“If we don’t react in a rapid and determined manner, we will leave to our children an uninhabitable and dangerous world, an exhausted planet, a scarred humanity”. This is the conviction that inspired the choice of the theme for the 82nd Social Week in France, “Living differently for a lasting and sustainable development”, due to be held at the CNIT (National Centre of Industries and Technologies) in Paris-La Défense from 16 to 18 November. “The concept of sustainable development, which first emerged some twenty years ago, is now forcibly posed to our societies” and so it seemed “essential to the Christians who animate the Semaines Sociales de France to make their own contribution to this challenge”, explains the President of the Semaines Sociales, Jérôme Vignon. “How does the Christian conscience react to this decided return of an appeal to solidarity between peoples and generations, of which it no longer enjoys a monopoly? – Vignon asks -. And how can it help tackle a change that, in coming to terms with concrete situations, comes into conflict with enormous difficulties and innumerable contradictions?”. In Vignon’s view, we need to reflect on the ways in which “the Christian tradition can help to conceive of a far-reaching evolution of our lifestyles, together with the political authorities, whose task it is to transform a collective sense of emergency into a real capacity for change”. “One of the main difficulties – points out Vignon – is identifying and overcoming the inevitable conflicts of interest that the adoption of a really sustainable development involves. Only the public authorities can act on this level, and we will not fail to remind them of their responsibilities” to do so. “Perhaps for the first time in the history of mankind” – says Vignon – we find ourselves “faced by the predicted imperative of a change of civilization”, and to “discover how we can live together in new ways” we need to “mobilise all our energies and all our cultures in a dialogue open to hope”. Michel Camdessus, Honorary President of the Semaines Sociales, will inaugurate the French Week on 16 November, while the conclusions will be drawn by Jérôme Vignon. The main speakers will include scientist and theologian Jacques Arnold, Vice-President emeritus of the World Bank Nicholas Stern (author of the Stern Report published in 2006), and the Director of the IDDRI (Institute for Lasting Development and International Relations) Laurence Tubiana. Seven workshops on sustainable development are planned for the afternoon of Saturday 17 November. On Sunday 18 the Bishop of Nanterre, the Right Rev. Gérard Daucourt, will preside over a eucharistic celebration in the morning, while in the afternoon the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of France Emmanuel will offer his own reflections on the theme. Info: www.ssf-fr.org.
