Interviewer: Blessin John Malayil, Christian live TV
Interviewee: Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu, (Honorary Director of CSI Synod Department of Ecological Concerns, Editor of the New Vision Magazine, Retired Principal, Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara)
This is the English version of the interview. This is not a word to word translation.
How did you become an environmentalist?
I had an opportunity to see the adverse impacts of water pollution on human lives caused by the dumping of pollutants into the ocean from factory waste during my visit to Japan in 1989. This tragic incident that occurred at Minamata in Japan not only adversely impacted aquatic life but also human beings. As this tragedy occurred in Minamata, this disease came to be known as Minamata disease. In the spring of 1956, this disease began to spread, and all people became victims. From 1956 onwards, the victims and their families struggled with poverty and suffering and eventually succumbed to death. Many of the survivors who remained faced a bleak future. They were the victims of organic mercury poisoning. People with Minamata diseases are still living in Minamata rehabilitation centre as living martyrs. With tears, only we can hear it when the mothers of Minamata victims explain the sad fate of their children. The Cadmium thrown out of a factory as waste into the Jintsu river in Japan entered the food chain and became harmful to the people, and the disease is known as Itai Itai disease. This was an eye-opener to me. Hence, I had decided to study the impact of chemicals on the environment.
Were you a Chemistry teacher?
I started my career in 1978 as a lecturer in Chemistry at Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, affiliated with the University of Kerala. My attitude and approach to Chemistry took a new turn when I visited Minamata in Japan in 1989. From my exposures, I am convinced that a person with a chemistry background can interpret and interfere effectively with the chemical poisoning of Nature. I was encouraged to read, study, and do research on environmental issues. For a systematic study, I enrolled as a research scholar at the University of Kerala, and I got a doctorate for the thesis on river pollution. As a socially committed person, I started working as an environmental activist besides my teaching career. Fours students took doctoral degrees under my supervision.
Are you working as a Green Church Campaigner?
Yes. The Christian Church in India is perceived as having little interest in environmental matters. There is a saying among the Christians, ‘man is the crown of Creation’. There is no verse in the Bible like this. This is a total disregard for the rights of other creations. How to challenge this attitude?. A member of that community can only do that. A fundamental change of attitude to the Earth – a deeply spiritual one –is necessary to address the problems we have created. It is necessary to inspire all people to know that caring for Creation is an essential part of the Christian faith. I have been preaching on eco-centric spirituality since 1992. As I have been using Church venues for this, I am known as a Green Church campaigner.
In Genesis, God has given man dominion over Earth.
A common perception is that the Bible shows little concern for our relationship to Nature and perhaps even encourages its exploitation. This perception is often supported by reference to the biblical commands such as “subdue” the Earth and “have dominion” over all living things (Genesis 1:28), which are interpreted to mean that human beings can treat the non-human world in whatever way they please. This interpretation and the perception that the Bible has little else to say about our relationship to the Earth have led many people to reject the Bible as a resource for developing sound environmental ethics.
Then, what the Bible say about the environment?
Genesis 1-11 contains several fundamental ideas about the natural world and our place in it. For example, the opening verses of Genesis clearly state that God is the source of all life and that Creation is good. Furthermore, the formation of Adam from “the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7) highlights the connection between human beings and the Earth because Adam, the word for “human being,” is a play on adamah, the word for “ground” or “earth.” The story of Noah and the Flood illustrates God’s concern for all creatures because it states that God made the covenant not just with human beings but with “every living thing” and that God desires all creatures to “be fruitful and multiply.” The ideas that God is the source of all life, that Creation is good, that human beings are connected to the Earth, and that God is concerned about all creatures strongly suggest that we are to value and respect the Earth and its many forms of life. After the account of the great flood, the Bible repeatedly stresses that the covenant God makes is not just with Noah and his descendants, that is to say, humankind, but with “every living creature”. As the worth of all living creatures is shown by their inclusion in the ark before the flood, so is their worth shown by their inclusion in the covenant after the water has receded. If we take seriously such an attitude of respect towards living creatures other than humans in the Noah narrative, then the story has profound implications for our current attitudes to animals and to biodiversity.
