Pope in TED talk: Earth cannot be squeezed 'like an orange’
Pope Francis has issued an urgent call to action to defend the planet and help the poor in his second TED talk
11 October 2020, 05:31
2 min read
The Associated Press
FILE -- In this Sept. 20, 2020 file photo, Pope Francis delivers his blessing as he recites the Angelu...Read More
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis on Saturday issued an urgent call to action to defend the planet and help the poor in his second TED talk.
“Science tells us, every day with more precision, that it is necessary to act with urgency — I am not exaggerating, science tell us this — if we want to have the hope of avoiding radical changes in the climate and catastrophes,” Francis said, looking directly in the camera as he looked up from his prepared remarks.
He set as a goal for the next decade constructing a world capable of responding to current generations, “without compromising the possibilities of the future generations.” He framed his call with references to his 2015 encyclical on climate change, “Laudato Si," (Be Praised) and the more recent “Fratelli tutti” (Brothers All) on the failure of market capitalism.
Francis laid out three paths of action: promoting education about the environment “based on scientific data and an ethical approach," assuring drinking water and an adequate food supply through sustainable agriculture and promoting the transformation from fossil fuels to clean energy sources.
“We have just a few years — scientists calculate roughly fewer than 30 — to drastically reduce the emissions of gas and the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere," the pope said, adding that the transition needs to take into account the impact on the poor, local populations and those who work in the energy sector.
He called on investors to exclude companies that do not taking into account the environment, as have many faith-based organizations already have.
“In fact, the earth must be taken care of, cultivated and protected; we cannot continue to squeeze it like an orange. And we can say this, taking care of the Earth is a human right,” Francis said.
The six-hour Countdown Global Launch is TED's first-ever free conference, featuring as hosts such figures as Jane Fonda, Don Cheadle and Al Gore, with speakers including Prince William of Britain and Ursula von der Leyen, a leading European Union official.
Canada says China granted consular access to two detained Canadians in China for the first time since January
11 October 2020, 08:19
2 min read
The Associated Press
FILE - In this March 2, 2017, file image made from video, Michael Spavor, director of Paektu Cult...Read More
TORONTO -- The Canadian government said Saturday that China granted consular access to two detained Canadians in China for the first time since January.
The Global Affairs department said Dominic Barton, Canada’s Ambassador to China, was granted virtual consular access to Michael Spavor on Friday and virtual consular access to Michael Kovrig on Saturday.
“The Canadian government remains deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention by Chinese authorities of these two Canadians since December 2018 and continues to call for their immediate release,” the government said in a statement.
Canada continues to press Beijing to release Kovrig and Spavor, both detained since December 2018 following Canada’s arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a Chinese Huawei official and the daughter of the company’s founder. Canadian police detained Meng in Vancouver on a U.S. extradition request nine days before Kovrig and Spavor were arrested.
The U.S. is seeking Meng’s extradition on fraud charges and her extradition case is before the Canadian courts. Her arrest severely damaged relations between China and Canada.
Neither Kovrig, a former diplomat, nor Spavor, an entrepreneur, were permitted visits from consular officials amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump about the two Canadians in a phone call on Saturday and thanked the president for the ongoing support of the U.S. in seeking their release.
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