Law students studying financial, environmental, and sustainable development themes in their legal courses at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (PUJ) in Bogotá, Colombia participated in an interdisciplinary colloquium Synergy in Laudato Si’, Ecojesuit, Amazonia and sustainable development on 3 December 2019, organized by Professor José Hernán Muriel Ciceri of the Economic Law Department of the Faculty of Legal Sciences.
Pedro Walpole SJ, Global Coordinator of Ecojesuit and Director of Research at the Institute of Environmental Science Social Change (ESSC) in the Philippines joined the online colloquium (virtually) and shared his insights on reconciliation, ecological concern, and the care of the common home, as well as Ecojesuit’s activities in local, regional, and global processes.
Alfredo Ferro SJ, coordinator of the Proyecto Panamazónico, a Jesuit project based in Leticia in Amazonas, Colombia, and advisor and member of the Executive Committee of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM) also joined (virtually) and gave inputs on the encyclical Laudato Si’ and developments in the Pan-Amazonia region.
In the area of sustainable development, the circular economy, solid waste and environmental protection, representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia participated. Engineer Diego Escobar Ocampo, coordinator of the Hazardous Waste Chemicals and Ozone Technical Unit, and Engineer Angel Eduardo Camacho shared the ministry’s efforts in the integrated management of electrical and electronic equipment waste (Residuos de Aparatos Eléctricos y Electrónicos or RAEE) and opportunities in applied research.
Professor Diana Betancourt, environmental law coordinator at the School of Law and Political Science, Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) in Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia also joined virtually with other UIS professors and department representatives.
From PUJ, Professor Lucas Ivorra Peñafort from the Faculty of Architecture and Design spoke about the challenges and opportunities of Resolution 1407 of 2018 for the packaging sector, and Professor José Hernán Muriel Ciceri, discussed state enterprises and law covering the solid waste business in Germany and Europe.Professor Sylvia García and Professor María Juliana Tenorio, from the Economic Law Department of the Faculty of Legal Sciences presented the International Environmental Moot Court Competition at the University of Stetson in Florida, USA and invited the students to participate.
Dr. Carla Ramírez Torrado from the research department of the Vice-Rector’s Office of Research and PUJ students and graduates also participated in the colloquium. A summary of 2018-2019 activities was made, as well as the activities for 2020 with colleagues, academics, students, universities and public and private entities, as well as cooperation agencies.
The student “seedbeds” are mentored by Professor Muriel Ciceri and participated as part of their academic project that involves undergraduate and graduate students, multiple programs, and graduates of the PUJ Faculty of Legal Sciences. The seedbeds present were Ángela María Urbano, María José López, Pamela Rodríguez, Agustín Lago, and Manuel Felipe Delgado and they actively participated in the organization and activities.
