The Green Gospel: How Francis has Shaped a More Sustainable World

By: Jack Van Moorleghem

Over two weeks ago, headlines reported that Pope Francis was hospitalized and had been diagnosed with double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, sparking ongoing speculation about what the Pope’s future would hold if his health deteriorated any further. Yet before these health concerns arose, the 88-year-old Pontiff remained as outspoken as ever, issuing an open letter criticizing the Trump Administration’s mass deportation plans and urging U.S. bishops to continue advocating for the dignity of all human life, including migrants. This moment is just one example of Francis’ unwavering commitment to justice. Throughout his pontificate, he has become one of the most vocal critics of global injustice, using his platform to challenge oppression, economic disparity, and social exclusion. Among the issues closest to his heart is care for the environment—an issue he has championed with both urgency and moral clarity. His work deserves sincere praise and recognition and to showcase his dedication to this issue I have compiled the foundational principles which the Pontiff outlined in his 2015 Laudato Si’ encyclical.

1. Climate change is in fact real and worsening. Francis claimed that if we fail to recognize this crisis, then ecosystems will be destroyed and humans will have to pay the price. 

2. Human activities play a large role in climate change. Francis argues that humans have made themselves absolute rulers over the earth and in doing so have exploited its natural resources and left it wounded.

3. The poor and marginalized are most affected by environmental degradation and climate change. Francis points out that impoverished people live in areas where impacts of global warming may be severe. Additionally he says that many of the poor rely on jobs related to natural resources such as agriculture, fishing, and forestry. All are at risk due to climate change. 

4. There is hope for change and renewal. Francis understands that some may feel overwhelmed or hopeless, but he comforts those who find themselves in this spot. He claims that “humans have a capability of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start.”

5. Individuals can make a difference, but political reform is crucial in safeguarding our world. Francis believes that the individual has a great power in combating climate change, however large amounts of progress require systemic political reform. Power structures must be changed to save the environment from further damage. 

Pope Francis in these five points and beyond has consistently advocated for the protection of Mother Earth, urging all people of goodwill to take meaningful steps to preserve it in its entirety. Let us unite in prayer for the Pope, keeping him in our thoughts as he courageously leads the Church and the greater world towards a deeper understanding of how to care for our common home. May his example also motivate us to take action ourselves and to be inspired by the “Green Gospel”.

Sources: Time

Salted Earth

As of the writing of this article, there are two particular conflicts that are at the forefront of the media cycle. For the sake of convenience, I will be focusing on the War in Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

In the Book of Judges, the king of Israel, Abimelech, razed the revolting city of Shechem and then salted the earth in order to ensure that the land would never be inhabited again. The spreading of salt prevents new crops from growing and essentially makes the land barren for generations, undoing the work of entire civilizations in just one action.  The salting of crops as a tactic of war may have been left in biblical times, but the total and utter destruction of the environment in the name of warfare has never been more prevalent. 

France is still scarred with the trenches from the Great War; Cambodia is dotted with around six million landmines that have caused over 65,000 casualties since the end of the war; and Vietnamese children are still being born with life altering defects due to Agent Orange. These are all harrowing reminders of the permanence of war on the environment as well as the lives of survivors. In fact, entire industries have been created with a single purpose, scorched earth. Bayer made chlorine gas in World War One, Monsanto made Agent Orange for the Vietnam War, and household names like Boeing and Raytheon have made systems for the deployment of nuclear weapons. Humans have not stopped the obliteration of the environment as we wage endless wars, we have just gotten better at it. 

Currently in Ukraine, over 30% of protected land has been “bombed, polluted, burned or hit by military maneuvers” according to Fred Pearce, a researcher at Yale University. Ukraine is known as the “breadbasket of the world” and is made up of around 70% agricultural land. This is what makes the $56.4 billion dollar price tag for the environmental damage, particularly devastating. The destruction of agriculture has deeply shaken supply chains that provide aid for nations like Sudan and Somalia where famine is often held at bay by U.N and foreign supplies. Over 29% of Ukraine has been contaminated with unexploded shells and landmines, something that will cost around $37 billion to clean up.   Furthermore, Russia has ferociously targeted Ukrainian power infrastructure like nuclear plants, coal mines and dams. On June 6th, 2023, the Russian occupied Nova Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine exploded, flooding over 245,000 acres of land and displacing around 4000 people. This caused hundreds of thousands of people to lose access to clean drinking water and has sent over 150 tonnes of waste into the Black Sea. The war has also caused several severe fires, many of which were in protected forests and grasslands. 