Several recent interpretations have shown that Genesis 1:28 and 2:15 call human beings to preserve and protect the Earth and its creatures. Many of the Psalms, such as Psalm 8, 104, and 148, reaffirm the goodness of Creation and provide additional insights into our relation to Nature. Insights relevant to an understanding of our relation to the natural world are also found in Wisdom literature. It emphasises the importance of Nature as a medium of God’s revelation, for it presupposes that God’s wisdom can be revealed through observation of the natural world. At the same time, it points out the tremendous diversity and ultimate mystery of God’s Creation. Other wisdom texts, such as God’s first speech from the whirlwind (Job 38, 39), indicate that God took great delight in non-human creatures and did not create them for human benefit alone. Such passages all imply that human beings need to respect Nature, recognise the intrinsic value of its many creatures, to learn from it, and to preserve its incredible diversity.
Is it possible for you to cite some passages from New Testament?
Passages from the New Testament, such as Romans 8:18-25, Colossians 1:15-23, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, and Ephesians 1:10, indicate that Christ’s redemptive power affects the whole Creation. The passage from Romans reveals that Paul had a universal vision of the “liberation of all the creatures of nature, along with human beings” through Christ’s death. Colossians 1:15-23 also claims that all things will be reconciled through Christ. John 3:16 is probably the best-known verse in the New Testament: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life”. Have you noticed that the verse does not say: “God so loved humans …”, but “God so loved the world …” – the whole cosmos? John proclaims that God’s love is not restricted to the human race; it extends to all aspects of life. Hence this well-known verse may be seen to contain considerable implications concerning our attitudes to the environment.
Do you think it is time for the Church to reclaim this heritage?
The passages outlined above and many others provide solid grounds for respecting Nature and its creatures and living in ways that preserve and protect them. Although, indeed, not all elements of the Bible depict our relation to the natural world in this way, the Bible contains ample grounds for environmental responsibility. It provides valuable insights for building the foundations of an environmental ethic that, if lived out, can help solve today’s environmental problems. These examples from the Bible give us a slight idea of the biblical ecological heritage that we have, for so long, neglected. We believe it is time for the Church to reclaim this heritage and make a valuable contribution to the environmental debate.Caring for God’s Creation is an expression of praise to the Creator.
How is the CSI Church responding to Climate Change?
We hear the call of the Earth. Caring for life on Earth is a spiritual commitment. People and other species have the right to life unthreatened by human greed and destructiveness. Pollution, particularly from the energy-intensive wealthy industrialised countries, is warming the atmosphere. A warmer atmosphere is leading to significant climate changes. The poor and vulnerable in the world and future generations will suffer the most. We commit ourselves to help reduce the threat of climate change through actions in our own lives, pressure on governments and industries and standing in solidarity with those most affected by climate change. We provide the parishes with intellectual and spiritual resources designed to promote awareness of the links between the environment and the Christian faith. The CSI Synod Department of Ecological Concerns believes in the proverb. ‘Think Globally and act locally.’
How does CSI think Globally?
The CSI does believe that the present development paradigm promoted by the ‘developed countries is responsible for the global ecological crisis, and thus ‘Climate Injustice’. We demand the ‘developed’ countries change their present development paradigm, which exploits fossil fuels resulting in Climate change. Those who are responsible for climate change should change their development paradigm and lifestyle. Rich countries have to compensate for the damage caused to developing countries. As developing nations are struggling on the development ladder, rich countries should write off the debts of developing countries. The developed countries should transfer their technological knowledge to developing countries.
How do the CSI act locally to mitigate Global warming?
The CSI requests all its members to do their best to mitigate global warming. Lenten season 2018 Moderator of CSI issued the pastoral letter on Carbon fast. ‘Carbon fast’ challenges us to look at our daily actions and reflect on how they impact the environment. It challenges us to take some small steps, some of which will reduce our carbon dioxide output while others will help the environment for a more sustainable world. Other programmes are Green Parish Award, Green home award, Green School award, Ecological conventions, Environmental Rally, Energy Conservation project, Water conservation project, Waste Management, Rain Water Harvesting projects, Environmental day celebrations, Ecological Sunday, Plastic-free campus, Eco- VBS training, massive Planting of trees, Eco- clubs in School, Eco bible study programmes, publishing of Eco-literatures, model vegetable garden, Eco- church architecture, Earth Bible Sermons, Green Parables, Green Miracles and the Green School programme in CSI.
