Church to become eco-friendly

The Church in Malta is set to become more environment friendly.

Its Environment Commission yesterday published a document that will guide its work over the coming years, starting with an environmental audit of all its operations.

The guidelines were drawn up following a year of discussions held with as many people as possible. The discussion was initiated at a conference held last May and attended by many representatives of non-governmental organisations.

The document launched yesterday has the approval of all Church hierarchies. It aims to lead the Church in Malta to achieve ISO14000 and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme standards.

Commission chairman Victor Axiak told a news conference the document's guidelines constituted a programme of work for the commission.

He said the audit would start with the Curia and its administrative offices, RTK and the Media Centre, and the Zejtun parish. It is aimed at identifying the Church's operations and how these can be carried out in the most sustainable manner.

The Church, Prof. Axiak said, would be taking clear and courageous stands regularly on typical local environmental issues such as hunting, land speculation, traffic, animal cruelty in parish fairs and fireworks at village feasts. It would take a stand both when the issues involve others but especially when they involve the Church.

The guidelines should also lead every Church school to have a clear environmental policy.

With the assistance of churches and parishes, steps were also to be taken to immediately stop certain illegal practices, such as the lopping of thyme, or practices which were detrimental to the environment, such as the chopping off of olive and palm branches.

He hoped the initiatives the Church will be taking would lead to a change in mentality and outlook.

Paul Pace, who compiled the guidelines, said the Church was trying to lead by example. The Church in Malta played a major role in the formation of values and as the Pope had once said: "An environmental crisis is a crisis in values".

The guidelines, he said, were aimed at assisting the Church, particularly the Environment Commission, to establish the priorities and with a well-thought out plan attack the cause rather than the symptoms of environmental problems.

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the document, printed on recycled paper, can contact the Environment Commission at the Archbishop's Curia.