Unscientific exploitation of nature has been leading to degradation of the earth and even the devastating deluge of August last is a result of such activities, Mar Thoma Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma has said.
The metropolitan was inaugurating the 124th Maramon Convention, organised by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (MTEA), missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church, at its traditional venue on the riverbed of Pampa at Maramon, near Kozhencherry, on Sunday.
According to him, the unscientific handling of nature and release of water from as many as eight dams without making proper homework was what resulted in the deluge of last August. The youth, fisherfolk and many others rose to the occasion extending a helping hand to the affected, he said.
But, this harmony did not last long as man-made social divisions began to prop up. And now with general elections round the corner, society started witnessing polarisation of different ways, the Metropolitan said.
The Metropolitan said the 124-year-old Maramon Convention was not for any religious conversion, but to prepare the faithful to strengthen their belief and faith.
He further called upon the believers to pray to God to lead them through the path of righteousness and peace so that they could lead a dignified life on this planet.
Euyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa, MTEA president, presided over the inaugural function and George Abraham Kottanad, general secretary, welcomed the gathering.
John Tucker Mugabi, Archbishop of York, delivered a religious discourse.
Agnes Regina Abuom, chairperson of the World Council of Churches, was honoured on the occasion.
Leaders attend meet
Union Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons; Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala; N.K. Premachandran, Anto Antony and Kodikkunnil Suresh, MPs; P.J. Kurien, former Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha; P.C. George, Veena George and Mathew T. Thomas, MLAs, attended the meeting.