Further, we shall re-read the Bible and reaffirm our faith from the perspective of Climate Refugees. We can inspire the congregations to discern climate justice as an integral part of churches’ public witness today.
What do you mean by Green School programme?
The CSI has 2000 schools. With the support of the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, we are converting these schools to Green Schools. Environmental audit of the Schools by the students are helping the schools in sound environmental management. Green School Programme empowered students to use natural resources responsibly and efficiently and practice effective and sustainable methods to become a way of life. Schools that use little water optimise energy efficiency, minimise waste generation, catch and recycle water and provide a healthier space for their students than a conventional building are Green Schools. Instead of mugging up the subjects, students are enjoying studying and memorising. The active involvement of students in curricular and extracurricular have transformed them a lot.
What is the concept behind the Green School Programme?
1)Teaching the values of Sustainability when they are young. 2) Transfering the values of Sustainability to the family members through Children 3)Enhancing respect to Nature through the environmental audit.4) Making children eco-warriors against Climate Change 5) Learning is becoming a joyful experience
What is Climate Resilient Schools?
We are planning to take up the project Climate Resilient Schools and Communities. It is different from the Green School Programme. In the Green School programme, students are doing auditing on air, water, waste, energy, land and food. They are relating it with their curriculum and preparing their School for Green rating. In climate Resilient Schools and Communities, the students of the School are practising the Green Protocol of CSI, Carbon neutrality, mitigation and adaptation. These Children will have to transform their houses in the same way they do in schools—a community transformation through students. We are planning to create some community resilient model schools and model communities by 2022.
Is it possible to see any model centres in the CSI?
The CSI has a model eco-spirituality camp centre at Othera, in the central part of Kerala. Solar Power for Electricity, Eco-theological resource centre, Eco-friendly Campsite, Rain Water Harvesting, Biogas for cooking, Waste Management, Meditation Rooms, Domestic Animals, Native Plants and a chapel. The following projects have been implemented in CSI synod Centre. 1) Sewage Treatment Plant& Groundwater recharging-The plant purifies 20,000 litres of water per day which is being used for non-domestic purposes at the centre. Rainwater Harvesting-The Synod campus also has Rain Water Restoration Tubes to increase the groundwater level added. Solar Grid System-The solar panel grid system installed on the roof-top meets 65% of the electricity consumption. The 272 solar panels generate 100 KW of electricity per day. Organic Waste converter [OWC] (up to 200 Kg per day). The organic Waste converter converts all organic waste into stable organic fertiliser. It is quick, efficient and odour-free. Input can be 50% wet waste and 50% dry garden waste. The Organic Waste is converted into a smooth, homogenised, odour-free raw compost within 15 minutes by a biomechanical process through its mechanism. Compost Curing System.-The curing system stabilises the raw compost through controlled aerobic microbial decomposition. Steam Boiler -Steam Boiler is multi-purpose equipment that runs with gas or firewood. Using the gas model, it initially takes 40 minutes for getting steam; later, it takes 15 to 20 minutes in preparing Rice Cooking. Reverse-Osmosis Drinking Water Plant-The RO Drinking water plant installed at the CSI Synod center provides good quality drinking water and hence avoids the purchase of bottled drinking water.
What is the vision of the CSI Department of Ecological Concerns about the future?
We know the kind of restructuring that is needed. In simplest terms, our fossil-fuel-based, automobile-centred, throwaway economy is not a viable model for the world. The alternative is a solar/hydrogen energy economy, an urban transport system that is centred on advanced–design public rail systems and a comprehensive reuse/recycle economy. The cities are to be designed for people and not for cars. We have to build an economy that will support, not undermine, future generations.Like Moses and Elisha, we seek to be God’s agents of healing and restoration to those facing environmental crises due to ecological degradation.
We should affirm the rights of future generations.
Right to a rich plant and animal world
Right to healthy air and an intact ozone layer
Right to clean and sufficient water and, in particular, healthy and sufficient drinking water
Right to healthy and fertile soil and to healthy woodland.
These are rights related to God’s Creation that we now reaffirm since without these rights, all other rights ultimately are lost. What is the point of rights in society if the Earth becomes unlivable?
