Posted by Jamie in Climate Change, Green Leaders | 0 Comments
Patriarch Speaks of Environmentalism to US Capital
Orthodox Christian spiritual leader Patriarch Bartholomew visited Washington D.C. and discussed several global environmental issues. He met with United States leaders and attempted to convince them to take part in various environmental programs.
Dubbed as the “Green Patriarch” for his dedication to preservation of the environment, the Patriarch’s visit to America was actually his first since newly-elected President Barack Obama took office. Delivering a speech at a policy institute in Washington, he encouraged US leaders to boldly and immediately take action to save the world from further disasters caused by radical climate changes.
“We can no longer afford to be passive observers in this crucial debate,” he said. “If we are to save our planet, sacrifices must be made by all.”
He continued and said that the way people treat the ecosystem is a reflection of the way people treat other people. He also said that each of us must restore or rekindle our connection with nature or eventually, we will all be judged according to how we respond to nature and to our fellow humans.
Patriarch Bartholomew’s two-week visit to the United States included hosting an environmental conference in New Orleans, the city that was victimized by the economic and ecological devastation of the Hurricane Katrina calamity four years ago.
In addition to this, the Patriarch met with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. The spiritual leader, who is now 69 years old, discussed almost everything concerning the environment and healthcare, as he believes that the two are closely related.
Pelosi expressed her opinion that many people, even the country’s evangelicals, believe that our planet is one of God’s most precious creations; and that it is man’s moral responsibility to make sure that it is cared for and properly preserved.
Patriarch Bartholomew remains optimistic and believes that there is still time to change and he trusts that the United Nations Climate Change Conference is on the right path to creating greater environmental awareness. The Patriarch added that he strongly believes that if we can start working now, we can steer the earth towards the future that we want for our children.
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