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Friday, August 28, 2009

Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today

A report from 400 scientists of the International Assessment of Agricultural knowledge, Science & Technology for Development (IAASTD), commissioned by the World Bank and FAO, concludes that while some agricultural technologies have contributed to productivity increases, those same technologies – such as pesticides and fertilisers – now threaten the social and environmental sustainability of agriculture. Greenpeace commented: “The conclusion of hundreds of scientists around the world is that the future of agriculture depends on ecological farming. In order to address the food crisis, G8 governments must follow UN advice and increase dramatically their investment in smallholder ecological farming systems, while ending subsidies that promote unsustainable industrial agriculture.”

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today

Staffordshire County Council has signed a formal partnership with Tuvalu, the Pacific island state most at risk from rising sea levels. The agreement commits both bodies to work together to raise the issue of climate change globally. Tuvalu is a nation of nine coral islands in the South Pacific. All the islands are expected to be completely submerged by 2050.

Cadbury Australia to go Fairtrade!!!!!!!!! Great News!

Fairtrade Cadbury Dairy Milk goes global as Canada, Australia and New Zealand take Fairtrade further into mainstream

* Canada, Australia and New Zealand commit to certifying Cadbury Dairy Milk as Fairtrade by early 2010
* Combined with Britain and Ireland, the five markets will quadruple Fairtrade benefits for cocoa farmers under Fairtrade terms

Today, Cadbury extends its commitment to Fairtrade by confirming that three more markets are to receive Fairtrade certification for the flagship Cadbury Dairy Milk brand by early 2010. This move in Canada, Australia and New Zealand will bring the independent FAIRTRADE Mark into millions more homes in five of Cadbury’s key chocolate markets.

Continue reading press release at http://www.cadbury.com/media/press/Pages/ftcdmanzcan.aspx

Congrats to all those who have helped in this campaign!

I am personally very happy to see this come about- having spent a year and half working for Fairtrade recently.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

ACTU urges quick switch to green economy

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/actu-urges-quick-switch-to-green-economy-20090824-ewax.html

Recycled hardware provides hope in PNG

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/biz-tech/recycled-hardware-provides-hope-in-png-20090825-ewq6.html

Australia goes soft on timber ban

http://www.theage.com.au/national/australia-goes-soft-on-timber-ban-20090824-ewjf.html

Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today

Forests act as carbon sinks: trees and soils absorb carbon from the atmosphere and store it away. If forests are left intact, they could play a crucial in offsetting our carbon emissions. Under the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation & Forest Degradation programme (REDD) developing countries will be paid for reducing emissions, but much remains to be decided before the scheme is finalised at Copenhagen in December. For example,

* How can REDD projects be monitored and verified in remoter parts of developing countries?
* How can agroforestry contribute to a solution?
* What are the real costs to developing countries in avoiding deforestation?
* Should greater emphasis be put on reforestation and growth in forest carbon stocks?
* Have developing countries the capacity to trade effectively in carbon markets?

There is an urgent need for prayer on all these issues. Copenhagen is our last chance for an effective climate agreement.

Monday, August 24, 2009

A tool for greener pastures

A new carbon calculator for farms
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/a-tool-for-greener-pastures-20090823-ev3s.html

Tree deaths triple as city's soil turns to dust

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/tree-deaths-triple-as-citys-soil-turns-to-dust-20090823-ev3q.html

Melbourne Water to harness sewage power

http://business.theage.com.au/business/melbourne-water-to-harness-sewage-power-20090823-ev2q.html

EU threatens to ban 4000 airlines over emissions

The EU leading the world again. :)
http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/eu-threatens-to-ban-4000-airlines-over-emissions-20090824-evop.html

Artists weave ghost net awareness message

Ghost nets are a really important, really concerning issue that does not get enough attention. Good on them.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/24/2664368.htm

Can't just add water

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/cant-just-add-water/1603717.aspx

Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today

Scientists at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars have been carrying out field trials on “nanoremediation” of contaminated sites. Its Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies has identified 45 sites in 7 countries and 12 US states where nanomaterials have been used for soil and groundwater remediation. The authors of the project conclude that the technology could be an effective and economical alternative to some clean-up practices, but potential risks remain poorly understood. “More research is needed to understand and prevent any potential adverse environmental impacts, particularly studies on full ecosystem-wide impacts.”

Win a Green Home Starter Pack

http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/index.asp?page_id=146&comp_id=27

An Update on Home Rebates

http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/Environmental-News/green_home_rebate_update

New GreenPages Business Directory out soon

These can be really useful when you are trying to find out who offers various environmental services:
http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/index.asp?page_id=741

Turning office paper waste into toilet paper - a great idea, but doesn't seem very practical yet

http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/Environmental-News/office_paper_recycling

A Shopper's Guide to Produce and the amount of Pesticides used

http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/Environmental-News/best_and_worst_produce

An interesting solution to a problem I have had many a time..... How to get the groceries home (without killing yourself)

Check out the 'Hook and Go', a nifty new shopping trolley design here http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/index.asp?page_id=105&id=&company_id=12285

Friday, August 21, 2009

Can rebates change behaviour?

http://www.gmagazine.com.au/blog/1527/can-rebates-change-behavior

Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today

Biochar is a soil management strategy for making nutrient-poor soils more fertile while turning them into stable carbon sinks. A pilot project in Cameroon involves 75 groups of subsistence farmers producing char from palm fronds, cassava stems and three types of wood. Six weeks into the project, the maize in the char plots has already begun to tassel despite erratic rains, while plants in the control plots are barely past the 8-leaf stage. The Biochar Fund and Key Farmers Cameroon are now studying whether the use of biochar can help solve food insecurity, soil depletion, energy poverty and help slow the rate of deforestation. Website: www.biocharcameroon.org

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Returning to the Ten Commandments - Idolatry

Reading: Exodus 20
While I was in Melbourne recently on a work trip I visited many churches to spread the word about the Five Leaf Eco-Awards. One service in particular that I went to really stood out. The topic was idolatry. It was very powerful. If anyone in that congregation believed idolatry was worshiping little carved pieces of wood, and thus not very relevant today, I believe that idea would have been shattered by this sermon.

