A Message from our Principal

In 2015 Pope Francis wrote his well-known encyclical, Laudato Si’, translated as ‘Praise Be to You’ but more importantly its subtitle was ‘On Care for our Common Home’ which explained the focus of his writing. In it, Pope Francis criticizes consumerism and economic development that is irresponsible and often at the expense of our most vulnerable communities. He called on all people of the world to take "swift and unified global action" against environmental degradation leading to global warming. Eleven years on, the Pope’s plea is still real, and unfortunately actions appear to have made little difference.

During this week’s Enviroweek education happening at Trinity, it is important that we consider not just the environment, our planet and animal and plant ecosystems, but also our global human family, where our most vulnerable communities and countries, often have the most to lose at the hands of ‘progressive economies’ and ‘big business’. Through the Catholic Social Teachings, we have been charged with looking after all people, and giving our most vulnerable communities a voice and decision-making powers through the principle of subsidiarity.

Enviroweek challenges us to think differently about the long-term effects of our everyday decisions. I challenged our students at assembly on Wednesday with these questions: every time a parcel from Temu or Shein arrives at home – are you thinking about the people working for next to nothing in the factories that put these together for you? Are you thinking about the mountains of plastic that are thrown away from the packaging and won’t break down for many, many years? When buying or replacing a mobile phone, are you thinking about the human cost in making that phone – the child labour used to mine the cobalt necessary for the phone components, and the armed groups that control these areas of the world, causing local wars and human rights violations?

And so, I was proud of our young people involved in living their values and using their voice, when they visited with Dunedin Mayor, Sophie Barker, earlier this week, and organised the Climate Strike today. Our Envirogroup, led by our Enviro Prefect Sophie H, have impressed me with the diplomacy with which they have gone about this organisation, and the constructive way they have worked with the adults around them. Their understanding and knowledge of the Fast Track Approvals Bill and the political landscape locally, nationally and globally, regarding climate targets and actions, would challenge many adults’ knowledge.

In this situation, it could be a hard call as a leader in a school to balance the demands of Ministry of Education attendance compliance and community opinion, with students organising and attending a climate strike in school time. However, the importance of the learning that can happen through these actions can’t be ignored, and maybe our values education and respect for God’s creation through our faith beliefs, is having an effect! I am sure Pope Francis would be pleased.

Ngā mihi nui

Kate Nicholson

(Principal)