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Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning (CELL)
Last October 1,2016, our class of the advanced environmental education were given the privilege and chance to connect better and be one with our environment. We were able to go to CELL which is an NGO and Eco-Spirituality center located in Silang, Cavite with a total of 1.2 hectares. CELL stands for Center for Ecozoic Living and Learning which is a center that is founded on 1999 by three Columbian priests with a local resident of Silang to be a place for restoration of Earth.
The word Ecozoic in CELL is a word coined by Fr. Thomas Berry, a geologian and a cultural historian. “Eco” comes from the greek word oikos which means home. “Zo” comes from the word Zoo or Zoa which means life and “Ic” means era which is a period of time . This implies that CELL is a home that is full of life in a given period of time. CELL takes part in the vision of Ecozoic Living and Learning. In the Learning part, CELL tells its visitor the new story of creation to alert them on the currently occurring ecological crisis for them to be aware so that they would take part in making a difference in this world. In the Living part, CELL promotes the value of life or living in general. They taught us that all cultures on earth are rooted on the land and that all life forms have a place here on earth.
The CELL is divided into different zones that promotes its vision and mission of contributing something big for the environment that would soon lead to a place where everyone can live in harmony with the environment as well as the people and society they are part of. The center is divided into 6 different zones. First is Zone 0, which is a place where human activities occur, Zone 1 is a place for vegetable and Herbal garden, Zone 2 is a small animal farm, Zone 3 is where flowering and fruit bearing trees are found, Zone 4 is the Timberland and lastly is Zone 5 which is the wildlife and reserve pond zone. CELL promotes different advocacy that help sustain and continue life here on earth. To further support there advocacy the CELL develops certain activities such as Sustainable Human Settlement, Organic Farming, Preserving Biodiversity, Native Architecture, Renewable Energy and Zero Waste Management.
CELL addresses issues such as climate change by making projects in their area such as the Biodigester which recycles human waste to produce energy. They also promote organic farming and also zero waste management. This practice of CELL will certainly have a big impact towards lessening the impacts of climate change therefore we should follow these programs or implement new ones, even simple one such as Earth Hour or No Plastic. Through these simple acts we can already contribute in making our common home a better and safer place to live in.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COMMON HOME?
In today’s time and generation our environment is facing various environmental and socio-cultural issues such as pollution, climate change, loss of biodiversity, water crisis, throwaway culture and dividing of societies. Our Pope, Pope Francis encourages us in his Laudato Si that we should be united in making an action to show our concern for our Mother Earth by thinking of solutions to the different issues we are facing such as global degradation, global warming, and throwaway culture. He encourages us to be one in finding a way to solve these various issues by promoting and implementing programs that would encourage other people to strive as well.
Environmental Issues continue to surround us as time passes by because of our irresponsible and immature ways. Our common home continues to experience climate change because we are becoming reliant on our environment for all of our needs. There is a rapid increase of consumption and production of humans that has led to the abundant increase of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere which in turn causes global warming. Global warming affects the different aspects of our society such as the economic, social and most importantly environmental. Because of the continuous increase in temperature this resulted to the melting of ice caps, the rise of sea level, increase in extreme weather conditions and many more. Because of this people suffer in times of calamities such as typhoons and hurricanes. All causes of climate change are linked to one form of our culture and that is the throwaway culture wherein unwanted items are discarded as waste. Throwaway culture is because we are not aware of how to adopt a model of production that is capable of preserving resources for present and future generations.
Due to the various issues we continue to encounter we are now called to recognize the value of our environment and all things connected to it, even us human beings. As stewards of God’s creation, these issues we are facing are calling us to intervene and do something about it; to find a solution. As what the seven principles of ecology say, Everything on earth is interconnected. Therefore if one factor of the earth disappears permanently, the rest are at risk at extinction too. We are entitled to live a full and dignifies life and we can only achieve this if we can make our home safe and secure. We are now called to be instruments of God in taking care of our Earth because He is the one who gave us this place to live and nurture. It is because of our selfish acts that the Earth is destroyed. Because of lack of discipline and leadership we fail to accomplish our responsibilities which also add up to the deformation of our Mother Earth. We need to learn to work together because it is never too late to make things right for our common home and for us as well.
