Reflects on 80 Years of Indonesian Independence

The Friars of the Province of St. Michael the Archangel Indonesia hosted a national seminar on Saturday, August 9, 2025, titled “Faith, Public Policy, and Ecological Justice.”  The event, held at the Vincentius Putera Ballroom in Jakarta, was part of a deep reflection on Indonesia's journey toward its 80th year of independence and its ongoing mission to achieve social justice for all its people. This seminar also marked the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures and the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s encyclical, Laudato Si’.

Br. Mikael Peruhe OFM, the Provincial Minister of Indonesia, emphasized in his opening speech that social justice is not merely an endpoint but an ethical and spiritual project that requires continuous effort. He highlighted the critical link between environmental crises and social injustice, a concept he referred to as integral ecology. “The cry of the earth is also the cry of the poor. Ecological awareness must go hand in hand with the struggle for social justice and peace,” he said.

Government and Civil Society Join Forces for Biodiversity

The seminar drew approximately 425 participants and featured two keynote speakers: Mikhail Gorbachev Dom, an expert staff member to the Minister of Forestry of Indonesia, and Prof. Dr. Martin Harun, OFM, Professor Emeritus at STF Driyarkara Jakarta.

Dom spoke about Indonesia's rich diversity, which he categorized into five levels: geological, topographical, ecological, cultural, and generational. He noted that the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia is actively working to manage this diversity through inclusive policies that engage various stakeholders, including civil society, academics, and non-governmental organizations.

Martin Harun explained that the Canticle of the Creatures serves as a foundational inspiration for the ecological and spiritual movements. He expressed deep concern over a world facing a severe ecological crisis fueled by systemic exploitation and unchecked industrialization. “A person who is humble before God and sees all creatures as brothers and sisters would certainly not allow the ecosystem to collapse for personal gain,” he stated.

A Call for Cross-Sectoral Collaboration for a Sustainable Future

The seminar, moderated by Br. Yulius Feri Kurniawan OFM, also featured several other speakers, including Dr. Andreas Bernadinus Atawolo, OFM (Lecturer of Dogmatic Theology at STF Driyarkara Jakarta); Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, SH, MSD (Secretary of the Ministry of Environment of Indonesia); Dr. Sandrayati Monaga (an expert in Environmental Law); and Dr. Siti Maimunah (a Doctor of Feminist Political Ecology Studies).

Andreas Atawolo urged attendees to embrace the universal fraternity found in the Canticle of the Creatures. He stressed the importance of avoiding exploitation, resisting the business logic of maximizing profit at minimal cost, and building solidarity with vulnerable communities. “The call to care for our common home means having the courage to say 'enough',” he affirmed.

Rosa Vivien Ratnawati underscored the severe economic and social consequences of environmental damage, highlighting that waste management is a shared responsibility. She quoted Pope Francis from Laudato Si’ to emphasize that “we all have a responsibility to protect nature, manage our waste well, prioritize our needs, awaken our sense of care for nature, and prioritize justice, solidarity, and dignity for many people.”

Sandrayati Monaga further illuminated the issue of socio-ecological injustice, where a “privileged” few continue to benefit from wealth while the vulnerable bear the brunt of the damage. She also noted that natural resource corruption significantly harms the state.

Closing the session, Siti Maimunah encouraged everyone to view the environment through the lens of local communities who see nature as an extension of their own bodies, to be cared for and protected. She called for a “coalition with nature and ancestors” to build a solidarity-based economy that supports women and children, who are often the first victims of environmental crises.

The seminar concluded with a powerful message that faith, public policy, and integral ecology are inseparable. The main takeaway was that every person of faith is called to be a guardian, not a destroyer, of our common home for a truly sustainable future.

Br. Jimmy Hend. Rance Tnomat, OFM-Provincial Secretary of Indonesia