Blogs
Maria Andrea Isabel A. Alarcon
11-STEM B
Advanced Environmental Education ’16-‘17
Starting now will create a big difference in our common home.
If we start today, the future generations will be inspired by our simple acts that created the big change.
Let us start now our journey and be the legacy that everyone wants to be.
“Humans are the stewards of creation.” –this is the 7th ecological principle that reminds us that we have the responsibility in taking good care of God’s creation. But what is happening right now? We tend to be so selfish that we always think about our needs and wants. We stopped caring for our creation because we only care for ourselves. We became so ignorant that we know what is happening but we choose to not care. What should we do now? How will we help our sick common home gain her strength back? Can’t we start now?
Last October 1, 2016, we, the Advanced Environmental Education Class together with the Science Area of Grade School, Junior and Senior High School, went to CELL, also known as the Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning. This activity served as the field trip or outbound of the Advanced Environmental Education Class. CELL was founded on January, 1999 by the Columbian Missionary Society which in their 1988 General Assembly reflected on their experience of solidarity of the poor. And with that we already found a connection between our school and the organization. The vision of the organization is to have “A world where humans live in harmony with the rest of Creation through living in harmony with one another in a just society.” This means that they envision the world to be living in peace and harmony with the creation. While their mission is “To contribute to the Great Work, whereby humans learn to move from a stance of destroyer of the Earth Community to a stance that is mutually enhancing.” This means that humans must contribute to the world wherein we stop being the destroyer of the Earth and start enhancing each living and non-living things. With the goal of the organization that is to be able to inspire and let the human beings going there envision the crisis that is happening right now and let them be aware of the present problems that our Earth encounters, it is like our class’ goal. There is a special connection between St. Theresa’s College, Q.C and Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning which is to be able to help and to engage in saving our Mother Earth.
During our stay in the Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning, we had a group discussion with our classmates and the questions are the following:
- Who are we as the new generation?
- Where are we now?
- What has to change in our generation?
- What do we do now to create a just and sustainable future?
My group answered the first question with the word ignorant and selfish. We are the generation of ignorant and selfish people because we tend to think of ourselves and forget the importance of each living and non-living thing. Our generation are in the world of self-righteous and dependent people because we are really dependent with our Mother Earth. Third, we should change our ways not just being aware but we really need to work. Not only by words but with actions. Lastly, we can be a group of youth striving for the betterment of the environment by creating small deeds and concrete actions like planting trees, saving papers, and saving animals. There are still many ideas on how we can save our Earth. And this is only a few of them.
St. Theresa’s College, Q.C have different projects towards Mother Earth. First is the SINOP program wherein we recycle papers, pet bottles, etc. Another is the ClayGo (Clean as you go), wherein we are responsible in cleaning our tables after eating recess or lunch. These small practices may enhance our attitudes and skills in taking good care of our creation. Another project of our school specifically in Grade 11 in the Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering Strand is the Rain Water Catcher System wherein the system will catch rain water in order to recycle and use it for cleaning the walls, school grounds, and watering the plants instead of using tap water or fresh water. This kind of project will surely enhance our awareness regarding the water crisis here in the Philippines. With all these practices and projects we have, I can say that our school is very much aware and willing to take part in saving our common home –Mother Earth.
To conclude everything, Mother Earth is our common home. We should start now in saving her. Start now and stop being so selfish and ignorant. Let us be more helpful in saving our environment not just in our country but worldwide. With all these, we can be the Youth with a Green Heart, Youth with Love for the Environment, and Youth with Care for the Environment. Lastly, the organization has a quote that really struck me the most –“What comes from the Earth, shall return to the Earth.”
