Abstract

DIETRICH, Luiz José  and  ALMEIDA, Nadi Maria de. Deforestation in the Amazon, environmental impacts and challenges for Christian spirituality: global responsibility for an integral ecology. Franciscanum [online]. 2020, vol.62, n.173, pp.7-7.  Epub Feb 08, 2021. ISSN 0120-1468.  https://doi.org/10.21500/01201468.4112.

Something that impacts the environment impact everyone. Deforestation in the Amazon, a current problem that affects and destroys ecosystems, accelerates global warming, threatens humanity and many other species, has grown dramatically in recent years. This research analyzes the reasons and the consequences of the Amazon deforestation growth. It addresses the Brazilian and international structures and articulations, the position and the contribution of the Catholic Church, from the Christian spirituality, proposing an integral ecology, of the care of the «Common House». Based on bibliographical and exploratory research on Amazonian deforestation, it first seeks to identify the reasons for the growth and the consequences of felling and burning in the Amazon and then to evaluate the decisions taken at national and international levels to reduce deforestation or neutralize its effects. Finally, we will consider the importance of the appeals and the seriousness of the commitments, agreements, of the goals and the pathways for the protection of forests; in particular the position of Pope Francisco for the preservation of the Amazon and of life on the planet. The «cries of the earth» challenge Christianity to contribute to the development and integral ecological sustainability and offer the rescue of spiritualities more coherent with the God of Life.

Keywords : Deforestation; Amazon; Environmental problems; Christianity and ecology; Integral ecology.

        · abstract in Portuguese | Spanish     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )