Human Habitat is a Human Right

When the UN launched Habitat Day in October 1986, with the theme Shelter is my Right, it sought to raise awareness a decent place to live, is a right for all human beings. In particular the focus was on the state of towns and cities. Now, almost 40 years later, the state of towns and cities still needs addressing and with increasing urgency.

According to the UN, more than half of the world’s human population live in cities and towns and that number is growing every day.  For decades now more and more people have flocked to urban centres in search of a better standard of living, but lack of adequate planning and proper housing in such centres have left many worse off. This is especially the case in Africa, Asia, and Latin America where cities are growing at a tremendous rate. It is not a surprise then to learn that urbanization is also responsible for 70% of carbon emissions.

In that regard, the theme chosen for Habitat Day 2022 – “Mind the Gap: Leave no one or place behind”, with its focus is on the issue of growing inequality and the need to create sustainable urban centres – is very timely. Not only is the focus on building houses but it is also on the environmental impact of such initiatives.  Thus a full understanding is required.

And yet, while the problem is enormous and requires expert responses, Habitat Day reminds us that we all have some power and responsibility to shape our towns and cities so that they become sustainable, carbon-neutral and inclusive where all are afforded a decent place to live. We can all make our voices heard when it comes to local building initiatives so that the best choices are made. We are all in some sense responsible for the habitat of future generations.

This year in and around the first Monday in October why not add your voice to this important work.

• You could pray that all civic leaders make the well-being of all urban places a priority.
• You could tune into and thus support any online or local educational and promotional activities – lectures, conferences, social media campaigns – being held.
• You could write to local representatives showing your support for and reminding them of the need to make this a priority.
• You could bring it to the attention of local religious leaders so that they might include such prayer at Mass.
• Or you could simply raise the issue at meal-time and in the process make just one or two others aware…

The following is an abridged prayer taken from the Habitat LA website which could be used during a community prayer time.

A Prayer For Shelter

Leader: Loving God, you made us in your image and blessed us with wisdom, creativity, skill, compassion and love.

People: Give us sight to see your children in need, ability to hear your call to serve and willingness to be your hands and feet.

Leader: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest—a place near your altar, O Lord.

People: Heaven is your throne and the earth your footstool. Empower us with your strength and wisdom to build safe dwellings.

Leader: My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

People: May our obedience to serve you with our wisdom, creativity, skill, compassion and love cause the weak to say I am strong, the poor to say I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us.

Leader: Transform our world and transform our hearts and minds.

People: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

ALL: Make us into one people, your people like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

 

 

Margaret Twomey
Southern Province