Anniversary
7 years ago
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Palau creates shark sanctuary
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200909/2699636.htm?desktop
Expert warns of land clearing risks
http://www.theage.com.au/national/expert-warns-of-land-clearing-risks-20090926-g770.html
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
Next Sunday October 4th will be a Climate Change Day of Prayer, supported by Churches Together in Britain & Ireland, when Christians of all denominations will join together to express their concerns over the seriousness and urgency of our global situation and to pray for God’s will to be done during the decisive Copenhagen talks this December. The time of prayer and meditation could be between 12 noon and 6 p.m. and could be combined with a time of fasting. Information, posters and sample magazine inserts can be found at: www.christian-ecology.org.uk/day-of-prayer.htm
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Greens back payments for farmers who protect native forests
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200909/s2698218.htm
New parks to protect Top End environment
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/09/28/88061_ntnews.html
Google Earth brings climate into focus
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/news/1595/google-earth-brings-climate-focus
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
A ‘Green Gown’ sustainability award has been given to a Kingston University scheme that encourages students to donate unwanted clothes and household goods to charity. Over 5 years the scheme has collected around 5 tonnes of discard items that would otherwise go to landfill. Last year 80% of the items went to charities within 12 miles of Kingston including Cancer Research, Princess Alice Hospice, Refugee Action Kingston and the Community Furniture Project. For Renata Rez, from Szeged in Hungary, managing the project has been an opportunity to put her B.Sc. in Environmental Management into action.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Carbon calculator: how green is your commute?
http://www.theage.com.au/national/carbon-calculator-how-green-is-your-commute-20090922-fz10.html
Climate mitigation needn't stifle development
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/news/1581/climate-mitigation-neednt-stifle-development
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
A study by UK Water Industry Research called “Maximising the value of biogas” appraises technologies for producing biogas from sewage sludge. Conversion of biogas to biomethane, already well established in Europe and beyond, provides all the advantages of natural gas, from injection into the national grid to use as a vehicle fuel. For water companies the best application would often be the use of biogas in CHP systems, converting up to 40% of the energy contained in biogas into electricity. Measures to increase production of biogas from sewage include optimisation of digestion plant operation and pre-treatment technologies to ensure greater volatile solids destruction.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Australian wines a carbon neutral world first
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/news/1580/australian-wines-a-carbon-neutral-world-first
Friday, September 18, 2009
"A lot of people are waiting for Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi to come back -- but they are gone. We are it. It is up to us. It is up to you."
Edelman, Marian Wright
We all like heroes. Great, supernatural type beings who never take a step wrong and who do what we can’t. When life overwhelms us, we want to cry out for a Superman or a Wonder-Woman to come and save us.
There are multiple campaigns on Facebook to ‘Bring back Captain Planet’ to help educate people today about the environment. (For those who don’t know, Captain Planet was a children’s show my generation watched which involved a team of ‘planeteers’ with special powers (the ability to manipulate earth, fire, wind, water, heart) which combined to create the superhero Captain Planet. Under the instructions of the beautiful Gaia (mother earth) they travelled around the world preventing and solving environmental disasters. Each episode would then end with a tip on what you could do to help the issue discussed. The show had a lot of impact on many people. ) While the call is for Captain Planet to be used as an educational tool, I am sure many of us just wish that Captain Planet was real. Why can’t he come and fix this mess we have created for ourselves? We feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the ecological crisis and we don’t know what to do- so we want a hero.
We can treat God as a superhero too. When things get too much we just want God to fix it. Yet God has chosen to act through us. We, the body of Christ, are God’s arms and legs and fingers. It is up to us to let God work through us to see His will done. We have to have the faith to perform miracles.
For most of us, this seems beyond us. We think, yeah, heroes of the faith like Charles Spurgeon and Mother Theresa can make miracles happen, but we can’t. Yet the same Holy Spirit resides in us as resided in them. And if we think they never doubted, we would be wrong. I remember my shock, some years after Mother Theresa’s death, when it came out that for 15 years; she struggled with doubt and a lack of faith. It makes her more human though doesn’t it? And really, when you think about the things she saw, how could she not have had doubts sometimes? We all know that children starving on the streets and people dying alone and unloved in the gutters is not how the world is supposed to be. We long for the promised days when every tear will be wiped from our faces and all evil and pain will be taken away.
