Congregational Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee Meeting March 2006
World Environment Day June 5, 2004
Prayer Service: Water For All the People of the Earth
Fifty Key Facts About Seas and Oceans
GENERAL INFORMATION
When did it all begin?
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP.
How can you celebrate World Environment Day?
World Environment Day can be celebrated in many ways, including street rallies, bicycles parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, recycling efforts, clean-up campaigns and much more. In many countries, this annual event is used to enhance political attention and action.
Heads of State, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Environment deliver statements and commit themselves to care for the Earth. More serious pledges are made which lead to the establishment of permanent governmental structures dealing with environmental management and economic planning. This observance also provides an opportunity to sign or ratify international environmental conventions.
On this World Environment Day, let us examine the state of our environment. Let us consider carefully the actions which each of us must take, and then address ourselves to our common task of preserving all life on earth in a mood of sober resolution and quiet confidence. |
3/3/04 - THE SIXTH GREAT EXTINCTION - A STATUS REPORT
by Janet Larsen
(used with permission)
Almost 440 million years ago, some 85 percent of marine animal species were wiped out in the earth's first known mass extinction. Roughly 367 million years ago, once again many species of fish and 70 percent of marine invertebrates perished in a major extinction event. Then about 245 million years ago, up to 95 percent of all animals--nearly the entire animal kingdom--were lost in what is thought to be the worst extinction in history (Click here for the full article).
11/6/03 - IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE EARTH CHARTER
We have been studying the Earth Charter as a Congregation for the past several months. Professor Elisabeth Ferrero, who has been in communication with Sr. Tiziana Longhitano in Italy, has informed us of the following:
Last week UNESCO General Conference plenary approved a resolution in support of the Earth Charter. The Draft Resolution was submitted by the Government of Jordan and supported by Costa Rica, Honduras and Spain, when discussed in Commission III of Natural Resources of UNESCO Conference, it received the support from several countries such as: USA (surprisingly because we never really lobbied with them), UK, Brazil, Mexico, Philippines, Indonesia, Kuwait, Argentine, Panama, Uganda, and Senegal. UNESCO resolves to:
- Recognize the Earth Charter as an important ethical framework for sustainable development, and acknowledge its ethical principles, its objectives and its contents, as
an expression that coincides with the vision that UNESCO has with regard to their new Medium-Term Strategy for 2002-2007; Affirm our intention, as Member States, to utilize the Earth Charter as an educational instrument, particularly in the framework of the United Nations Decade for Education for Sustainable Development;
- Invite the UNESCO General Conference to analyse with the UNESCO Director-General how to reinforce, in a practical way, the vision and principles of the Earth Charter in UNESCO programs
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This represents a significant expression of acknowledgment and recognition of the importance of the Earth Charter. This major step could have major implications, including the following:
- Each country -- member state -- that supported it will probably start a formal project (governmental project) to implement the resolution; The UNESCO secretariat will now have a mandate to work with the Earth Charter.
- It would have a mandate to incorporate the Earth Charter within the UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development.
To review the Earth Charter, click here www.earthcharter.org
5/27/03 - PRAYER OF WATER (Click here for the Prayer...)
For more information about the UN Year of Freshwater Link: www.FI-NA.org. Then click: Religious at the United Nations entitled Water for Life-Streams of Justice
6/13/02 - INTEGRITY OF CREATION: An Issue for Religious Today
The Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee for the Union of International Superiors General has prepared a paper on "Global Warming and Climate Change." You can access it in your language by going to: www.jim.mcintosh.org/globalwarming
6/13/02 - IN PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT at Johannesburg, South Africa on August 26 through September 4, 2002.
Worldwatch has developed an Interactive Time Line on their Website (www.worldwatch.org) in which they highlight the efforts to deal with environmental issues over the past 30 years. An excellent summary!
4/15/02 - THE SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD - Union of Concerned Scientists
The National Climatic Data Center indicates that 2001 was the second warmest year on record (1800-2000) with the overall mean nearly 1 degree Fahrenheit higher than the long-term average. This trend is due to greater concentrations of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere caused by burning fossil fuel and cutting down forests. To find information about simple practical steps you can take, visit Climate Solutions web page: www.ucsusa.org/environment/solutions.html
4/15/02 - CLIMATE CHANGE and World Summit on Sustainable Development: In 2000, in Kyoto, Japan, the United Nations (UN) challenged the nations to reduce Greenhouse Gases. Our Japanese Franciscan Brothers and Sisters were represented there. This Summer the UN will hold a World Summit for Sustainable Development (Rio + 10), and Franciscans International (F.I.) is participating in the preparation. The Summit will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa.Our Japanese Franciscans have written to Franciscans International urging the American members of the Franciscan family to influence President Bush. Pres. Bush refuses to sign the Kyoto Protocols fearing that it will have a negative effect on the U. S. economy. Our Japanese Brothers and Sisters state that the U. S. President has sought the collaboration of many countries to overcome terrorism. Shouldn't he collaborate with other nations to protect the environment, they ask. "Without international cooperation, the future of the globe and its abundant life is in such danger that there is a real possibility our planet will cease to exist." (F.I. of Japan) They are working to influence Japan's ratification of the protocols by 2002.THE POOR PEOPLE of the world are the most adversely affected by climate change. The Small Island States are the places where human and oceanic life exists in the most imperiled biosphere on earth. They are faced with a life-threatening rise in sea levels worldwide. These States were represented at Kyoto and F. I. acted in solidarity with them. Not only the dramatic situation of these States, but also the climate changes that we are experiencing, seem to be bringing all the natural functions of our planet to a crisis of survival.
Recognizing that change begins with the ordinary people, Franciscans International is challenging the Franciscan family to reduce its own use of fuels that produce these gases and to influence their governments to sign on to the Kyoto protocols.
ACTION SUGGESTED:
- Learn about Greenhouse Gases and how you can help to reduce them in your country. Cf. www.greenpeace.org/~ozone/ and the other links on our website.Urge your own government to sign the Kyoto Protocols.Pray together for a greater awareness of our responsibility now so that the seven generations who will follow us, will have the natural resources necessary for life on our planet.
- Share with us the actions you have already taken and any ideas you have that would be part of the solution to this serious problem. RSVP to Sister Marcia Dahlinghaus.
April 2002
promoting a sound and healthy ecology is a sacred task "which affects every aspect of life," said Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer of San Angelo, Texas, in a statement for Earth Day, April 22. "This earth is our home, and there is an integral bond that connects us to all life on this planet," he said. "There is a close bond between soul and soil, between life and air and water, between human and all other forms of life on planet earth. An eco-theology of creation looks upon the universe as a communion of subjects, rather than a collection of objects and gives emphasis to both ‘earth-keeping’ and ‘earth-healing.’" From America, April 29, 2000.
"Biodiversity and the Holy Trinity" by Belden C. Lane describes how important species diversity is to all of life and how this diversity is a creative expression of the Trinity. You can find the article in AMERICA magazine, December 17, 2001 issue.
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