The worship leader went through all the various idols we tend to worship today - money, work, success, fame, relationships as well as some less obvious ones; for example Christians who put 'being/being seen to be, a good Christian' before God. His theory was that there is one great Meta-Idol in our age - the 'self'. All the other idols are important to us because we need them in order to worship our self. He went on to express how he often wants to yell at those of my generation "It's not about you! It's not about you! It's not about you!" until they start to get it.

I sympathize with this impulse. In our society we are encouraged to be individuals and to always put ourselves first. Is it really any wonder then, that we are unwilling to make personal sacrifices to reduce our environmental impact for the good of the community? We have been raised to believe that communities are just groups of individuals who occasionally work together for their mutual benefit. In the Western world I think the idea of living for and sacrificing for the community and the greater good is now largely absent. Even in the one place where we should be forced to think of others - the family - many young people are not being raised with the discipline to instill this sense of self-sacrifice. Dying to self is one of the hardest challenges of Christianity, and I think it is only becoming harder for the current generation. People my age (21) have never known a lack of prosperity, never known what it is like to have to work together and sacrifice as those who lived through the wars and depression did. We don't really see the self, or even consumerism and money as idols, because they are too entrenched a part of our lives. It would be hard for us to separate ourselves from these things long enough to realise the amount of esteem we hold them in.

Idols are insidious; and the problem is not restricted to the secular world. Some Christian merchandise is very useful in helping one grow in the faith, but one has to wonder where the line should be drawn. Especially when we need campaigns like Holy Hardware to request the major Christian store brands buy Fairtrade and ethically sourced products. Am I the only one who thinks it is really wrong that some poor child should have to work in a sweatshop to make some pretty little Christian bauble I don't really need? There shouldn't be a campaign about this, because all Christian products should have been ethical from inception.

Taken to heart, this idea of becoming free of idolatry is really very challenging. Try taking a step back from yourself and look at the way you live. Do you think of what God would want you to do every moment of every day? Have you got to the point where you don't have to anymore because it is second nature? Or do you have a way to go? I know I do. When you buy something at the shops, do you ask yourself whether Jesus would buy this? How else can you use the philosophy of 'it's not about me' to make positive changes in your life? I have found the philosophy quite useful in fighting procrastination over work I need to do, and in prompting me to do things I know I should do - like having shorter showers, walking more and leaving the heater off.

Freedom from idolatry offers a real key to becoming more environmentally friendly. If we can stop relying on chocolate, cars, books and movies to make us feel good about ourselves then maybe we can save both the planet and our relationship with God. It's not about us, it's about Jesus.

20% Renewable Energy Target by 2020 passed :)

For more info see: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/20-of-all-energy-renewable-by-2020-20090819-eqm5.html

Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today

Cotton is a notoriously thirsty crop requiring large amounts of water and 20-30 applications of chemicals per season. WWF and IKEA run a project in Andhra Pradesh to find ways of reducing water use, chemical spraying and pesticides while increasing family incomes. One test area includes a yellow plastic screen coated with a fragrant pheromone to attract insects away from the crop. The cotton growers have formed co-operatives to discuss matters such as bulk purchasing and how to by-pass middlemen. They now tend to use plant-based preparations from the Neem tree and extract of Vitex together with biological control of pests. Chemical use has fallen by about 40% and artificial fertilisers by 30%.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Call to share sustainable future vision

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,27574,25943955-2682,00.html

Kenya and Uganda in fish fight over island

http://www.theage.com.au/world/kenya-and-uganda-in-fish-fight-over-island-20090817-enmw.html

Kenya's lions face destruction 'within 20 years'

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/18/2658759.htm

Climate sceptics like Nazi appeasers: Rees

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/global-warming/climate-sceptics-like-nazi-appeasers-rees-20090819-ep9b.html

Garrett concedes: extinction inevitable

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/garrett-concedes-extinction-inevitable-20090817-enoe.html

My Birthday Wish

My birthday wish is to save sharks. Click here to make my wish come true: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/birthdays/134025?m=e0bc6388

Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today

Kingsland Primary School in Stoke on Trent has invested £11,000 in a decommissioned S-360 commercial aircraft to provide a new classroom. The project, called “Kings Wings” not only provides more learning space but also teaches the pupils about recycling. The head teacher said: “The children’s imagination has been fired up by the idea. They are enthused and motivated and we are sure this will lead to improved attendance, give better opportunities for speaking and listening and will raise attainment. The project has caught the wider community’s interest and our aim is to use the aeroplane as a community learning resource too.”

Monday, August 17, 2009

Salt and Light - August Issue

Salt and Light

August Issue

Five Leaf Church Greening Initiative Newsletter

We believe that Creation Care is a core Christian responsibility”

The aim of this Newsletter is to provide a supportive and informative link between individuals and groups that share a care and Christian responsibility for our environment. You are on this newsletter list because you have expressed an interest in the Five Leaf Eco-Awards program or have communicated with the National Coordinator - Jessica Morthorpe.

Contents

l Letter from the Editor

l Update on Five Leaf

l Events

l Doom and Gloom

l A Stirring of Hope

l Resources

l Monthly Action Tips

l Reading

l Discussion Question

l Quotes of the month

l Websites to visit

Letter from the Editor:

Greetings everyone, I hope this newsletter finds you all well.

It is an exciting time for the Five Leaf Eco-Awards at the moment. With a new church signing up to the program, the drawing of the winner of the Green Bible in the Church Greening Story drive, and I am booked into several speaking engagements over the next few months. More information in the Update on Five Leaf.

Also in this issue: My top ten tips for reducing your environmental impact and saving money at home and church, why we don’t act on climate change, Cane Toad fences proving successful and some exciting new resources available.

Yours Sincerely,

Jessica Morthorpe

National Church Project Coordinator

Five Leaf Eco-Awards

Update on Five Leaf

- Kippax Uniting Church has signed up to be part of the Five Leaf Eco-Awards pilot. This exciting new addition to the program officially launches the Canberra pilot program and it is hoped more churches in the area will join soon.

- On the 29th of July Kippax UnitingCare receive a donation of a Solar Panel System. See http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/solar_mission_shines_light_on_holt_community_centre/004184/

- Jessica will be speaking after lunch at the Uniting Church Canberra Presbytery meeting on the 15th of August to be held Kippax Uniting Church in Holt, Canberra.

