The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is sponsoring a nation-wide screening (October 1-4) of the Academy Award-nominated film Sun Come Up, depicting some of the world’s first “climate refugees,” inhabitants of the Carteret Islands just north of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. See the trailer here.

Designed to be a way to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of those who promote ecology, the film screening would make an excellent young adult activity in your parish or campus ministry. You could partner with other young adult ministries in your area to gather a larger crowd. You might also consider inviting other members of your parish. Young adults might “host” this gathering and provide snacks or a light meal following the screening to accompany discussion.

You’ll find links to resources for hosting a Sun Come Up screening and film discussion online here.

The film and accompanying materials demonstrate the important role that the Catholic Diocese of Bougainville has played in resettling some of these refugees and provides a concrete example of responding to Pope Benedict XVI’s, 2010 World Day of Peace Message:

“Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change . . . Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of ‘environmental refugees’, people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it – and often their possessions as well — in order to face the dangers and uncertainties of forced displacement?” (No. 4) — Pope Benedict XVI