Since 1984 Silsilah has been in the front line of promoting “Dialogue with Creation”. It is one of the pillars of Dialogue that Silsilah has been promoting since the beginning, together with the Dialogue with God, Dialogue with the Self and Dialogue with Others as part of its spirituality, vision and mission. This attention to Dialogue with Creation has been developed in Silsilah in different stages of its growth and has been shared by Christians, Muslims and indigenous people in Mindanao who are close to Silsilah, especially in the peninsula of Zamboanga.
Since then Silsilah has been inspired by many as part of the answer to the plan of God as it is expressed in the Holy Bible and the Holy Qur’an as “steward” and “in charge of the creation of God”, but also by many pioneers on national and international levels and agreements; among them the “Earth Agreement” of 1992 commonly known as Rio Conference or Earth Summit, the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 that traced the alarming reality of “Climate Change” and the Paris Agreement of 2015 that brought all nations into the responsibility of all nations on climate change and the future of the world. “Laudato Si’”, the Encyclical letter of Pope Francis before the Paris Agreement in 2015 was a prophetic voice that leaders of all religions listened to with respect and appreciation. Pope Francis reminded humanity to “Care for our Common Home” emphasizing consumerism and irresponsible development, lamented environmental degradation and global warming calling all people of the world to take “swift and unified global action”.
Silsilah in its way and style of moving by example has been consistent to the mission of Dialogue with Creation as a “holistic approach of care for the earth”. We have been resisting temptations of being corrupted by some local and foreign business groups to support them to start or continue to destroy the environment, especially in the Zamboanga area. Silsilah has also educated many to the “Culture of Dialogue” giving special attention to Dialogue with Creation. The same message is already in the Harmony Prayer that Silsilah is spreading around the world.
The presence of Silsilah became more visible in this specific mission when it started to oppose the entry of a mining company in the Ayala watershed, in the mountains of Zamboanga City. It was a long fight, thanks to many who sided with Silsilah to protect the watershed of Ayala. This watershed was in danger because of abuses of groups and mining which have destroyed the forest, the environment around and the water with a “consensus” of some who tolerate these abuses. It was a long and painful advocacy with the help of two lawyers, one Christian and one Muslim, who offered their services for free.
That was a kind of marathon that culminated in a big rally of ten thousand people from different sectors of society that joined the advocacy of Silsilah to stop the mining “exploration in the Ayala watershed”. This long journey culminated with a cancellation of the permit of the mining company in 2011. After this positive experience Silsilah started to give attention to all the seven watersheds of Zamboanga. Among them only one is properly recognized with a declaration. The others are still in danger, although there are many efforts to move to the right direction.
Silsilah is happy to know that Zamboanga City already declared that Zamboanga is not a mining area any more. But there is a lot to be done to educate people. This challenge motivated Silsilah to start the DIALOGUE WITH CREATION PARTNERS MOVEMENT formed by individuals and groups who see the urgent need to care for the earth, “Our Common Home”. The launching was announced last year and only a few days ago was formally launched in Zamboanga City. Silsilah is in the process to identify:
- REGULAR PARTNERS inviting individuals and groups of civic society, religious groups and educational institutions already doing any program and activity with the same spirit of the CDPM and, in the process, learn and be inspired by other partners.
- ASSOCIATE PARTNERS inviting individuals who represent any local, national or international structure of the government or agency willing to share their skills and support the DCPM in all possible ways, especially as experts and resource persons.
- SPECIAL PARTNERS identifying those who are nominated and awarded, after passing the criteria needed to receive the special award, for the “DIALOGUE WITH CREATION PARTNERS MOVEMENT”. They are invited to choose their “way” to help in the promotion of the DCPM vision and mission.
The general GOAL of this new Movement, part of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, is to give special attention to the spiritual, moral and social care for the creation of God as part of the Silsilah mission to promote dialogue and peace among cultures and religions.