Winners of the Green Bible!

The results for the green bible competition are in! Thankyou to all of the churches who participated, you all made a wonderful contribution! The lucky recipients of the green bible after an anonymous prize draw are St Luke’s Uniting Church in Highton! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your well earned prize!

St Luke’s UCA, Highton.

Greening story. June 2009.

St Luke’s commitment to lessening the environmental footprint of their church began in 2007 when they employed the services of Joel Meadows to conduct an energy, water and transport audit of their property. After the audit was received in February 2008 it was made available to all members of the congregation and inspired the improvements that have since been made.

Listed below are some of the changes completed;

1. The floor heating in the Worship Centre was replaced with three gas heaters which significantly reduced the electricity usage.

2. An emphasis has been placed on turning off appliances immediately after use.

3. Replacing radiant wall heaters in the hall with two gas space heaters and with split cycle air conditioners in the kitchen and meeting room.

4. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

5. Removing tubes from security lights (from 2 to 1 fluorescent tube)

6. Disconnecting the hot water service in the toilet.

The congregation at St Luke’s have a goal to try and reduce their CO2 emissions every year by setting a CO2 reduction target for the next 12 months. In 2008 they reduced their emissions by 22% and they are aiming for a 10% reduction in 2009.

The St Luke’s Environmental Group meet regularly to discuss environmental issues, engage with a guest speaker, write letters to politicians and plan activities in the local community (such as tree planting). They have also spread the conservation message through the Pastoral Connections Team and holding four public forums on environmental themes. However, they are not done yet and are investigating solar panels, rain water tanks and other measures to further reduce their electricity and water consumption.

Events

Day of Prayer on Climate Change on October 4th

A key aim is to pray for God’s will to be done during the decisive Copenhagen COP 15 talks this December. Christians of all denominations are joining together to express their concerns over the seriousness and urgency of our global situation.

See www.christian-ecology.org.uk/day-of-prayer.htm

Resources have been prepared to make running such a day easy including:

*Introductory letter

*Information for organizers

*Poster

*Sample magazine and newssheet inserts

*Prayers - full content

*Welcome sheet

Sunday October 4th is suggested as the day of prayer (though individual churches will be free to make their own arrangements and dates). This date is St Francis Day and the final Sunday of the Time for Creation (September 1st – October 4th). It will also be harvest festival in many churches. The time of prayer could be from 12 noon to 6 pm and will encourage people to ‘stop’ in a busy world and take time out in prayer and meditation. People may want to combine this with a time of fasting. People will be welcome to come for as short or long a time as they wish.

This event is based out of the UK, but it would be great if people in Australia also join in.

Doom and Gloom

The psychology of climate change: why we do nothing

Tom Levitt 12th August, 2009

Well-publicised simple steps like using energy-saving light bulbs may be making it more difficult to prepare people for the bigger changes needed to tackle climate change, argue psychologists

Upwards of 75 per cent of the general public, going by recent polls in the US and UK, say climate change is an important issue.

But few of us are doing much to actually tackle the problem and reduce our own emissions.

It is a conundrum that we are, perhaps belatedly, realising should be seen as a psychological one.

Anxiety and helplessness, argues a report published last week by the American Psychological Association, rather than ambivalence or apathy are the biggest barriers to individuals taking action.

The report says that unlike other environmental problems like river pollution or GM food, people do not see climate change as an immediate threat.

’What is unique about current global climate change is the role of human behaviour,’ said report chair Janet Swim, of Pennsylvania State University. ‘We must look at the reasons people are not acting in order to understand how to get people to act.’

The report identified some key barriers, including:

* Uncertainty – Research has shown that uncertainty over climate change reduces the frequency of “green” behaviour.

* Mistrust – Evidence shows that most people don’t believe the risk messages of scientists or government officials.

* Social comparison - People routinely compare their actions with those of others and derive subjective and descriptive norms from their observations about what is the “proper” course of action. i.e. Al Gore’s large residence has been used as a justification for inaction.

* Undervaluing risks – A study of more than 3,000 people in 18 countries showed that many people believe environmental conditions will worsen in 25 years. While this may be true, this thinking could lead people to believe that changes can be made later.

* Lack of Control – People believe their actions would be too small to make a difference and choose to do nothing.

* Perceived behavioural control - Because climate change is a global problem, many individuals understandably believe that they can do nothing about it. This is the well-known collective action problem.

* Habit – Ingrained behaviours are extremely resistant to permanent change while others change slowly.

The report says psychology has already been used by government and campaign groups to tackle these barriers.

For example, people are more likely to use energy-efficient appliances if they are provided with immediate energy-use feedback. Devices that show people how much energy and money they’re conserving can yield energy savings of up to 12 per cent.

‘Behavioural feedback links the cost of energy use more closely to behaviour by showing the costs immediately or daily rather than in an electric bill that comes a month later,’ said Swim.

However, there are potential shortcomings with this approach.

Big changes

WWF change strategist Dr Tom Crompton points out that appeals to self-interest such as the recent Act on CO2 TV campaign will not necessarily translate to the bigger changes people need to make.

‘It may be the most effective way of engaging people on this simple energy saving action but not as a basis for escalating up to more ambitious changes,’ he said.

‘The evidence is that people pre-occupied with saving money or buying things to look cool tend to be more resistant to adapting the big changes needed.’

WWF has produced a number of reports over the past few years looking at psychological barriers to tackling climate change. Dr Crompton said there needed to be a shift away from short-term campaigning.

‘The environmental movement has for too long focused on the policy response, without considering the social and psychological barriers.

‘Policy is critical but if we are going to contemplate the scale of policy intervention needed we are going to have to address the way we work round with these barriers,’ he said.

Apathy

Among the research currently been done, Renee Lertzman from the Cardiff School of Social Sciences, is looking at the unconscious motivations behind many people’s responses to climate change.


She has argued previously in the Ecologist that people may simply be paralysed by the size of the problem.

‘If people don’t recycle I am not going to assume they don’t care about the environment. There is not a simple causal relationship. In fact it could be if there is a sense of inevitability or powerlessness then recycling is not going to make any sense to them,’ she said.

