

Also attending this programme was the Deputy Vice President of Pax Romana Asia, and Advisor to SALT, Mr Adrian Pereira, as well as SALT Advisor, Anne Beatrice Jacob. -- Viannie Amin