So while the War in Ukraine is destroying important agriculture and spewing waste into the sea, the bombardment of urban areas in Gaza has caused its own set of environmental hardships. Gaza is often thought of as a purely urban area of land, however, Northern Gaza is around 60% agricultural land, much of which has been eliminated by Israeli bombardment. Even before October 6th, Gaza was a barter economy that was highly reliant on foreign aid for food supplies. Any self sufficiency surrounding food production that the Strip had before the War has gone up in flames. Along with food production, Gazans only have access to 2-8 liters of water per day, a far cry from the 20 liter minimum for essential health and hygiene. This is because over 60,000 cubic meters of wastewater and sewage have been pouring into rivers and aqueducts that provided already scarce drinking water. Israeli forces are suspected of deliberately targeting waste treatment plants as a way to sicken the Palestinians through bacterial infection and the ingestion of heavy metals. Five of Gaza’s six waste processing facilities have been shut down, forcing citizens to burn their waste in open air pits. This poses a threat, not just to those who are forced to live around their own waste, but to the entire nation's water supply as the ground in Gaza is very porous, and therefore susceptible to the contamination of groundwater. There are also over fifteen million tonnes of debris in Gaza City alone, that is the equivalent of fourteen 9/11s in a space that is 5 square miles smaller than Manhattan. So while Trump is talking about rebuilding Gaza into a luxury resort, people are drinking water contaminated with human waste while trying to avoid starvation and missiles while hiding under rubble.

The salting of the earth after war is antiquated. It is so simple and effective, yet so brutal and devastating. But humanity has not moved on from this practice. We do not sow our enemies' fields with salt like the nations of old, we flood their fields with chemical waste and poison their water with lead and mercury. We do not prevent the growth of crops, we prevent children from being born without deformity. We drop herbicides from planes and plant landmines in gardens. Today, Abimelech would be praised for his tactical genius instead of hated for his cruelty.

~ Benjamin Whealy

Green Amendment Rally News

Last Wednesday, people (many young) from around Nebraska and other parts of the country gathered in Lincoln to discuss The Green Amendment. If this amendment is successful, the Nebraska State Constitution would be amended with the following words.

In essence, this amendment guarantees a Nebraskan’s right to clean air, healthy soil and safe drinking water—generally protecting Nebraskans from the detriments of climate change.

It’s safe to say that the opposing arguments were weak at best. Arguments cast in dissension of the amendment on Wednesday were cast by one man, Omaha attorney David Begley. His argument stemmed from the idea that this amendment would cost the State of Nebraska billions in legal lawsuits. Governor Jim Pillen also contended that this amendment could destroy property rights, such as by forcing a farmer to plant certain crops or a citizen to grow certain grasses in their lawn.

Although no action was taken on the bill on Wednesday, the most significant impact was the support funneled around the bill—especially among the younger population. Local leaders include Evalina Sain representing Students for Sustainability and Mia Perales of UNL.

In person, 18 testimonies were cast in favor of the bill and 1 were cast against. In total (including online), 151 testimonies were cast in favor and only 10 against.

This bill represents a change—a change to how Nebraska’s government operates. Dissension around this bill stems from a resistance to change, a lack of seeing the bigger picture. As humans, we don’t always want change. But we Nebraskans do. That starts with this amendment. This fight is not over.

~ Seamus Haney

Source: Nebraska Examiner

The Leaflet’s Simple Steps to Sustainability

This week’s simple step is to share. Sharing anything is one of the most wonderful things we can do for the environment. Every time we buy something brand new, we strain the environment in some fashion for its resources.

By sharing what we already have or own we are preventing the need to buy a product brand new.

It’s simple math. Take the total strain you are putting on the environment by buying the product over the amount of people who are using it. What do you get? More people are able to use the product for far less strain on the environment per person.

So consider what tools and resources you have that you can share with others. For me, a friend is sharing a wax seal kit with me so that I don’t have to buy one brand new for what I need it for in the moment.

I’d like to credit Señora Suprenant of Creighton Prep for this idea. Thank you Señora.

This Week’s Waste Management Tip: Old Shoes

As we transition from the winter time to spring, our shoes are often beat up and grimy from the salt and wear of the cold season. But—what do you do with old shoes? Here are a few ideas for your old shoes:

1. Trade them in—the GotSneakers program offers a recycling program for your sneakers—at no cost to you. Once received, they either redistribute them or take them apart for materials and energy.

2. Donate your shoes. Soles4Souls is a program that offers to take your old shoes and sell them in developing countries.

3. Send them to a thrift store. There are so many thrift stores around the country and in Omaha especially. Donating your shoes here is a wonderful way to give them a second life.

4. A Terracycle shoe box—this box unfortunately starts at around $156, but is fairly large and is a sure-fire way of knowing your shoes are recycled properly.

5. Send them back to the brand you bought them from. Companies like Nike and Timberland offer shoe recycling programs.

6. List them on BuyNothing. BuyNothing is a platform where people can give anything away for free—that includes shoes.

Ideas in this article guided in part by this source.

The Leaflet’s 2025 Goal: Status

Helpful Links for Your Own Research

1. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

2. Omaha Recycling Guide

3. Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

4. Mongabay Newsletter

Thank you for reading this issue of The Leaflet.

The Leaflet is not affiliated with any organization or school.

Newsletter produced primarily by Seamus Haney

Cover Image: ArtStation, by Samuel Michlap