Pope Francis' Plea for Caring For Our Common Home

Pope Francis recently wrote an encyclical titled On Care For Our Common Home which serves to reach out to people around the world to change the way we treat the planet. He talks about the importance of biodiversity on the planet, how carbon dioxide emissions are changing our planet, and other environmental degrading activities humans participate in their day to day lives, especially those with more power.

One of the topics he speaks on is our view of technology. He says we have began to view technology as not only a fall back plan to problems, but even something that is so powerful we can ignore realities of how our planet works. He believes we need to slow down, and to do that we need to change our definition of progress. He supports innovation, but only if it is directly serving to in rich peoples life who need enriching, while being able to sustain a long term use without inflicting damage on our environment. For example, providing more food and water for the poor. In my opinion, this is perhaps the most important part of his message. The reason I say this is because with the growing millennial generation, where everyone seems to be glued to their phones and any other new technology that comes out. The younger generations of today need to set the standard for future ones to come. The youth need to step up and begin to change the way we view technology in relation to how it affects our environment.

With social media as a staple of todays' communication, I see people posting environmental issues on a daily basis. Just the other day I saw a post about the diminishing population of Rhinos and another about the effects of climate change on Antarctica. These are good things. I read these, and begin to become very optimistic, but then just a day later I see about twice the amount of posts about the New Iphone 6s. People are waiting in line, pre-ordering, and thousands of blog posts are be written about how amazing this new phone will be. Many of these people, some of whom I know personally, already have the Iphone 6. Many purchased it just a few months ago, but already are throwing that "old" junk away to by the new one. The irony is, when the next Iphone comes out I reckon they will repeat this process. It seems that my peers and even those older than me praise Apple as if they are changing the world for the better, when in the grand scheme of things they are making the same phone that only lasts a year or two that has a better camera, or a cool new way of arranging apps. There is nothing wrong with being enthralled with technology, as long as we are aware of the effects it has on our environment. We should also choose more carefully who we hail as great. I believe Steve Jobs was a good and impressive man, don't get me wrong. But, with people starving and other people

hoarding wealth, why not hail those who are making the world more just, those who are looking for a better change. Why not Pope Francis?