Seminar focuses on social, environmental impacts of extractive industries

THE creation of God is being disturbed by man in the name of money, material and development, Evangelical Lutheran church of Papua New Guinea Head Bishop Dr Jack Urame says.
Urame gave his address on the church’s position on environmental and social justice during a youth seminar themed “Creation not for sale! Humans not for sale!”.
The seminar was held at St Andrew’s Church at Ampo, Lae, on Tuesday, for youth coordinators from the fourteen circuits of the Jabem district of ELCPNG.
The seminar focused on the social and environmental impact of the extractive industries in Morobe.
“Money, material things and development are good, but they are not the goal of life. Consumerism is not the means to satisfaction of life,” Urame said.
“Economic progress is good, but not the answer to human quest for freedom, justice, peace and harmony in the world.”
Urame quoted an Indian proverb: “When the last tree on earth is gone, when the last fish in the ocean is gone, when the last drop of fresh water is gone, you cannot eat money” to emphasise the need for people to consider others.
“We are living in the same planet, we must be responsible for each other,” he said.
“We agree that the current conventional economic model is not the best because it is more about wealth creation than wellbeing.
“It is unhelpful and destructive and we need to find an alternative model.”
The seminar is an activity leading up to the ELCPNG National Youth Conference in Lababia village in Salamaua, which will be hosted by the Malalo circuit of Jabem district.
The seminar aims is to provide relevant information to empower youths, who will be leading discussions during the youth conference.
Other presenters were Charles Roche from the Mineral Policy Institute and Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, and head of department for applied science at the PNG University of Technology Dr Reilly Nigo.
The seminar will end tomorrow.