‘If a psychologist was confronted with the same situation with a patient they wouldn’t shout or bombard them with all kinds of facts about their damaging or destructive behaviour.

‘They would actively try to work out ways to mobilise their ability to respond constructively,’ she said.

Lertzman said more participant-led models such as the Transition Town movement where people were encouraged to bring there own ideas rather than being lectured at, were more likely to succeed.

‘We need to find a way to communicate these issues with people in an honest and realistic way that doesn’t trigger anxiety.’

Get involved




Do not dispair. If you're starting to feel helpless, don’t forget the success of individuals like Rob Hopkins, who started the Transition Town movement, and other local heroes profiled in the Ecologist over the past few years.



Individuals can make a difference.

If you’re looking for a campaign to join, try any or all of the following:

* Transition Town movement

* Climate Camp

* 350.org

* Climate Rush

* Plane Stupid

* Read about more campaigns

See also
What campaigners need to know about human nature

It's all in the mind - Rupert Sheldrake
The myth of apathy - Renee Lertzman
350.org - the ultimate climate change campaign?
WWF - Strategies for Change

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/301036/the_psychology_of_climate_change_why_we_do_nothing.html

A Stirring of Hope

Cane toad fence proves effective

By Gina Marich

The coordinator of Frog Watch says a new fencing method has yielded success in reducing cane toads in Darwin, and may see the pest disappear from ecologically important areas around the city.

Graeme Sawyer, who is also the Lord Mayor of Darwin, says Aboriginal rangers around the Top End are starting to adopt the method.

"Particularly as you get further south in the NT towards the fringes of the cane toad area they become a lot more vulnerable and a lot easier to get rid of.

"And if you put a small fence around those areas and shut the cane toads off the water for a week then you'll probably destroy the entire cane toad population in that area."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/13/2654604.htm

Resources:

Exciting Posters Available

There are many small changes to our lifestyles that we can make that lessen our impact on the environment and save us money; things ranging from water use to heating and refrigeration. This month there are twelve groovy posters with ten great tips which would be a great addition to your notice board at church. If you’re interested please email Jessica at greenleafcert@gmail.com but be quick because due to the limited stock it is first come first served!

Gungahlin’s Treasures Booklet Released

For those in Canberra...

The ACT Conservation Council has put together an awesome booklet about the cultural and natural heritage of the Gungahlin area. With colour photographs, maps, information, a flora and fauna guide and a range of great places to visit this guide is a must have resource. quick because due to the limited stock it is first come first served!

New Five Leaf Resource

Recently Jessica gave a speech at Christ Church Kensington with some great tips for lessening your footprint. This resource has been created following the speech.

Ten Tips for

Reducing Your Impact on the Environment

and Saving Money

at Home or Church

by Jessica Morthorpe, founder of the Five Leaf Eco-Awards

Introduction

The world is in trouble, we know that. The ecological crisis is upon us. Species are rapidly becoming extinct, forests are disappearing at the rate of football fields per second and global warming looms over our heads threatening run away climate change. These environmental issues are a problem for anyone living on the earth, both human and animal alike, but it is particularly a problem, I believe, for Christians. Why do I say this? Well, as we have seen in Psalm 24, the earth and all her creatures belong to the Lord. We were placed in the Garden of Eden by the Lord to tend and care for it (Gen 2:15). Hence I believe fighting the ecological crisis is core Christian work. We should adopt God’s creatures as our neighbours and care for them and their habitats.

I believe that if we do that, if all Christians and churches get together, we can provide real hope and meaning to the environmental movement. That is why I started the Five Leaf Eco-Awards, to help churches become more involved in this life and death issue just as they were involved in the abolition of slavery, civil rights, and women’s right to vote. With the power of prayer, dedication and the presence of God, anything is possible.

So what can you do, at home, to reduce your impact on the environment and stop us needing three earths to support everyone at an Australian standard of living? I have collected ten tips to help you in your journey. And it is important to remember that it is a journey, you can’t reduce your footprint to nothing tomorrow and it is not a good idea to turn this into another type of legalism. I know how hard it can be to change some of these behaviours, and like all sins, if you try to do it on your own you probably won’t succeed. Pray, ask God for help, and if you can, get together with other people on the journey who can support you and keep you accountable, motivated and educated.

Tip No 1: Make sure you aren’t eating yourself out of earth and home.

This is a massive topic, but to summarize very briefly:

1) Try having a meat free day once or twice a week. According to the Australian Conservation Foundation animal products make up the biggest part of the average person’s eco footprint - 34% to be exact. Meat, particularly beef, has a very high environmental impact, using much water and land to produce it, and creating significant greenhouse pollution. In fact if you reduce your intake by one 150g serve of red meat each week, you'll save 10,000 litres of water and 300kg of greenhouse pollution in a year.

2) Choose the following:

Local

Organic

Unprocessed

Less packaged

Fairtrade

Rainforest Alliance

Sustainable seafood (80% of the world’s fish stocks are depleted, 60% of Australian seafood is imported, visit the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s website http://www.amcs.org.au/ and get informed about which species are sustainable and non-sustainable choices)

3) Grow your own

4) Think about how you are storing food - Turn your fridge and freezer up to 4 degrees celcius and -15 degrees celcius to save 10% for every degree you change.

Tip No 2: Change your light globes and turn lights and appliances off when you aren’t using them.

Lighting the average home produces about three quarters of a tonne of greenhouse gases each year. Changing inefficient incandescent light globes to more efficient models is one of the cheapest and easiest things you can do to reduce your energy at home or in your church. Which replacement globes are best will depend on your situation, but switching can save you up to $110 per year in the average household.

Also, don’t forget to turn your lights, and anything else you aren’t using off, or better yet unplug your appliances to prevent phantom energy loss.

Appliances on standby can account for 10% of your electricity. If you switch off just one appliance at the wall you could save 45 kg of greenhouse gas each year.

Tip 3: Look at your heating and cooling, and insulate!

Make sure your heating and cooling methods are efficient.

Turn your heating down to 18 degrees celcius in winter and airconditioning to 24 degrees celcius in summer. This will save you $90 a year.

