VIII Social Forum of the Iberian Province: The care of our Common House

More than 100 persons from different Associations and Organizations participated in the VIII Social Forum of the Iberian Marist Province “Turning around the social, tuning around the local”, that took place on February 1, in the Marist School ‘San José del Parque’ in Madrid, with the objective of deepening on the aspect of the social commitment.   

This year, the day centered itself on the care of our common house, our planet.  In this event, Monsignor Joaquin Pinzón, Bishop of Puerto Leguizamo-Solano and Vicariate of the Colombian Amazonia, participated.     Besides, three social Organizations gave their witness and touched concrete aspects concerning climatic emergencies.  

“We are part of the problem but we can also be part of the solution”.   With these words, Monsignor Joaquin Pinzón Bishop of REPAM invited the participants of this VIII Social Forum to have hope.  “We are living a very strong change of age or epoch which should lead us to change habits, so that it will not have terrible consequences for our planet, affirmed, Pinzon.

The Bishop deepened on the idea that we, human beings should change their manner of relating with the environment.  Beginning with the reflections of the Encyclical Laudato Sii of Pope Francis, he affirmed that this ecological crisis is within the context of an integral crisis that affects other dimensions of our society: “It is not possible to think about the health of the planet without thinking about poverty”.   During the day, there have also been some witnesses, which have deepened on this question: “The climatic change multiplies the natural catastrophes which affect the poorest countries without resources”.  (Encyclical Laudato Sii).  The ecological problem provokes social problems that affect the health, food and the dignity of persons.   

In the last session, three organizations, which have been taking steps to face climatic emergencies have given their witness about this “The energy poverty here and now in Spain” (Asociación Ángeles Urbanos)  “The ecological migrants” (NGO ACCEM), and “An example of sustainable solidarity initiative” (ONGD  Solidarity, Education and Development).