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Climate change Resources How the imbalances in the Injustice How colonialism brought
eco system are caused: P27 about underdevelopments: P27

a colony. While the method of colonisa- ‘ the Bible and we had the reaching a point of exhaustion. We are
chiefs handed Fiji over to Britain. Britain
When the missionaries
declined Fiji’s initial request for coloni-
came to Africa they had
at a junction where politicians, scientists,
sation and after further pleas from the
religious leaders, theologians and faith
chiefs Britain eventually accepted Fiji as
common mission – to save mother earth.
tion may differ among colonised nations, land. They said ‘let us communities must come together with a
it is the colonial form of power, namely pray.’ We closed our eyes. Pope Francis I identifies two fundamen-
indirect rule that has had long-term his- When we opened them, tal crises underlying the ecological crisis:
torical impact. i. Anthropocentricism: Human beings
Fijian historian Brij Lal argues that we had the Bible, they had think they are the centre of creation
indirect rule together with the Colonial the land. ‘ and hence dominate creation for their
Sugar Refinery (CSR) and the Indenture - Bishop Desmond Tutu pleasure.
Labour System laid the foundations of mitted to the development of our young ii. Loss of interconnectedness and
early Fiji political history. nation. Today we applaud the work of the relationship: We have lost our connected
current Fiji Government led by Voreqe and relationship with God, others and
End of colonialism Bainimarama and we ask God’s contin- creation.
The era of decolonisation began after ued guidance upon them. How is the Ecological Crisis a time of
World War II. Although the Catholic grace and healing?
Church through Pope Piux XII supported Neo-colonialism and globalisation Where do we turn to for a map to re-
the right of nations, great and small to Today we face a new form of colonial cover our connectedness?
take their destiny into their hands, the domination or neocolonialism, which Where do we find a prescription to heal
Church still lacked the prophetic chal- comes in the form of globalisation, mul- our lack of connectedness?
lenge to the injustices of colonialism. The tinational corporations and the market The ecological crisis is not only about
Church adopted a reactionary attitude culture. Globalisation refers to the in- the cry of the earth and the poor but also
to the decolonization movement. The creasingly interconnected character of the cry of the gods – we are disconnected
Church still held that Europe was the the political, economic and social life of with God.
great agent for world civilisation and peoples of this planet. Pope Benedict points out that “the
development. Multinational companies are out to external deserts in the world are grow-
ing because the internal deserts have
exploit our natural resources, which become so vast.” The ecological crisis
Independent Fiji will cause great imbalances in the eco- is symptomatic of a deeper spiritual and
In 1970 Britain gave Fiji her indepen- system, loss of food supplies, soil and religious crisis.
dence. Our Fijian leaders did not fight coral erosion and impoverishment of the Therefore scientists, theologians,
for our independence. In fact our chiefs people and mother earth. Unregulated researchers are turning to the spiritual
were reluctant about independence as companies will continue the injustices resources of our faith and cultural com-
they were worried about the possible and underdevelopments initiated by the munities. While scientists realise their
Indian domination. Although indepen- colonialism. limitation, they acknowledge the vital
dence marks freedom from colonial role of faith. Hence they are calling on
rule, it should also more importantly God writes in Fiji’s crooked history. religious leaders to be actively involved
bring about liberation from the colonial in healing the earth. In the 1990 Global
form of power, namely indirect rule and Fiji is blessed with the presence of the Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary
the patron-client politics. Independence world’s ancient religions – Christianity, Leaders on Human Survival held in Mos-
should see the transition from a power of Hinduism and Islam. Fijian people are cow, scientists made a clear statement:
domination to a power based on peoples’ believers in the sacred – in God. In the “We are close to committing –many would
freedom and decision. Hebrew/Christian Bible (OT) God reveals argue we are already committing –what
During the post-independence era, our himself as a God of mercy; he hears the in religious language is sometimes called
young nation was like a child developing cries of his people and intends to liber- crimes (sin) against creation.”
his or her own autonomy. The iTaukei ate us from oppression, domination and “Problems of such magnitude…must
language calls this the age of the kali. slavery. God patiently walked with the be recognised from the onset as having a
During the kali the mother stops unfaithful Israel in the desert. Likewise religious as well as a scientific dimension.
breast-feeding and begins giving the God also walks with the Fijian people in Mindful of our common responsibility –
child real food. our crooked-jagged history. we scientists – many of us long engaged
The young Fiji nation can also be in combating the environmental crisis
compared to an adolescent learning to Ecological Crisis & Grace – Healing – urgently appeal to the world religious
walk the tight rope between childhood community to commit in word and deed,
and adulthood. our broken Nau /Amaa Earth and as boldly as required, to preserve the
Fiji like a child or adolescent has been Today Fiji enters into a moment of environment of the Earth.”
learning to walk alone, making mistakes, crisis and grace. We all share a common
falls, learns from trial and error as she home, a common sister and mother earth.
searches for a form of governance that However, our mother and sister earth is
would suit her multicultural and multi- groaning because of the harm we have Continued overleaf
religious context. During this era we saw done to her. We have made the earth web link:
the rise and fall of political leaders com- into an immense pile of filth and she is www.islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, November 2017 27