Use smaller spaces, and warm or cool yourself not the room - with jumpers, clothing or a glass of water. This can save you another $90 a year. Using a quilt, hot water bottle and warm PJ’s instead of a heater at night can save you $150 per year on your heating bill.

Also, remember to insulate, insulate, insulate – especially rooves, walls and windows. Make use of the government insulation rebates currently available. Installing your home with draft sealers can save up to 15% of your power bill and insulating hot water pipes can save $20.

Tip 4: Green your electricity supply

If you can, invest in renewable energy sources such as solar panels. Alternatively invest in a GreenPower program for your energy use. The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change has a deal with Jackgreen energy where your church will receive $35 if you switch your home to their GreenPower program. For more information see their website at: www.arrcc.org.au

Tip 5: Mend, swap and vintage your clothes.

Producing clothes has a significant environmental impact, using much water, energy and land. The amount of water used in the production and transport of clothes bought by an average Australian household each year is 150,000 litres - buying second hand clothes or repairing old clothes could save much of this water. Cotton in particular requires a lot of water and often also uses a lot of chemicals. On average worldwide, every new T-shirt made takes about 1.5 kilograms of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to produce.

Washing clothes also uses a lot of water, energy and chemicals. Remember to do your washing in cold water; it can save you $50 a year.

Tip 6: Save water in the shower

To save water always have a four minute or a dry shower (only turn the water on when you are rinsing). Use a water saving showerhead to save $50 a year. Also put an aerator in your taps to save 10% of your hot water bill.

Tip 7: Recycle

To learn what you can and can’t recycle in your area visit the recycling near you website http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/

Tip 8: Compost

Methane, a gas produced by rotting organic matter in landfill, is 25 times more potent than CO2 at warming. By composting you can reduce your methane emissions and have a better garden!

Tip 9: Use recycled paper, print both sides and think before printing.

Tip 10: Share with your community

Think of all the things you can share– for example books, tools, cars, lawnmowers and skills such as sewing and cooking. The more you share the less you will have to buy and the smaller your ecological footprint.

In total the actions I have outlined can potentially save the average household more than $500 a year or 30% off their power bill.

Five More Important Tips:

1. Educate yourself – read magazines, websites and books on environmental themes. Become aware of the issues and what you can do about them.

2. Travel Earth consciously

a. Walk, take public transport, ride a bike or work from home.

b. Drive efficiently and smoothly and keep your car in good condition. Just having the correct tyre pressure can save 10% on your fuel consumption! A well-serviced car can save you – and the environment - heaps!

c. Carpool- sharing a car to church or work can reduce your the impact of your travel and your costs by 75%. If you are not comfortable carpooling with strangers why not arrange a carpooling group through your church?

d. Reduce Air travel. If you are travelling for work see if you can have a video conference instead. If you are going on holidays consider a location closer to home. If you have to fly offset the carbon emissions with a reputable program.

3. Lead by example to others. The easiest way to convince others to care for the environment is to model the correct behavior for them. Show them it is possible, easy, and expected. According to Mahatma Ghandi ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’.

4. Get involved in the environmental projects already happening. You don’t need to re-invent the wheel. There are lots of environmental groups around doing all sorts of projects. Find out what is happening in your area and get involved.

5. Remember offsetting emissions should always be your last option. It is good to calculate the emissions you are creating, and good to want to do something about it, but offsetting should always be your last option. Offsetting before you have made all the behavior changes you can to reduce your emissions is kind of missing the point!

References:

http://www.acfonline.org.au/default.asp?section_id=147

http://www.arrcc.org.au/

http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/

http://www.amcs.org.au/

http://www.mefl.com.au/

Monthly Action Tips

Organise a ‘Season of Creation’ for your church in September

Celebrate God’s Creation this September...

In the seasons of Advent, Epiphany, Lent and Easter we celebrate the life of Christ. In the season of Pentecost we celebrate the Holy Spirit. Now, in the season of Creation, we have an opportunity to celebrate God, the Creator.

For four Sundays in September, prior to St Francis of Assisi Day, we join in celebrating with Christ the wonders of creation.

Founded by Normal Habel, the Season of Creation site provides readings, liturgies, Bible studies, sermons, children’s addresses, worship guidelines and everything you need to participate. Visit www.seasonofcreation.com today

Illegal Logging is Stealing

The Justice and International Mission Unit is campaigning for a ban on illegally imported timber and wood products. We have recently produced a postcard asking the Australian Government to take action. If you would like to sign a card or order multiple postcards for your church please contact: Cath James 9251 5279 or cath.james@victas.uca.org.au You can also go to: http://www.justact.org.au/action-36-illegal-logging-is-stealing/

Reading

The following reflection is from a series Jessica wrote for her church newsletter during their Season of Creation celebrations. The full list of reflections can be found at http://fiveleaf-crownofthorns.blogspot.com

Our own little worlds

Most people don’t think about the cosmos often. We live our lives in our tiny little worlds made up of our work, our home, our friends and the local grocery store. Seeing the world in such a limited way makes it easy to harm the earth because we don’t see the damage. When we buy cheap coffee we don’t see the people who suffer growing and picking it, and we don’t see the rainforest cut down to get the land it is growing on. It can be useful to remember that ultimately the cosmos is a closed system. As they say, when you pick a flower, a polar bear sneezes.

What little things do you do that might have a big impact on the planet?

Discussion Question

I am studying a couple of courses in conservation biology at the moment and there is an issue that keeps coming up. I want to run away from it because it is uncomfortable, but it raises some important questions. See, the fact is, with habitat loss, climate change and other environmental issues it is inevitable that we will lose more species to extinction. I want to think we can save them all, but realistically, with limited resources we can’t. So how should we make the decisions about which species we will invest in saving and which we won’t? Do we employ a triage method and only save those we think we can save, or do we use some sort of value system to decide which species are important? What impact should being a Christian have on our thinking/decisions about this issue?

To respond to this question visit the Church Greening and Christian Environmentalism group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48763181790&ref=ts

Quotes of the month

“I am personally convinced that one person can be a change catalyst, a “transformer” in any situation, any organisation. Such an individual is yeast that can leaven an entire loaf. It requires vision, initiative, patience, persistence, courage, and faith to be a transforming leader.”

