Environmental awareness in Thai Catholic schools held

In Thailand, "Laudato Si" and an environmental session for Malasawan Pitthaya School staff were recently held.

The "Laudato si" (2015) encyclical inspired Thai Catholic schools to promote activities to safeguard the environment, starting with the teachers. 

Many Catholic managers realized that a change in mentality was needed to invert the trend that was imposed on them by neglecting the environment in favor of business.

The economy has grown in the last decades in Thailand, and tourism has become one of the major sources of income in the country, generating great revenues and jobs.

Reuters news agency reported that 3.78 million tourists arrived from January to August 17, reported Reuters news agency, quoting a government official.

However, such expansion has largely ignored the environment: industries have polluted vast areas of the country, and indiscriminate construction plans have jeopardized the beauty of the Kingdom's many natural wonders.

Catholic schools recognize the importance of educating the next generation to be environmentally conscious. They have to teach them to respect nature.

The Malasawan Pitthaya School in Nokhornrachasima, central Thailand, organized a training session for all teachers and staff about the pope's encyclical "Laudato si."

Around 100 people attended the session, which focused on a few keywords: environment, respect, pollution, recycling, and reuse.

The session aimed to help the school staff get aware of the importance of the environmental issue and give them instruments to form the next generations of students to respect creation. 

Some of the attendees said that the session was a great opportunity to understand that a more sustainable lifestyle is not only required, but is possible, and even if it implies some sacrifice, the gain is far more evident than the cost. 

Thailand's dramatic economic growth has caused numerous environmental issues. The country faces problems with air quality, declining wildlife populations, deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, and waste issues. 

Thailand's Twelfth National Economic and Social Development Plan (2017–2021) warns that "At present, the country's natural resources and environmental quality are deteriorating, and have become a weakness in maintaining the basis of production, services, and sustainable living. The natural resource stock has been extensively utilized for development, resulting in its continuous degradation. The forests have been depleted, the soil has become infertile, and biodiversity has been threatened. 

While exhibiting a future risk of water shortages, the existing supply of water has not been able to meet the demands of the various sectors. Moreover, environmental problems have risen along with economic growth and urbanization. All of these problems have affected the quality of life and have added greater economic costs." - Domenico Rodighiero