As the world celebrates Earth Day, University President Br. Gus Boquer FSC, EdD called on the Lasallian family to become champions of the planet by adopting sustainable practices in their own homes and communities.

As the world celebrates Earth Day, we enjoin all Lasallians to reflect on the current environmental challenges that humanity is experiencing – climate change and global warming, unprecedented typhoon strengths, higher temperature readings, water shortage, as well as biodiversity issues.

However, even simple actions can mean a lot – by refusing single- use plastics, we are minimizing pollution that accumulate in the landfills and worse, reach our seas. By biking to school or work, we help reduce carbon emissions. By planting trees or gardening, we help clean the air, and contribute to food security. There are plenty of ways to participate, if we set our minds to it.

In Pope Francis’ encyclical on Laudato Si, he called on the faithful to start caring for our common home, which is the Planet Earth before it is too late. As an institution, we are already taking steps towards this goal by promoting sustainability among our students, faculty, staff and partners. We are also implementing efforts to integrate sustainable solutions in every aspect of our operations.

With these, we hope to encourage others to do the same. We believe in the strength of collective action, and if we start doing our part now, the planet and our future generation will be so much better for it.

Meanwhile, student organization LS Verde President Charlene Mae Macababad added to the call of the Brother President, enjoining the youth, in particular, to help save the Earth.

Earth Day 2022 embodies a theme focused on engaging everyone to take action and accelerate solutions to combat our greatest and longest threat, climate change. Recently, we heard the loudest cry of the world, calling out to us and saying that if nothing changes, it might be too late. Now more than ever, our voices need to be louder and our stances need to be firmer which is why as a youth and a Lasallian environmental advocate, I am calling out to everyone, especially my fellow youths, to confidently take the wheel and initiate the change that the world needs. In this year's Earth Day, let us take a break from our fast-paced lives and take the time to focus on what matters most, appreciate what we have now, and invest in the future of our planet.

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