FGS in conversation with Fr Jerayaj SJ

On 19 March 2018, FGS – Fundação Gonçalo da Silveira welcomed to Portugal Fr. Xavier Jerayaj SJ, currently World Coordinator for the Jesuit Social Sector, for an afternoon of sharing and learning around a common denominator: the theme of social transformation.

FGS, a Jesuit Organization, has tried since 2004 to develop a consistent work in this area, promoting International Cooperation and Education for Global Citizenship consistent with the values of justice, solidarity, equity and collaborative work. Through its various projects, FGS has enrolled over 13,000 people in educational and awareness raising activities, cooperating with over 38 partner organizations.

The conversation with Fr. Jerayaj allowed to present some of those projects and themes that FGS is involved in, such as Integral Ecology, and to put some questions to him, regarding social transformation, which were promptly answered:

In what measure is integral ecology connected with social transformation?

Integral Ecology is, before anything else, about people. To speak about Integral Ecology is to go beyond trees and plants; without people, the concept becomes useless. I am particularly thinking about people who historically have a stronger bond to nature, as is the case of indigenous populations. If we disconnect those people from the land, water, resources from which they have lived, we are disintegrating them from nature. Our environmental work has to be integral, otherwise it becomes an empty concept.

All our work needs to be simultaneously connected with people and the land that is being polluted, destroyed, misused. Please note that I am not talking of use, but rather of misuse of land. Large Companies have been responsible for the exploitation of minerals, for example, which leave it as a desert. If we stop and think about the people who live close to those realities and that rely on the forest, we understand that they no longer have crops, flora, fauna… it is the all collapse of Ecology. For these people, land is very important. For them, land is God, it is the Pachamama (Mother Earth).

How to raise awareness in such a fast-paced society as today’s?

We live in a hugely technological society of fast-paced changes which often make us forget about nature, but if we take an example, such as the mobile phones we use all the time, we can raise some provocative questions: what parts is it made of? We know today that cobalt is one of the minerals that is essential to ensure mobile signal. But where does cobalt come from? What is its chain of production? What happens in Congo from where most of the cobalt is extracted? What resources and people are affected?

Challenging this awareness is very important to illustrate the problems and to help people ‘read’ and understand reality. Sometimes, when children are asked where do chickens come from, they say “the supermarket”. If the real origin of everything that we consume is not explained and shown to them, they won’t be able to value and care for the things they use.

How do you perceive FGS’s work?

FGS is committed to Education and that is the best way to inform people, students, educators.

As a child, I remember arriving at our plot of land and having to take my shoes off. Taking your shoes off was mandatory because it was a sacred place from which we took our food. This habit has always remained very important for me and helped me recognize land as a sacred space. It is not always easy to convey this message to students, or to society, but if you succeed in passing on the message, I believe students will learn much more.

It is essential that everyone is aware of our interconnection and interdependence with nature. We are only a small part of the entire Global Creation. The work of FGS is crucial in allowing people to connect with nature, raising awareness, namely via the formal education system.