Covey, Stephen R.

“When the solution is simple, God is answering.”

Albert Einstein

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

Anne Frank

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.”

Cree, Indian proverb

Websites to Visit:

http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org/?sssdmh=dm16.389073

http://www.monolake.org/about/waterconservation

Please feel free to pass this newletter on to any individual or group who may be interested.

If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter email greenleafcert@gmail.com

by Jessica Morthorpe, founder of the Five Leaf Eco-Awards

Introduction
The world is in trouble, we know that. The ecological crisis is upon us. Species are rapidly becoming extinct, forests are disappearing at the rate of football fields per second and global warming looms over our heads threatening run away climate change. These environmental issues are a problem for anyone living on the earth, both human and animal alike, but it is particularly a problem, I believe, for Christians. Why do I say this? Well, as we have seen in Psalm 24, the earth and all her creatures belong to the Lord. We were placed in the Garden of Eden by the Lord to tend and care for it (Gen 2:15). Hence I believe fighting the ecological crisis is core Christian work. We should adopt God’s creatures as our neighbours and care for them and their habitats.
I believe that if we do that, if all Christians and churches get together, we can provide real hope and meaning to the environmental movement. That is why I started the Five Leaf Eco-Awards, to help churches become more involved in this life and death issue just as they were involved in the abolition of slavery, civil rights, and women’s right to vote. With the power of prayer, dedication and the presence of God, anything is possible.

So what can you do, at home, to reduce your impact on the environment and stop us needing three earths to support everyone at an Australian standard of living? I have collected ten tips to help you in your journey. And it is important to remember that it is a journey, you can’t reduce your footprint to nothing tomorrow and it is not a good idea to turn this into another type of legalism. I know how hard it can be to change some of these behaviours, and like all sins, if you try to do it on your own you probably won’t succeed. Pray, ask God for help, and if you can, get together with other people on the journey who can support you and keep you accountable, motivated and educated.

Tip No 1: Make sure you aren’t eating yourself out of earth and home.
This is a massive topic, but to summarize very briefly:
1) Try having a meat free day once or twice a week. According to the Australian Conservation Foundation animal products make up the biggest part of the average person’s eco footprint - 34% to be exact. Meat, particularly beef, has a very high environmental impact, using much water and land to produce it, and creating significant greenhouse pollution. In fact if you reduce your intake by one 150g serve of red meat each week, you'll save 10,000 litres of water and 300kg of greenhouse pollution in a year.
2) Choose the following:
Local
Organic
Unprocessed
Less packaged
Fairtrade
Rainforest Alliance
Sustainable seafood (80% of the world’s fish stocks are depleted, 60% of Australian seafood is imported, visit the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s website http://www.amcs.org.au/ and get informed about which species are sustainable and non-sustainable choices)
3) Grow your own
4) Think about how you are storing food - Turn your fridge and freezer up to 4 degrees celcius and -15 degrees celcius to save 10% for every degree you change.

Tip No 2: Change your light globes and turn lights and appliances off when you aren’t using them.
Lighting the average home produces about three quarters of a tonne of greenhouse gases each year. Changing inefficient incandescent light globes to more efficient models is one of the cheapest and easiest things you can do to reduce your energy at home or in your church. Which replacement globes are best will depend on your situation, but switching can save you up to $110 per year in the average household.
Also, don’t forget to turn your lights, and anything else you aren’t using off, or better yet unplug your appliances to prevent phantom energy loss.
Appliances on standby can account for 10% of your electricity. If you switch off just one appliance at the wall you could save 45 kg of greenhouse gas each year.

Tip 3: Look at your heating and cooling, and insulate!
Make sure your heating and cooling methods are efficient.
Turn your heating down to 18 degrees celcius in winter and airconditioning to 24 degrees celcius in summer. This will save you $90 a year.
Use smaller spaces, and warm or cool yourself not the room - with jumpers, clothing or a glass of water. This can save you another $90 a year. Using a quilt, hot water bottle and warm PJ’s instead of a heater at night can save you $150 per year on your heating bill.
Also, remember to insulate, insulate, insulate – especially rooves, walls and windows. Make use of the government insulation rebates currently available. Installing your home with draft sealers can save up to 15% of your power bill and insulating hot water pipes can save $20.

Tip 4: Green your electricity supply
If you can, invest in renewable energy sources such as solar panels. Alternatively invest in a GreenPower program for your energy use. The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change has a deal with Jackgreen energy where your church will receive $35 if you switch your home to their GreenPower program. For more information see their website at: www.arrcc.org.au

Tip 5: Mend, swap and vintage your clothes.
Producing clothes has a significant environmental impact, using much water, energy and land. The amount of water used in the production and transport of clothes bought by an average Australian household each year is 150,000 litres - buying second hand clothes or repairing old clothes could save much of this water. Cotton in particular requires a lot of water and often also uses a lot of chemicals. On average worldwide, every new T-shirt made takes about 1.5 kilograms of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to produce.
Washing clothes also uses a lot of water, energy and chemicals. Remember to do your washing in cold water; it can save you $50 a year.

Tip 6: Save water in the shower
To save water always have a four minute or a dry shower (only turn the water on when you are rinsing). Use a water saving showerhead to save $50 a year. Also put an aerator in your taps to save 10% of your hot water bill.

Tip 7: Recycle
To learn what you can and can’t recycle in your area visit the recycling near you website http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/

Tip 8: Compost
Methane, a gas produced by rotting organic matter in landfill, is 25 times more potent than CO2 at warming. By composting you can reduce your methane emissions and have a better garden!

Tip 9: Use recycled paper, print both sides and think before printing.

Tip 10: Share with your community
Think of all the things you can share– for example books, tools, cars, lawnmowers and skills such as sewing and cooking. The more you share the less you will have to buy and the smaller your ecological footprint.

In total the actions I have outlined can potentially save the average household more than $500 a year or 30% off their power bill.

