Religious representatives promised to work to protect the environment and cope with climate change at a national conference that drew 400 participants to central Vietnam in early December.
Some 160 religious leaders and social workers from 14 religions attended the national conference called Promoting the Role of Faith-based Organizations in Environment Protection and Climate Change Responses. The Dec. 2-3 conference was co-organized by Norwegian Church Aid, an ecumenical organization for global justice, the National Resources and Environment Ministry, and Vietnam Fatherland Front, an umbrella of the Communist Party, reported the National Catholic Reporter.
Nguyen Thien Nhan, president of Vietnam Fatherland Front, told conference participants that the environment in Vietnam has been badly damaged by excessive exploitation and overuse, which has seriously affected people's lives. On average annually, the country has 457 injuries or deaths caused by climate change.
Visitation Sister Teresa Nguyen Thi Kim Lan said her congregation plans to raise awareness at its clinic and catechism classes. They will teach people how to separate organic waste from inorganic waste, set up groups to collect used items to sell and help poor people, grow flowers in inundated areas and teach vocational skills to climate-change victims.