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Pope Francis criticizes destruction of forests to plant soy bean

Monday, August 10th 2015 - 07:20 UTC
Full article 11 comments
“It hurts me in my soul when I see deforestation to plant soy,” said the pope in an interview with two priests at a parish radio “It hurts me in my soul when I see deforestation to plant soy,” said the pope in an interview with two priests at a parish radio
Argentina is the world's largest supplier of soy meal and soy oil, and much of its vast pampas that were once given over to cattle ranches now grow the oil seed Argentina is the world's largest supplier of soy meal and soy oil, and much of its vast pampas that were once given over to cattle ranches now grow the oil seed

Pope Francis criticized the destruction of forests in order to plant soy in an interview with an Argentine radio station on Saturday, reinforcing his message that the environment should take precedence over financial gain.

 “It hurts me in my soul when I see deforestation to plant soy,” said the pope in an interview with two priests at Radio Parroquial Virgen del Carmen in Campo Gallo, a tiny parish radio station in the poor northern province of Santiago del Estero in his native Argentina.

“It will take thousands of years to recover. Look after the woods and water” he pleaded.

Argentina is the world's largest supplier of soymeal and soyoil, and much of its vast pampas that were once given over to cattle ranches now grow the plant, used for animal feed and in foodstuffs, with China the leading importer.

In neighboring Brazil, also a major soy supplier, environmentalists claim that its cultivation has led to the destruction of rainforest.

The head of the 1.2 billion member Catholic Church has caused controversy before by weighing into debates on the environment and condemning speculation in food commodities.

He visited South America last month and gave passionate speeches in which he censured capitalism, championed the rights of the poor, and warned of irreversible damage to the planet.

In an encyclical dedicated to the environment in June, Francis, the first pope from a developing nation, advocated a change of lifestyle in rich countries and demanded swift action to save the planet from environmental ruin.

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  • zathras

    Trouble is the world's population is ever growing.

    Partly because of improvements in healthcare & medicine.

    Partly because certain religions ban the use of contraception.

    Now More people require More food...

    Unless of course, we start eating SOYLENT GREEN.

    Aug 10th, 2015 - 07:43 am 0
  • Conqueror

    @1. Wouldn't it be easier to just exterminate those that plant soy? There can only be a limited market for soy sauce.

    Aug 10th, 2015 - 11:04 am 0
  • Klingon

    Couldn't agree with you more.
    This chump is responsible for a large part of the population growth through his religious doctrine.

    Aug 10th, 2015 - 11:12 am 0
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