Natural environment : the Biblical perspective

Abstract

have been graciously invited by Council and Senate of this venerable centuries old Institution, out of which there was born and nourished the State University of Malta, out of which it was unceremoniously ousted eight years ago, to address this distinguished gathering on the occasion of Graduation Day. I feel it is a great honour for me to share in the joy of these graduands and their success in their studies, thus carrying on the centuries old tradition of theological studies in our Island home. On this I congratulate them and their teachers. One would expect that the orator on such an occasion would speak on some theme of relevance to some current topic of public or scientific interest. No one would deny that ecology, or the threat to the natural and cultural environment, has become a living issue all the world over, not excluding our Maltese Islands. Thus, I am convinced that the theme chosen for this occasion would arouse your interest and serve to raise the moral conscience of us all with respect to this problem, which should be urgently solved with the least possible delay, unless we want to find ourselves living in a wasteland, barren rocks or in lifeless match-boxes raised to the skies. [excerpt]