Florida Catholic | Environmental Justice Commission

Commission on environment pushes water conservation, pesticide help

STAFF REPORT

Published: 10.26.07

VENICE | The diocesan Environmental Justice Commission launched its sixth year of operation at an Oct. 9 meeting at the Catholic Center in Venice.

The commission’s priorities include sharing Catholic teaching on the environment, exploring the effect of pesticides on farmworkers, and looking into sustainability and globalization issues as they relate to the diocese’s urban and rural parishes.

A special team from the commission spent the summer educating the faithful on Catholic teaching about the environment.

INTERESTED?
Parishioners in the Diocese of Venice are invited to become members of the diocesan Environmental Justice Commission by contacting the Peace and Justice Office at 941-484-9543 or e-mail: peace and justice

In August, the team gave a presentation about water conservation to about 60 parish faith formation teachers at the Catholic Center. Citing papal encyclicals and U.S. bishops’ statements on social justice, the team emphasized concern about the exploitation of the earth and the need for all to preserve it.

The catechists also reviewed data from southwest and south Florida water management districts, which are responsible for the counties comprising the Diocese of Venice. The environmental justice team said these materials could be used to teach religious education students about the sacredness of God’s creation.

The team may give future water conservation presentations in Catholic schools throughout the diocese, adult faith formation programs and in lay groups in parishes.

The commission also discussed the issue of toxic pesticides and their effect on farmworkers, which members have studied for more than a year. Commission members reported that there are not enough pesticide inspectors making timely visits to farms. They said they have lobbied for a state tax on the sale of pesticides that could pay for additional inspectors.

The commission also discussed the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, an organization supporting rural residents, family farms and local businesses that promote sustainable community development. The conference is launching a nationwide dialogue among Catholic people on a host of social justice concerns, including sustainability and globalization issues.

“These concerns apply to both the rural and urban communities,” said Neil Michaud, director of the diocesan peace and social justice office. “This is particularly the case in the Diocese of Venice, where so many parishes on the west side of Interstate 75 have a relationship with the rural parishes along the eastern corridor.”

The commission plans to invite parishioners throughout the diocese to participate in the social justice dialogue. Nearly a dozen members from Bradenton, Sarasota and Naples attended the environmental justice commission meeting.

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Commission on environment pushes water conservation, pesticide help

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