Your 2024 Dream for Ecology!
As a Salesian how can we instill care for our planet? Don Bosco used to take his boys regularly on treks and nature trails. He loved nature and in his early childhood years worked on the farm. Jesus and our blessed Mother spoke to him in his dreams using different animals of nature. We see a deep connection with nature and creation in all his works from care for his poor boys, to taking them on nature treks and spending time outdoors. Don Bosco understood that we are not just part of creation but are one with the Creator and creation.
How can we then go forward with benevolence and without doubt that all created things come from God and must go back to Him for His praise, reverence and service. We must value all the gifts and carry gratitude in our hearts for all God’s creation and the created things we have received from his bounty. This is the attitude we must carry in every Salesian home. We must ask our beloved Blessed Mother to guide our efforts so that we can offer all our labour back to our creator who has bestowed all his blessings upon us.
We are an international collective of young people from Salesian Institutions & Organizations who are passionate about the welfare of our only planet.
The Letter
A message for our Earth
“We see what is happening, and the worst thing is that we are becoming used to it. This ‘becoming used to’ is a terrible illness.” – Pope Francis.
This documentary focuses on the encyclical letter ‘Laudato Si’ addressed to everyone that the Pope wrote in 2015. Today his message is even more urgent!
This film is presented by YouTube Originals, produced by an Oscar-winning Off The Fence Productions, in partnership with the Laudato Si’ Movement.
Featuring:
Pope Francis;
Cardinal Cantalamessa, the Preacher to the Papal Household;
Cacique Dadá, Leader of the Novo Lugar community of the Borarí people (Voice of the Indigenous)
Arouna Kandé, a climate refugee hailing from the Kolda region of Senegal (Voice of the Poor)
Ridhima Pandey, a young climate activist from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India (Voice of the Youth)
Greg Asner and Robin Martin, marine biologists from Hawaii, United States of America (Voice of Wildlife)
Lorna Gold, president of Laudato Si’ Movement.
About Us
Don Bosco Green Alliance is an international Green Salesian Movement of people from the Salesian Family institutions, who contribute to global environmental action, thought and policy. Launched in 2018, the alliance is today an active platform where Salesian Family institutions, organisations and individuals exchange ideas and work together on global environmental campaigns all for the ‘Love of Creation.’ Read More...
Priority Areas
Member Activities & Contributions
Czqing Environmental Day 2024, China
Salesian Youth Environmental Day (This was the first time and will be organized annually starting from this year ). The SYM young people went to clean up the Beach and country park this year. Starting from this year, Ciqing will establish a day every year as Ziqing Environmental Protection Day, hoping to make young people understand that caring for God's creation is everyone's mission, and to allow young people to learn from each other and share how to change their attitudes in life. This year's Environmental Day was attended by 60 young people from 7 charity family colleges. The youth are divided into 4 groups. They went to Shek O, Tai Tam Country Park, Tai Tam Dam and a section of Bauhinia Mountain to collect garbage.
Inauguration of Kamikatsu Kuvalam and Thiruvalluvar Thottam at Don Bosco College, Yelagiri Hills
The inauguration of the Kamikatsu Kuvalam (Waste to Wealth Station) and Thiruvalluvar Thottam (Vegetable Garden) marked a significant milestone in the sustainability efforts of Don Bosco College, Yelagiri Hills, Tamil Nadu, India. The event was graced by the presence of the Extraordinary Visitor, Rev Fr. Gianni Rolandi SDB, along with members of the Salesian community, faculty members, and enthusiastic students.
Program Highlights:
Prayer Service and Blessings:
The inauguration commenced with a solemn prayer service, invoking blessings upon the Kamikatsu Kuvalam and Thiruvalluvar Thottam. Rev Fr. Thaddeus SDB led the prayer session, emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.
Inauguration Ceremony:
Rev Fr. Gianni Rolandi, accompanied by the Salesian community, officially inaugurated the Kamikatsu Kuvalam and Thiruvalluvar Thottam. His inspiring words encouraged everyone present to actively engage in initiatives aimed at environmental conservation and community welfare.
University Students from the Silva Henríquez Catholic University Cultivate Environmental Awareness and Solidarity in Lo Cañas, Chile
The Silva Henríquez Catholic University, Lo Cañas Campus, Chile, has taken terms such as common good and integral human development to a new level, thanks to the work of its students.
After having dedicatedly planted medicinal, native and autochthonous plants during the past semesters, this autumn season the seed collection has been carried out.
These events were carried out within the framework of the curricular activities of the Faculty of Health Sciences, in particular, in the field of phytotherapy, medicinal gardens and the production of natural products by Professor Valeska Leiva.
With this in mind, the students have not only strengthened the relationship with caring for the environment, but they also obtained self-care tools and the identity of the territory.
