二零一六年六月廿七日
各位：我是郭志強執事，是慈悲禧年專責小組成員之一。今晚我想同大家分享有關「慈悲」同「環保」的題目。請不要誤會，我並不打算談論香港社會應該強制垃圾分類，應該教育市民過低碳生活，應該津貼回收工業，應該保護中華白海豚或者濕地上的蝴蝶等等…這些都是政府政策問題，我在這裡不便過問。相反，我想呼籲各位市民，請你們以慈悲之心，對待我們的後代子孫，為他們多留一點遺產，多留一點可用的大自然資源。
我們知道，地球是有足夠資源，養活地球上所有的生物，包括人類。倘若局部地區出現資源不足，是分配上出了問題。固然，這個分配不均的現象，可能是出於地理上的資源分佈不均勻。不過，現代交通運輸發達，要解決這種資源分佈不均的現象，實在輕而易舉。但目前仍然祗有一少撮人可以享受利益，而大部份人仍然捱受缺乏資源之苦的話，恐怕主要是出於部份人的自私，把資源屯積，甚致壟斷，以致一少撮人坐擁大部份人所需要的物資。這不單祗不公義，而且是狠心。眼看落後地區的人民，尤其是兒童，因為不能繳付昂貴的專利藥物費用而死去；眼見因為政治意識形態不同而實行禁運，實行經濟制裁，受苦的永遠不是當權者，而是廣大的人民。這樣做是出於惻隱之心嗎？這種跨國企業的手段和壟斷，是對同時代的人的不公義和狼心狗肺。
我們也知道，地球上的資源是有限的，用完就沒有了。所以在消耗的同時，我們必須及時開發新的能源和資源。在未有新發現之前，我們有責任放慢消耗的速度，否則，我們還有甚麼可以留給我們的後代子孫呢？地下儲藏的化石燃料，是經歷千千萬萬年，在地殻裡蘊釀出來的。而我們不消三百年，便把這些化石燃料耗盡了。我們消耗得這麼快速，是因為我們貪圖生活上的舒適和方便。現代人的生活水平高了，要求更快、更高、更豪華、更矜貴的生活方式。以往的家電產品所標榜的，是實用和耐用，用上三四十年也不需要換零件。今天所追求的，是功能花巧，追求時尚，不用半年便要換新型號了。今天，我們就是生活在這種「用完即棄」的文化氛圍之中。這種生活，不但倍增了對能源的需求，而且製造了大量難以回收或循環再造的廢物。更嚴重的是，這種生活方式，正不斷地污染著我們所呼吸的空氣，我們所飲用的水。其速度之快，已超過大自然的自我恢復能力。即是說，不出五十年，我們和我們的子孫，再飲不到重金屬不超標的水，呼吸不到低懸浮粒子含量的空氣。不要忘記，我們祗是人類大家庭的一份子，我們的生活方式，必須對現在和將來的人類，負上責任。請以惻隱之心，慈悲之心，想像一下我們的子孫將會如何生活。他們每天戴著防毒面罩，背著濾水器和書包，踏單車或徒步上學去！
天主保祐！
「活水基金」網頁 http://www.livingspringfoundation.com.hk/web2.0/modules/tinyd9/index.php?id=1643
Beyond Money: Mercy & Environment Conservation
June 27, 2016
Hi, I am Deacon Alex Kwok, a member of the ad hoc committee for the Jubilee of Mercy. Tonight, I would like to talk about Mercy and Environment Conservation. Don't take me wrong. I do not wish to discuss whether Hong Kong should enforce the classification of recyclables, should educate the public to lead a low carbon living, should subsidize recycling industries, to protect Chinese white dolphins or butterflies in the wetland etc. ... These are government policies and it is not right for me to comment here. On the contrary, I appeal to you all. Treat our offspring with mercy. For their good, leave them more natural resources at their disposal.
We know that the earth has enough resources to feed all living creatures, including mankind. If resources are scarce in a region, it is a distribution problem. Of course, the uneven distribution of resources may be a matter of geography. However, modern transportation is efficient. It is not at all difficult to deal with this type of uneven distribution. But at the moment, only a minority may enjoy the utility of resources while most people are suffering from a lack of them. I am afraid this is the consequence of selfishness of some people who accumulate and even monopolize so that the resources needed by the majority fall into the hands of the minority. Not only is it unfair, but it is also callous. When you see children dying because their parents cannot afford expensive patented medicines; see the general population suffer from economic embargoes imposed on ideologically opposite rivals but not the people in power, are they acts of mercy? These transnational business strategies and monopoly are unfair and heartless towards contemporary people.
We also know that the natural resources on earth are limited. When they are depleted, they are gone forever. Therefore, while we consume, we must develop new sources in time. Before we have any new discovery, we have the responsibility to slow down our consumption. Otherwise, what can we leave behind for our children? The underground fossil fuel took millions of years to cook up in the earth crust but we took less than three centuries to deplete it. We consume in a breathtaking rate because we crave for comfort and convenience. The living standard of modern urban people is high. They yearn for faster, higher quality, more luxurious and expensive life styles. In previous generations, electrical appliances were durable. We did not have to look for spare parts within three or four decades. Today, we live in a "spent and dispensed" milieu. This life style places greater demand on energy and creates more unrecyclable wastes. More seriously, this way of life is contaminating the air we breathe, the water we drink in a rate faster than the self-recovery speed of our Mother Nature. That is to say, in less than fifty years, we and our children shall be unable to drink water beneath maximum contaminant level, to inhale air of acceptable Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). Don't forget, we are only a member of humanity. Our life style must be one responsible to the mankind now and in the future. Please, think about how our children will live with a merciful heart. They will wear gas masks, carry a water purifier and a school bag on their back and walk or ride bicycles to school ...
God bless.
Living Spring Foundation: http://www.livingspringfoundation.com.hk/web2.0/modules/tinyd9/index.php?id=1644
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