Five More Important Tips:
1. Educate yourself – read magazines, websites and books on environmental themes. Become aware of the issues and what you can do about them.
2. Travel Earth consciously
a. Walk, take public transport, ride a bike or work from home.
b. Drive efficiently and smoothly and keep your car in good condition. Just having the correct tyre pressure can save 10% on your fuel consumption! A well-serviced car can save you – and the environment - heaps!
c. Carpool- sharing a car to church or work can reduce your the impact of your travel and your costs by 75%. If you are not comfortable carpooling with strangers why not arrange a carpooling group through your church?
d. Reduce Air travel. If you are travelling for work see if you can have a video conference instead. If you are going on holidays consider a location closer to home. If you have to fly offset the carbon emissions with a reputable program.
3. Lead by example to others. The easiest way to convince others to care for the environment is to model the correct behavior for them. Show them it is possible, easy, and expected. According to Mahatma Ghandi ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’.
4. Get involved in the environmental projects already happening. You don’t need to re-invent the wheel. There are lots of environmental groups around doing all sorts of projects. Find out what is happening in your area and get involved.
5. Remember offsetting emissions should always be your last option. It is good to calculate the emissions you are creating, and good to want to do something about it, but offsetting should always be your last option. Offsetting before you have made all the behavior changes you can to reduce your emissions is kind of missing the point!

References:
http://www.acfonline.org.au/default.asp?section_id=147
http://www.arrcc.org.au/
http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/
http://www.amcs.org.au/
http://www.mefl.com.au/
Monthly Action Tips

Organise a ‘Season of Creation’ for your church in September
Celebrate God’s Creation this September...
In the seasons of Advent, Epiphany, Lent and Easter we celebrate the life of Christ. In the season of Pentecost we celebrate the Holy Spirit. Now, in the season of Creation, we have an opportunity to celebrate God, the Creator.
For four Sundays in September, prior to St Francis of Assisi Day, we join in celebrating with Christ the wonders of creation.
Founded by Normal Habel, the Season of Creation site provides readings, liturgies, Bible studies, sermons, children’s addresses, worship guidelines and everything you need to participate. Visit www.seasonofcreation.com today

Illegal Logging is Stealing
The Justice and International Mission Unit is campaigning for a ban on illegally imported timber and wood products. We have recently produced a postcard asking the Australian Government to take action. If you would like to sign a card or order multiple postcards for your church please contact: Cath James 9251 5279 or cath.james@victas.uca.org.au You can also go to: http://www.justact.org.au/action-36-illegal-logging-is-stealing/
Reading
The following reflection is from a series Jessica wrote for her church newsletter during their Season of Creation celebrations. The full list of reflections can be found at http://fiveleaf-crownofthorns.blogspot.com
Our own little worlds
Most people don’t think about the cosmos often. We live our lives in our tiny little worlds made up of our work, our home, our friends and the local grocery store. Seeing the world in such a limited way makes it easy to harm the earth because we don’t see the damage. When we buy cheap coffee we don’t see the people who suffer growing and picking it, and we don’t see the rainforest cut down to get the land it is growing on. It can be useful to remember that ultimately the cosmos is a closed system. As they say, when you pick a flower, a polar bear sneezes.

What little things do you do that might have a big impact on the planet?

Discussion Question
I am studying a couple of courses in conservation biology at the moment and there is an issue that keeps coming up. I want to run away from it because it is uncomfortable, but it raises some important questions. See, the fact is, with habitat loss, climate change and other environmental issues it is inevitable that we will lose more species to extinction. I want to think we can save them all, but realistically, with limited resources we can’t. So how should we make the decisions about which species we will invest in saving and which we won’t? Do we employ a triage method and only save those we think we can save, or do we use some sort of value system to decide which species are important? What impact should being a Christian have on our thinking/decisions about this issue?
To respond to this question visit the Church Greening and Christian Environmentalism group on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48763181790&ref=ts
Quotes of the month

“I am personally convinced that one person can be a change catalyst, a “transformer” in any situation, any organisation. Such an individual is yeast that can leaven an entire loaf. It requires vision, initiative, patience, persistence, courage, and faith to be a transforming leader.”
Covey, Stephen R.

“When the solution is simple, God is answering.”
Albert Einstein

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
Anne Frank

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.”
Cree, Indian proverb

Websites to Visit:
http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org/?sssdmh=dm16.389073
http://www.monolake.org/about/waterconservation
Please feel free to pass this newletter on to any individual or group who may be interested.
If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter email greenleafcert@gmail.com

Sunday, August 16, 2009

My speech to prebytery

On Sunday morning I drag myself out of bed and ride my bike over to my local church. As I enter the solar panels on the roof glint in the sun and I can see a rainwater tank peeking around the side. I am greeted by a smiling face and handed a newssheet printed on recycled paper. I flick to the environmental tips and events section and scan the offerings. Then I move to a table to place some native flowers and a box of fruit from my garden on it for distribution. Next I grab a cup of Fairtrade coffee and sit in the sun to enjoy the building’s passive heating. In worship we sing thanks to God for the wonders of creation and, as it is September and we are doing the Season of Creation, we have an interesting sermon about the need to follow Biblical practices and values in our lives in order to reduce our environmental impact. When we share communion it is with tasty, fresh, home-made bread baked with organic flour and environmentally friendly grape. The gentle light of beeswax candles and sunlight illuminate the scene.

In our prayers for others our weekly endangered species prayer is for the endangered frogs we had a talk about at the youth meeting on Friday. We also thank God for the way he has blessed and added to our church through our environmental work.

After the service I pack up my copy of the Green Bible and join the communal lunch. Fresh, local, vegetarian food abounds and is shared with the homeless. After the meal I quickly make a couple of arrangements for the clothes, book and tool swap next week. Then I meet up with the church green group and we head out to Greenhills Camp and Conference Centre for a working bee. Our Canberra Christian Environmental Action group is going quite well, with our church teams and local conservation groups making quite a difference around Canberra by dedicating a few hours per week. It is a testament to the way the church has now taken leadership in the environmental arena.

Ok, so I’m dreaming. Yet I have not mentioned anything that is not possible, nor anything that could not, in theory, be started today. The church could, and I think should, become a leader in the future development of the environmental movement. Especially here in our presbytery where we have a highly educated population, with one of the highest incomes per capita in the country, and also one of the highest levels of awareness of environmental issues. These privileges come with a responsibility to lead the country in environmental efforts.

