CSDC 367

In the era of globalization solidarity between generations must be forcefully emphasized: “Formerly, in many places, solidarity between generations was a natural family attitude; it also became a duty of the community”.⁷⁵⁸ John Paul II, Address to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (11 April 2002), 3: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 24 April 2002, p. 10. It is good that such solidarity continue to be pursued within national political communities, but today the problem exists also for the global political community, in order that globalization will not occur at the expense of the neediest and the weakest. Solidarity between generations requires that global planning take place according to the principle of the universal destination of goods, which makes it morally illicit and economically counterproductive to burden future generations with the costs involved: morally illicit because it would mean avoiding one's own responsibilities; economically counterproductive because correcting failures is more expensive than preventing them. This principle is to be applied above all — although not only — to the earth's resources and to safeguarding creation, the latter of which becomes a particularly delicate issue because of globalization, involving as it does the entire planet understood as a single ecosystem.⁷⁵⁹ Cf. John Paul II, Address to members of the Italian Christian Workers' Associations (27 April 2002), 4: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 12 June 2002, p. 11.