What are the recognitions you got?
The organisations where I played a lead role got recognitions. I had given the leadership for the eco-activities of Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, till 2011. Bishop Moore College got the Palathully award of Malayala Manorama (Rs. One lakh) for the innovative Rainwater harvesting project in 2008, as well as the Dr P S JOB MEMORIAL AWARD (2010) of All India Association for Christian Higher Education, New Delhi, for the most successful, innovative and educational project implemented by the College.
UNDP has honoured the ecological contributions and long term commitment of CSI and privileged to receive the award from Mr. Baan Ki Moon, Secretary General of UN, on 3rd November 2009. UNEP invited me to address in the United Nations fourth Environment Assembly held at Nairobi from 10th to 15th March 2019. I was one of the ten environmentalists honoured by the Malayala Manorama newspaper, in 2012. So far, I have taken the initiative to conduct five international eco conferences.
. An article about the Eco-Ministry of the Church of South India (nominated for the 2019 UNESCO-Japan Prize on ESD by World Council of Churches, an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO) was published on the UNESCO website as a good practice real-life story on Education for Sustainable Development: https://en.unesco.org/news/church-led-eco-ministry-spreads-sustainable-environmental-education-southern-india
Did the CSI take any specific stand on Environmental issues?
Yes. CSI is the only Church in India that has supported the Gadgil Committee report for the protection of Western Ghats. We have represented to the central Government against the sanction given on Genetically modified Crops. We are in favour of non-conventional energy sources like solar, tidal, wind etc.and against all other energy sources.
What is your contribution as a journalist?
I was the editor of a youth magazine called Yuvalokam from 1985 to 1992. In 1992, we launched a new magazine called ‘New Vision for a changing world’ with myself as the chief editor and Rev.K.C.Mathew as the publisher. We have been publishing it monthly without any interruption since 1992. With the patronage of late Most Rev Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom Marthoma Valiya Metropolitan, I took the initiative to start a forum for Editors of Christian Periodicals in 1998. Catholic, Jacobite, Orthodox, Marthoma, CSI, Evangelical, Pentecost, and independent Christian periodicals are its members. I have been serving as the General Secretary of that Society.
What is your contributions to eco-activities of the CSI Synod?
I have been campaigning as a Green Church Campaigner since 1992. Due to my influence, the Kerala Council of Churches initiated a commission for Eco concerns.I was its first convener. CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese constituted a committee for ecological concerns in 1998, and I was nominated as the convener. I became a member of CSI Synod Ecological Concerns Committee in 2002. From 2002 to date, I have served in that committee in various capacities as a member, convener and Director. I authored 18 books and edited 17 books so far. I have initiated unique eco-programmes like Earth Bible Sermons, Green Parables, Green Miracles, the Green School programme and the Climate Resilient Schools and communities in CSI. All the dioceses are having eco directors and ecological committees. It became a eco-faith movement, and all the Bishops and Clergy are giving leadership in eco-activities
As you involved in any other activities other than the honorary Director of the ecological department of the CSI?
Yes. I am the Director of the CSI- Pushpagiri Community Health programme. Every week, the members of our Church visit poor people’s houses and check BP and blood sugar. All the medical issues in the colonies are due to uncontrolled Blood Pressure and blood sugar, which lead to stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. How can people be saved? A preventive strategy that empowers the general public to adopt a healthy lifestyle and regular medical advice and checkups can indeed prevent all these complications of uncontrolled blood pressure and blood sugar. When BP and blood sugar show high values, we advise them to meet the doctor in our Clinics and also to change their lifestyle. The uniqueness of the initiative is that it uses volunteers from the community to deliver care to the needy population. Also, the healthcare model shown through the project is holistic, as it addresses the physical, mental, social and spiritual needs of the patients. It also empowers the volunteers to see the misery around them and see God in every single patient that they serve. The concept of ‘borderless church’ is exemplified here, with the Church being responsible for the overall wellbeing of the society and not just elements of spirituality.
I am serving as the President of Mallapuzhassery Grama Vikasana Samithy, a registered NGO working at Punnackadu. After my retirement at the Principal of Bishop Moore College in 2011, have been serving the community if different ways.