Church greening is a young and exciting movement. In the UK, and particularly the US it is rapidly taking off and gaining a lot of power as hundreds of churches and church leaders become engaged in environmental improvement projects and environmental certification schemes. Here in Australia, the movement is smaller, but already there are some really exciting stories coming from churches around the country. Currently a new church is being built in the grounds of an environmental education centre in Melbourne for a congregation who are so focused on the environment they chose their new minister for her ability to fit in with that philosophy. Another church in Melbourne, the Port Melbourne Uniting Church is running an eco-project including a community garden which provides food for their outreach programs to the local poor. They were the first church in Australia to achieve the Five Leaf Eco-Awards Basic Certificate and they have many more exciting plans for the future. Another example is St Luke’s Uniting Church in Geelong who achieved a 22% reduction in their energy use last year, and are planning to reduce this by a further 10% this year. In Sydney Project Green Church at Maroubra Junction Uniting Church have been running their exciting program for years and closer to home we have the community garden at O’Connor UC, some exciting greening work at the Greenhills Camp and Conference centre and of course, the solar panels recently installed here at Kippax, as well as many more. If you haven’t had a look at Kippax’s Solar Panels yet, make sure you do on your way out.

So how can you and your church get involved in the church greening movement in Canberra?

Well, there are several ways. Firstly, your church can become a part of the pilot program for the Five Leaf Eco-Awards. The awards are an ecumenical environmental change program for churches. We assist churches in caring for the environment and provide inspiration through our system of awards for environmental achievement. Currently the pilot is running in both Melbourne and Canberra and Kippax is one of the churches involved. The program has both a basic and advanced level and churches can choose their extent of participation. Award requirements include things like reducing energy use, conducting behaviour change campaigns, giving your congregation green resources and holding events and worship services around environmental themes. For more information talk to me at afternoon tea or visit our webpage at http://victas.uca.org.au/green-church/awards

If you are interested in the program you might also like to become a volunteer, just see me afterwards.

Two other projects I am working on establishing at the moment are an Environmental Prayer Group and a Canberra Environmental Action Group. The prayer group will involve monthly prayer meetings to invite God’s power into our environmental concerns around the world and to pray for the protection of God’s creatures.

The Environmental Action Group will be a hands-on project working with other environmental groups to make a difference to God’s earth by planting trees, restoring streams, volunteering for parks and reserves and assisting in environmental campaigns. For example, something I would like us to be involved in is the projects going on at Goorooyaroo and Mulligan’s flat. These are reserves just above Gungahlin and a large predator proof fence has just been completed in Mulligan’s flat to allow for the reintroduction of the Brown Treecreeper and the Bettong, species previously common in Canberra but now locally extinct. If you are interested in being involved please let me know by emailing fiveleafecoawards@gmail.com

I would also like to encourage all your churches to work cooperatively on these issues. Learn from each other, share the environmental experience in your congregations and lend a hand to other congregations working on environmental projects. It might even help to set up a Canberra Church Greening Coalition or something similar to coordinate the exchange of resources and efforts to green the church in Canberra.

It is hard to imagine now, but in the early 18th century the notions of slavery as an abomination and fighting poverty as a Christian responsibility were simply unthinkable for the majority of the community. It was believed that the poor were poor by the will of God and the rich were favoured by God. This is in spite of Biblical mandates such as proverbs 31: 8-9 which had been handed down since around the fourth century BC. It is strange to think that humanity had so long ignored the intolerable, and even the church seemed happy with the situation, despite the encouragement of the Bible. It took the power of the Holy Spirit opening the eyes of a small group of people, led by William Wilberforce, and then an immense struggle over thirty years to open the eyes of the rest of the country to the will of God and to bring about the end of the British slave trade in 1807 and then finally, the dream they couldn’t even mention when they started, the emancipation of slaves in 1833, 26 years later and only 3 days before his death.

In a similar fashion, I believe God is now calling us to open our eyes to the passages of scripture and the leadings of the Holy Spirit that reveal God’s desire to take the emancipation further. Since the industrial revolution we have often forgotten God’s creation in our haste to achieve progress. And yet there are over a thousand verses that deal with Creation and how it relates to God and Man. We are called to be good stewards and neighbours to God’s creatures; revealing ourselves as children of God by redeeming creation and loving that which God has created and loved. In the past Christianity and the Bible have often been blamed for humanity’s belief that it can use and abuse the environment. However, this is not really fair. A Christian who leads a Biblical life will respect and care for the environment, and is also more likely to live a simple, humble life that relies upon God and not consumerism for satisfaction and meaning. Interpreted this way, there is no contradiction between Christian faith and environmentalism, and indeed our faith might be the key to saving the world. It is time to put the past behind us and move boldly into the future as a church that hears God’s call to remember God’s first gift to us, to treasure, preserve, restore and redeem creation and all of God’s creatures. I challenge you to go back to your churches and give them a rating between one and ten in terms of how environmentally friendly it is. If the score is not what you think it should be then sign up to the Five Leaf Eco-Awards and let’s work together to change the world. If your church has been working in this area, well done, and why not contact me to see if we can give you an award? Also, we are currently putting together a book of church greening stories and we would love to include yours.

So is your church switched on to creation care?

Thank you.

Important Lessons from the Bible

Why Jesus came:
"that the world might be saved through him"
John 3:17

Who Jesus is going to use to save the world:
"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God."
Romans 8:19

Our role on earth:
"The LORD God put the man in the Garden of Eden to take care of it and to look after it."
Genesis 2:15

The Five Pillars of A Christian Theology of Sustainability

1. God is the creator, sustainer and redeemer of creation.

2. Covenantal Stewardship (we have a covenant with God as stewards of the earth).

3. The creation-fall-redemption paradigm (God made a good world; human failure broke the relationships between god, man and creation; Christ provides hope for all creation).

4.Bodily resurrection(we will rise with bodies, not as spirits)

5.New Creation (a new Heaven and new Earth refers to a renewal and an earthing of heaven, not starting over).

Adapted from When Enough is Enough: A Christian Framework for Environmental Sustainability, Edited by R.J. Berry, Published by Inter-Varsity Press, 2007, Nottingham p43+