In this Jubilee year of St. Francis, we continue exploring how Franciscan eco-spirituality can guide our response to the ecological crisis of our time. Pope Francis warns that the “virus” of materialism “anesthetizes the heart,” fuels inequality and poverty, and destroys the environment (Fratelli Tutti, 2020). How do we resist a “throwaway culture” and embrace a “better kind of politics” that seeks the common good, prioritizes the poor, and protects the environment?
In the third in the series of the Franciscan Eco-Spirituality: Renewing Our Vision in a Jubilee Year (A Four Part Webinar Series for 2026), Judith Enck, author of “The Problem with Plastic” and founder of Beyond Plastics, shares with us about the impacts of plastics on Mother Earth and on vulnerable communities. Judith outlines how we can get involved at the local and state levels to cut toxic plastic pollution. Students from Siena University also share their work to combat plastics pollution in the state of New York.