Our Common Home: The Human Roots of Our Ecological Crisis
- date: 12/02/15
- time: 7:00 PM
- location: 230/231 CEC • maps
- contact: Martina Saltamacchia - History • ourcommonhome.uno@gmail.com
A panel discussion on Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si''
For info: ourcommonhome.uno@gmail.com
On December 2, 2105 Dr. Elizabeth Chalecki, professor of Political Science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Dr. Andrew Ekpenyong, Physics professor at Creighton University and biomedical physics researcher, Dr. John Hejkal, Energy Industry Analyst, and Dr. Carson Holloway, professor of Political Science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha will engage the audience in a discussion on the human roots of the ecological crisis.
Amidst the often politically charged topic of Climate Change, Pope Francis seeks to disintegrate polarized factions of opinion by calling to mind the actions of the individual. As a human person, what does it mean to live in the world in relationship with the natural environment and other humans? Does what we do and how we live affect the lives of others and the earth in which we live? The Pope’s encyclical answers with a resounding yes!
In Laudato Si’ the Pope seeks to bring to light the growing threat overuse and consumption pose to our common home, our way of life, especially to those on the fringe of societies. “Underlying every form of work is a concept of the relationship which we can and must have with what is other than ourselves.” He calls for a shift in the individualistic way of thinking, e.g., that my actions don’t affect the place in which I live.
“…men and women have constantly intervened in nature, but for a long time this meant being in tune with and respecting the possibilities offered by the things themselves. It was a matter of receiving what nature itself allowed, as if from its own hand. Now, by contrast, we are the ones to lay our hands on things, attempting to extract everything possible from them while frequently ignoring or forgetting the reality in front of us. Human beings and material objects no longer extend a friendly hand to one another; the relationship has become confrontational. (…) It is based on a lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth’s goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry beyond every limit.”
- Dr. Elizabeth Chalecki – Political Science, UNO
- Dr. Andrew Ekpenyong – Physics, Creighton University
- Dr. John Hejkal – Economics, Energy Industry Analyst
- Dr. Carson Holloway – Political Science, UNO
For info: ourcommonhome.uno@gmail.com
On December 2, 2105 Dr. Elizabeth Chalecki, professor of Political Science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Dr. Andrew Ekpenyong, Physics professor at Creighton University and biomedical physics researcher, Dr. John Hejkal, Energy Industry Analyst, and Dr. Carson Holloway, professor of Political Science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha will engage the audience in a discussion on the human roots of the ecological crisis.
Amidst the often politically charged topic of Climate Change, Pope Francis seeks to disintegrate polarized factions of opinion by calling to mind the actions of the individual. As a human person, what does it mean to live in the world in relationship with the natural environment and other humans? Does what we do and how we live affect the lives of others and the earth in which we live? The Pope’s encyclical answers with a resounding yes!
In Laudato Si’ the Pope seeks to bring to light the growing threat overuse and consumption pose to our common home, our way of life, especially to those on the fringe of societies. “Underlying every form of work is a concept of the relationship which we can and must have with what is other than ourselves.” He calls for a shift in the individualistic way of thinking, e.g., that my actions don’t affect the place in which I live.
“…men and women have constantly intervened in nature, but for a long time this meant being in tune with and respecting the possibilities offered by the things themselves. It was a matter of receiving what nature itself allowed, as if from its own hand. Now, by contrast, we are the ones to lay our hands on things, attempting to extract everything possible from them while frequently ignoring or forgetting the reality in front of us. Human beings and material objects no longer extend a friendly hand to one another; the relationship has become confrontational. (…) It is based on a lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth’s goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry beyond every limit.”