My recent reading however has reminded me of something really scary about this situation though – God is waiting for US to help recreate the world and bring about this new day. God has chosen to act through us to redeem all creation. What a great responsibility! We can’t just sit back and wait for God to destroy this earth and give us another (believe it or not, this is a common excuse for Christians not doing anything for the environment). No! Instead we must work with God to bring about the perfect world we all dream of. It is up to us. God does His work through us; and those who look for God on earth should be able to see Him in us. “We who live now are not disadvantaged, but wonderfully privileged, for God has chosen to rely primarily on us to carry out his will on earth” (Philip Yancy). If there is not enough love in the world, then we must bring love to it. If there is hunger in this world, then we must feed the starving. If people lack faith, we must lead by example, and if there are species suffering and dying as they wait for the redemption of creation, we must reveal ourselves as the children of God by saving them.
As Philip Yancy puts it, in his book ‘Disappointment with God’ (p92):
“Some people find no comfort in the prophets’ vision of a future world. “Mere pie in the sky,” they say. “The church has used that line for centuries to justify slavery, oppression, and all manner of injustice. They force-feed the hope of heaven to the poor in order to keep them from demanding too much on earth.” The criticism sticks because the church has abused the prophets’ vision. But you will never find that “pie in the sky” rationale in the prophets themselves. Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah have scathing words about the need to care for widows and orphans and aliens, and to clean up corrupt courts and religious systems. The people of God are not merely to mark time, waiting for God to step in and set right all that is wrong. Rather, they are to model the new heaven and new earth, and by so doing awaken longings for what God will someday bring to pass.”
Creation can only be saved, freed and redeemed by us. It is time for the church to embrace this message; to stand up and not only catch up with society in our care for creation, but to lead society into a greater level of care and sacrifice for its good. It is up to us. It is up to you.
We all like heroes. Great, supernatural type beings who never take a step wrong and who do what we can’t. When life overwhelms us, we want to cry out for a Superman or a Wonder-Woman to come and save us.
There are multiple campaigns on Facebook to ‘Bring back Captain Planet’ to help educate people today about the environment. (For those who don’t know, Captain Planet was a children’s show my generation watched which involved a team of ‘planeteers’ with special powers (the ability to manipulate earth, fire, wind, water, heart) which combined to create the superhero Captain Planet. Under the instructions of the beautiful Gaia (mother earth) they travelled around the world preventing and solving environmental disasters. Each episode would then end with a tip on what you could do to help the issue discussed. The show had a lot of impact on many people. ) While the call is for Captain Planet to be used as an educational tool, I am sure many of us just wish that Captain Planet was real. Why can’t he come and fix this mess we have created for ourselves? We feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the ecological crisis and we don’t know what to do- so we want a hero.
We can treat God as a superhero too. When things get too much we just want God to fix it. Yet God has chosen to act through us. We, the body of Christ, are God’s arms and legs and fingers. It is up to us to let God work through us to see His will done. We have to have the faith to perform miracles.
For most of us, this seems beyond us. We think, yeah, heroes of the faith like Charles Spurgeon and Mother Theresa can make miracles happen, but we can’t. Yet the same Holy Spirit resides in us as resided in them. And if we think they never doubted, we would be wrong. I remember my shock, some years after Mother Theresa’s death, when it came out that for 15 years; she struggled with doubt and a lack of faith. It makes her more human though doesn’t it? And really, when you think about the things she saw, how could she not have had doubts sometimes? We all know that children starving on the streets and people dying alone and unloved in the gutters is not how the world is supposed to be. We long for the promised days when every tear will be wiped from our faces and all evil and pain will be taken away.
My recent reading however has reminded me of something really scary about this situation though – God is waiting for US to help recreate the world and bring about this new day. God has chosen to act through us to redeem all creation. What a great responsibility! We can’t just sit back and wait for God to destroy this earth and give us another (believe it or not, this is a common excuse for Christians not doing anything for the environment). No! Instead we must work with God to bring about the perfect world we all dream of. It is up to us. God does His work through us; and those who look for God on earth should be able to see Him in us. “We who live now are not disadvantaged, but wonderfully privileged, for God has chosen to rely primarily on us to carry out his will on earth” (Philip Yancy). If there is not enough love in the world, then we must bring love to it. If there is hunger in this world, then we must feed the starving. If people lack faith, we must lead by example, and if there are species suffering and dying as they wait for the redemption of creation, we must reveal ourselves as the children of God by saving them.
