Motorcyclists make their way through floods in Jakarta, in this Feb. 20, 2017 file photo. Christian leaders in their Earth Day messages have criticized human greed for causing environmental destruction. (ucanews.com photo)
Human greed and excessive exploitation of natural resources has led to the destruction of the earth, Christian leaders said in messages to commemorate Earth Day on April 22.
"The main problem is human greed. Man is not satisfied with what he has and accumulate treasures and damages the earth without any concern for the results," Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, said in his message.
"Soil, water and air have been polluted. Natural disasters happen everywhere caused by human greed. This is seen with deforestation which causes floods and landslides."
He called on Catholics to love nature. "At this time we are asked to free ourselves of greed and be led by love," Archbishop Suharyo said.
He said Jakarta Archdiocese had conducted waste management campaigns involving recycling, and reducing the use of plastic.
Reverend Penrad Siagian, executive secretary of the Witness and Integrity of Creation of Communion of Churches in Indonesia, said a spirit of frugality had been introduced by the organization as part of efforts to get people to turn their backs on greed and look after the earth.
Like Archbishop Suharyo, he has asked Protestants to "reduce the use of plastic and use public transportation to reduce carbon emissions."