Malaysian Bishop: Listen to Creation's voice, stop plastic pollution

In his pastoral letter, the President of the Episcopal Commission for Creation Justice of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, Bishop Joseph Hii Teck Kwong of Sibu, urged the Creation Justice Commissions and the faithful to listen to the voice of creation and stop plastic pollution.

On the anniversary of the third of a five-year Season of Creation campaign on July 15, the bishop appealed to the people of Kota Kinabalu, Keningau and Sandakan dioceses, "We need to protect Our Earth, Protect Our Children". The PROTEC campaign theme of the year 2022 is Stop Plastic Pollution."

"Plastic pollution is choking the planet. The plastic industry is driven by the fossil fuel industry, which is warming our world to death," the bishop said.

The bishop said, "We are living at a critical time in human history that will determine whether or not current, and future generations will have a viable planet to live on."

The prelate explained that the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sounded like a "Code Red warning to humankind." 

"We are due to hit 1.5 °C of warming within the 2030s, and this spell will increase or compound disasters, as well as terrible shortages of fresh water and food," he explained. 

He reminded the faithful in three dioceses to fully observe the Season of Creation and the PROTEC campaign this year and in succeeding years.

There is no time to lose if we are to "save mankind from self-destruction" (Laudato Si’, n.79); "Choose life that you and your children may live."  "May the Holy Spirit embolden us all to right and consistent action," said Bishop Hii.

In 2015, Pope Francis established September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. 

The campaign will begin on August 31, 2022, in Kota Kinabalu with Holy Mass and extend from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023, with several events taking place in Keningau, Malaysia.