As Philip Yancy puts it, in his book ‘Disappointment with God’ (p92):
“Some people find no comfort in the prophets’ vision of a future world. “Mere pie in the sky,” they say. “The church has used that line for centuries to justify slavery, oppression, and all manner of injustice. They force-feed the hope of heaven to the poor in order to keep them from demanding too much on earth.” The criticism sticks because the church has abused the prophets’ vision. But you will never find that “pie in the sky” rationale in the prophets themselves. Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah have scathing words about the need to care for widows and orphans and aliens, and to clean up corrupt courts and religious systems. The people of God are not merely to mark time, waiting for God to step in and set right all that is wrong. Rather, they are to model the new heaven and new earth, and by so doing awaken longings for what God will someday bring to pass.”
Creation can only be saved, freed and redeemed by us. It is time for the church to embrace this message; to stand up and not only catch up with society in our care for creation, but to lead society into a greater level of care and sacrifice for its good. It is up to us. It is up to you.
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
At the UN Bali conference an Indonesian Minister suggested that the world be allowed to ‘rest’ at least once a year, like a Day of Silence or the Hindu Nyepi (or indeed the Jewish Sabbath). He went on: “By conducting the ritual . . . we stop using electricity, motorised vehicles, air conditioners and factory machinery for at least one day.” But there was not one response from any of the foreign participants. The Western creed of 24/7 production and consumption allows no time for reflection – as is obvious in the way the media present our politics. Hence, while countless political leaders have said we must radically change the way we do things, in the political domain at least, it is business as usual.
Bush Care Event (NEXT TUESDAY!)
Yes, another special opportunity is open for Gungahlin residents. Come and actively help your special Mulligans Flat.
We will be helping Ranger Grant spread Kangaroo Grass seed over areas that were damaged during the construction of the Sanctuary Fence. Reseeding these areas is vitally important to prevent weeds such as Serrated Tussock taking hold.
When? Tuesday 22 September, 10am – 12pm
Where? Mulligans Flat Carpark
Bring? Gloves, eye protection (such as sunglasses)
BYO Lunch
To register phone 6229 3204 or email bushcare@consact.org.au
We will be helping Ranger Grant spread Kangaroo Grass seed over areas that were damaged during the construction of the Sanctuary Fence. Reseeding these areas is vitally important to prevent weeds such as Serrated Tussock taking hold.
When? Tuesday 22 September, 10am – 12pm
Where? Mulligans Flat Carpark
Bring? Gloves, eye protection (such as sunglasses)
BYO Lunch
To register phone 6229 3204 or email bushcare@consact.org.au
Sustainable Fair (THIS SUNDAY!)
Come and celebrate community, spring and green lifestyle choices at the first Inner North Community Fair on Sunday 20 September from 11am – 3pm at the Banksia St wetlands site in O’Connor (next to the tennis courts).
The Fair will be powered by solar panels whilst organic waste collected on the day will be composted at the ANU. There will be a broad range of over 40 exhibits, products and activities on the day.
The Fair will be powered by solar panels whilst organic waste collected on the day will be composted at the ANU. There will be a broad range of over 40 exhibits, products and activities on the day.
Bird Workshop (THIS SATURDAY!)
Learn from bird expert Doug Laing. Doug leads bird watching walks at the Botanic Gardens and at Tidbinbilla.
This workshop will start at Mulligans Flat where you will be given a "theory" lesson of how to successfully bird watch and identify some species of birds. Then you will put your new knowledge into practise with a walk around Mulligans Flat spotting and learning more about birds.
When? September 19 (THIS SATURDAY!) 8:30am
Where? Mulligans Flat Carpark off Amy Ackman St, Forde
This workshops is FREE
To register phone 6229 3204 or email bushcare@consact.org.au
This workshop will start at Mulligans Flat where you will be given a "theory" lesson of how to successfully bird watch and identify some species of birds. Then you will put your new knowledge into practise with a walk around Mulligans Flat spotting and learning more about birds.
When? September 19 (THIS SATURDAY!) 8:30am
Where? Mulligans Flat Carpark off Amy Ackman St, Forde
This workshops is FREE
To register phone 6229 3204 or email bushcare@consact.org.au
Huge population boom a massive challenge: Swan
Increasing migration and fertility rates will push Australia's population to 35 million by 2049 - around 7 million more than previous estimates released just two years ago, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/18/2689697.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/18/2689697.htm
Greed at the heart of climate crisis
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/greed-at-the-heart-of-climate-crisis-20090917-ftmg.html
Green Threads Clothes Swap
Sustainable fashion collective Green Threads, in conjunction with ACT otherWISE will be holding their next public clothes swap this Sunday, September 20th at the Inner North Community Fair.