The commitment of these students also extends beyond the boundaries of campus. They are committed to the need to share the knowledge and resources they have acquired with vulnerable communities. Therefore, these harvests mark not only the culmination of their efforts over several semesters but also the opportunity to contribute to the well-being of those who need it most.
World Water Day at Instituto Dom Bosco, Brazil
Where does water come from? The importance of this resource!
March 22nd is World Water Day. This very important resource was on the agenda of the young people at the Castelinho Dom Bosco Cidade Ademar CCA. On the 25th of the month, they reflected on saving this resource, as well as recognizing the importance of water in our lives and its many uses. With awareness in mind, the children were shown in a playful way how long it takes for water to reach our homes clean.
The class at CCA PROVIM Bom Retiro also reflected on conscious consumption, but drew attention to personal hygiene, and also why we shouldn't stop drinking it, highlighting its importance for our bodies.
"It was important to learn how to save and value water and how it gets to our house, the activity was very nice." Maria Eduarda, CCA student.
An awareness lesson on waste disposal with the LOGA class at the Instituto Dom Bosco (Brazil) March Parade
"A garbage collector is a garbage collector!"
On March 22, the month's Technical Parade was held at the Bom Retiro headquarters. The Castelinho Cidade Ademar and Vila Paulistana classes were present for the training, as well as the Center's Educators. After some reflections on dreams, the theme of the opening and also commemorating the anniversary of the Institute, Brother José Carloto (Zézo) said: "Nothing happens outside of us if it doesn't start within us!". Next, the training session on the theme of sustainability was led by the Don Bosco Green Alliance group, who invited Diogenes Pereira, from LOGA - Logística Ambiental de São Paulo S.A., the company responsible for collecting, transporting, treating and finally disposing of household and health waste in the north-western region of America's most populous city, São Paulo (with the exception of the CEDESP group who took part in the training for professional learning centers run by the Salesian Network Brazil).
Ecological Event at Salesian Technical School, Tainan, Taiwan
Following is a report of an ecological event held by Salesian Technical School, Tainan, Taiwan -
On the day of 2024.04.03, a total of 32 teachers and students from Hong Kong Catholic Sisters Siu Ming Secondary School, led by Sister Ong, visited the school for the "Taiwan Conservation Spirituality Experience Tour".
The principal of our school, Chen Suzhen, and the auxiliary director, Father Ruan Guoxuan, led the Salesian Youth Association students to receive the distinguished guests. The principals have always encouraged the students of the two schools. We are both schools under the Salesian Order. We are like a big family and have a brotherhood and sisterhood. We hope that through exchanges of different cultures and educational backgrounds, we can bring more enlightenment to today's "Environmental Education Journey". Give each other different experiences and learning.
The purpose of this trip is to respond to the call of the Encyclical Laudato Si' issued by Pope Francis in 2015 and the "Laudato Si' Action Platform" started in May 2021, inviting us to use a holistic ecological approach. Ethos, committed in different ways to actions that move our groups towards fully sustainable development.
It also responds to the theme of the 2024 Salesian Mission Day: "Care for God's Creation: Our Mission", creating a platform for exchanges and giving students from the two schools the opportunity to have dialogue on environmental conservation.
Blog Articles
Young people from all over the world are once again invited to participate in the "Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival" (DBGYFF), the Salesian international youth film festival. The Social Communication Sector of the Salesian Congregation has in fact joyfully announced the third edition of the competition, the final of which is scheduled for 17-18 October 2024 - as usual in a multitude of realities and locations in over 100 countries around the world. With reference to the bicentenary year of the dream of Don Bosco at the age of nine, and in tune with the global concern for the care of Creation, the theme of this year's festival is: "I have a Dream - Youth and Climate Change - Making Mother Earth Cleaner and Greener".
We're excited to announce a new partnership. On March 19th, the Feast of St. Joseph, the Don Bosco Green Alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jugend Eine Welt for the promotion of the "Back to Nature" campaign.
Easter People Choose to BE GREEN…and Continue to Fast and Feast
Easter means FULLER LIFE, a rejuvenated life with all its expressions. Fasting need not end with Lent. Fasting does not exclude Feasting. In some sense, fasting is feasting. They are two sides of the same coin. Here, I do not mean fasting in the context of food but fasting from some habits and behaviours. This continuous fasting enhances one’s personal and social life, and benefits our natural environment.
Why I Prefer a Flexitarian Approach Over Vegetarianism for Lent
As the season of Lent approaches, many individuals contemplate dietary changes as part of their spiritual practice. While some opt for strict vegetarianism, others, like myself, find that a flexitarian approach better aligns with both our religious observance and personal values. In this article, I will explore why I believe flexitarianism offers a more sustainable and holistic approach to Lenten dietary practices.
Partners
EcoJesuit
World Clean Up
Let's Do It! World