Grave harm to the environment

(cannot pay for many lives lost)

The consequences of indiscriminate mining and logging have just shown how many lives were lost during the storm that hit Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City specifically) last Dec. 16-17, 2011, including other parts of the Philippines, like Dumaguete City, etc.  This is of course one wake up call for us all to be reminded of

God’s word that warns us: “The love of money is the root of all evils and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds” (1 Tim. 6:10).  People just have not been educated in the right and successful way of making money, as expressed by the organization and business expert Robert Townsend, author of the bestseller “Up the Organization” (1970).  We quote some of his words here: “Money, like prestige, if sought directly, is almost never gained.  It must come as a byproduct of some worthwhile objective or result which is sought and achieved for its own sake.”  The idea is to give good service to the people, money will just naturally follow from our honest and quality service. Money is part of human transactions but should not be the prime motive.

Since those disastrous storms and floods more than a thousand lives were lost, which are of greater value than money.  It’s time we Filipinos evaluate our principles.  We need to think it over and remember past incidents and occurrences.  Perhaps we may recall a proverb that may incite us to greater depth in our actuations or reactions to situations—“the thinking man is always striking out something new.”  Yes, by thinking or reflective thought we may find better ways to meet the daily challenges, instead of just talking or being good at criticizing.  Yes, remember history so you won’t repeat the mistakes of history.  Otherwise when people are just thoughtless or enslaved to money, power and material things, the following question mark will crop up in people’s minds: “When will they ever learn” as is echoed in a favorite song after World War II, “Where have all the flowers gone,” when millions of people died and lost their lives.  So it is good that we be active in spreading good ideas of truth and love and justice, yes proclaiming the Good News Jesus Christ.  Otherwise the opposite might prevail, the thoughts of hatred, darkness, deception, and materialism.  Psalm no. 1 advices us: “He who meditates on the Law of the Lord day and night shall bear fruit in due season as a tree that is planted beside water streams.”  We must wake up and do our part to avoid the dangers ensuing from ecological or environmental devastation.  God’s word tells us that: “A stubborn heart will come to a bad end at last, and whoever loves danger will perish in it” (Sir. 3:27), in Bisaya—“Ang kagahig ulo sa katapusan magdala kanimo ngadto sa kagubot.  Ang magpaduol sa peligro, sa peligro usab madaut” (Sir. 3:27).