This is the perfect opportunity to spring clean your cupboard and swap some unwanted clothes (that are still in good condition) for some new and wonderful wardrobe finds for this lovely spring weather.
Everyone is welcome, girls, boys, ladies, men, fashionistas and otherwise. This swap is about giving unworn clothing a new lease on life, and reducing the impact of our lifestyles on the environment so our system is pretty casual. You can take more than you give, you can give more than you take, and if you have nothing to give at all then make a donation to ACT otherWISE and support youth led sustainability in canberra.
We'll be there swapping from 11am to 3pm at the Banksia Street Wetlands O'Connor (next to the tennis courts). For more info comtact Michele on 0411 095 165 or u4220048@anu.edu.au
The Inner North Community Fair will also feature food, stalls, entertainment, wetlands displays, and organic gardening advice. And hopefully sunshine, it should be a beautiful day for all!
DETAILS
Inner North Community Fair Spring Clean Clothes Swap
Banksia Street Wetland O'Connor (next to the tennis courts)
Sunday 20th September
11am to 3pm
Contact Michele on 0411 095 165 or u4220048@anu.edu.au
This is the perfect opportunity to spring clean your cupboard and swap some unwanted clothes (that are still in good condition) for some new and wonderful wardrobe finds for this lovely spring weather.
Everyone is welcome, girls, boys, ladies, men, fashionistas and otherwise. This swap is about giving unworn clothing a new lease on life, and reducing the impact of our lifestyles on the environment so our system is pretty casual. You can take more than you give, you can give more than you take, and if you have nothing to give at all then make a donation to ACT otherWISE and support youth led sustainability in canberra.
We'll be there swapping from 11am to 3pm at the Banksia Street Wetlands O'Connor (next to the tennis courts). For more info comtact Michele on 0411 095 165 or u4220048@anu.edu.au
The Inner North Community Fair will also feature food, stalls, entertainment, wetlands displays, and organic gardening advice. And hopefully sunshine, it should be a beautiful day for all!
DETAILS
Inner North Community Fair Spring Clean Clothes Swap
Banksia Street Wetland O'Connor (next to the tennis courts)
Sunday 20th September
11am to 3pm
Contact Michele on 0411 095 165 or u4220048@anu.edu.au
Community organisations to go green
PRESCHOOLS, retirement homes and sport clubs around NSW will soon go green, under $5.9 million in state government grants for energy and water upgrades.
Environment Minister John Robertson announced the funding for the Community Savers grants, which will allow community organisations to complete upgrades including switching to solar hot water or lighting retrofits.
Mr Robertson said the projects will save 125 million litres of water and 4,560 tonnes of carbon pollution a year.
"To protect our environment and prepare for the reality of climate change we need everyone to contribute, including all levels of government and the community," he said.
The grants, of up to $40,000, will go to 247 community organisations under the Government's Climate Change Fund.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26080698-5006784,00.html
Does anyone know if churches will be covered under this?
Environment Minister John Robertson announced the funding for the Community Savers grants, which will allow community organisations to complete upgrades including switching to solar hot water or lighting retrofits.
Mr Robertson said the projects will save 125 million litres of water and 4,560 tonnes of carbon pollution a year.
"To protect our environment and prepare for the reality of climate change we need everyone to contribute, including all levels of government and the community," he said.
