In a world where we are often encouraged to think of ourselves and the pressures on our own societies, it is all too easy to forget about those living far away where life can be brutally hard. For those in places where climatic changes have created water shortages and harvests have failed, the future can look bleak. You may have heard of the Global South and how exposed a large part of the world’s population is to climate change. Many of the poorest live in these areas. Many have very simple lifestyles and their communities have contributed least to global pollution and emitted very little climate-changing greenhouse gases. But these are communities who are seeing changes in their lifetimes: desertification, damage through flooding and storms, the encroachment of the sea and salt water spoiling of their crops. Their call for help is easily silenced. An inconvenient footnote of the news. Perhaps not even in the news. Not our problem – we have too many here – we might think or say. And yet… and yet for many of us in the developed world, our standard of life is a result of two hundred years plus of development and accelerated consumption. It has been our cumulative emissions that have stressed the planet and exhausted its ability to repair.

So how can we make one small simple gesture of kindness and hope and reach out with fraternal love to support those in need? One way is to support charities whose mission it is to provide help on the ground in those areas most exposed to climate change and with least ability to develop and adapt. In recent years there have been a growing number of charities who offer a world gift – a donation made in the name of someone we love in place of a physical present. Both giver and receiver can feel the satisfaction that comes from an act of charity. Better than a present we don’t need that adds to the problem of over-consumption and eventual waste, we can give the gift of hope through education, healthcare, development and practical on-the-ground support via the charity partner. A great opportunity to love our neighbour every time we have something to celebrate be it a birthday or for Christmas.

Recently Pope Leo XIV spoke on Raising Hope on the tenth anniversary of the encyclical Laudato Si’.

If you are new to Laudato Si’, why not read our summary here

Read Laudato Si’ here

Read Fratelli Tutti here

To get more involved in Laudato Si’ activities in your area, why not contact the Laudato Si Movement

Happy Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi (4th October)!