"Protecting the environment means much more than defending it. Protecting involves a positive view of the human being, in the sense that the person is not to be regarded as a nuisance or a threat", but "is to be regarded as responsible for the care and management of the environment itself". It was said by mgr. Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the UN, who spoke a few days ago in New York at the 62nd ordinary session of the General Assembly of the United Nations about sustainable development. In his speech, published today, the Vatican delegate highlighted "the inseparable alliance within which the environment essentially affects man’s life and development, while the human being, with his creative work, perfects and ennobles the environment". With reference to the implementation plan for sustainable development, adopted in Johannesburg in 2002, mgr. Migliore repeated that "the three components" of such development economic development, social development and protection of the environment "are interdependent and strengthen each other". (continued)