The grants, of up to $40,000, will go to 247 community organisations under the Government's Climate Change Fund.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26080698-5006784,00.html
Does anyone know if churches will be covered under this?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Today's Environmental News
Ethanol emits same emissions as petrol: study
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26086611-12377,00.html
Green groups aim at revitalising our homes
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/green-groups-aim-at-revitalising-our-homes-20090916-fron.html
New advertising code to crack down on greenwash
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/news/1567/new-advertising-code-crack-down-greenwash
Climate change 'could kill 4.5 million children'
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26080919-12377,00.html
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26086611-12377,00.html
Green groups aim at revitalising our homes
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/green-groups-aim-at-revitalising-our-homes-20090916-fron.html
New advertising code to crack down on greenwash
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/news/1567/new-advertising-code-crack-down-greenwash
Climate change 'could kill 4.5 million children'
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26080919-12377,00.html
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
Dr. Stephen Wozniak, a public interest campaigner, writes: “So when the reality of our impotence dawns, would any politician dare order genuinely painful and real sacrifices for no certain benefit? Would the millions of ‘super-rich’ give up their yachts, mansions, super-cars and hugely destructive lifestyles? Would politicians sacrifice their pensions and live modestly? Would ordinary consumers even stop eating meat and coveting luxury?” Colin Challen MP asks: “Do politicians see themselves as society’s leaders or society’s prisoners? To be successful, a politician must on the one hand be a suitable subject for hero worship, but on the other hand be a humble servant of the people. The master/servant relationship usually cannot be combined in the same person, but that’s what democracy expects.” Perhaps fewer of our MPs would feel trapped in this dilemma if more of us gave them consistent and prayerful support.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
Forecasting future emissions in China and other fast-developing countries is immensely difficult as there are so many uncertainties. The Chinese view is that industrial nations should agree to firm emissions reductions while, if developing countries are allowed the flexibility to take voluntary action now, new technology and capital from developed countries will help them build their capacity for clean energy and emissions cuts, making it easier to negotiate binding targets later. Yet China is already the world’s top producer of solar cells and is likely to lead the world in solar energy by 2012 with 30 GW. of installed capacity. Can the world rely on voluntary action by China and India while the rest of us commit to binding targets? This will be a key question at Copenhagen.
Inter-Faith Forum on Global Climate Change: Global Problems Require a Global Response
A Pre-Parliament of the World's Religions Event, to be held from 2.00pm to 5.00pm Sunday 18 October 2009 in the Chapel.
To date initiatives taken by religious communities have tended to focus on encouraging adherents to be good stewards of God’s creation in their local communities. However, global climate change is not simply a local problem, but concerns the whole earth. World religions have a role to play in responding to these challenges. This forum seeks to explore the ethical questions raised by climate change, provide a theological perspective from the different world religions, and encourage all people to be actively engaged in addressing an issue of global significance.
Professor Clive Hamilton, Professor of Public Ethics at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE), will challenge faith communities to reflect theologically and spiritually on their responsibility to care for the creation entrusted to them. In response, a panel representing the world’s different religions will offer their own theological and spiritual perspective to the issues surrounding global climate change and respond to questions from those attending the forum.
There is a suggested donation of $5 to cover expenses. All are welcome to attend!
Organised By:
Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture together with the faith communities of Canberra as a Pre-Parliamentary event of the Parliament of the World’s Religions
For further information contact Margaret Roberts acc-c@csu.edu.au
To date initiatives taken by religious communities have tended to focus on encouraging adherents to be good stewards of God’s creation in their local communities. However, global climate change is not simply a local problem, but concerns the whole earth. World religions have a role to play in responding to these challenges. This forum seeks to explore the ethical questions raised by climate change, provide a theological perspective from the different world religions, and encourage all people to be actively engaged in addressing an issue of global significance.
Professor Clive Hamilton, Professor of Public Ethics at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CAPPE), will challenge faith communities to reflect theologically and spiritually on their responsibility to care for the creation entrusted to them. In response, a panel representing the world’s different religions will offer their own theological and spiritual perspective to the issues surrounding global climate change and respond to questions from those attending the forum.
There is a suggested donation of $5 to cover expenses. All are welcome to attend!
Organised By:
Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture together with the faith communities of Canberra as a Pre-Parliamentary event of the Parliament of the World’s Religions
For further information contact Margaret Roberts acc-c@csu.edu.au
Canberra to become a Solar Church City?
I have just returned from a very exciting meeting planning how to get large numbers of churches in Canberra kitted out with solar panels to provide environmentally friendly power and ongoing income. Anyone in Canberra who has thought about getting solar panels on your church- now is the time to contact me and let me know (email me on fiveleafecoawards@gmail.com)
I will keep you updated on details as they evolve....
I will keep you updated on details as they evolve....
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Enviroweek - the Forty Hour Famine for the environment
Get involved today!
http://www.enviroweek.org/
http://www.enviroweek.org/
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
Ideally, a new climate agreement would provide for a uniform high and rising global price for carbon emissions that would:
discourage the release of greenhouse gases and
raise money for adaptation measures, especially in developing countries, and for further emissions reductions.
All the world’s religions can play a vital part in raising public awareness of the fact that everyone will need to contribute their talents and money, and to stimulate pressure on elected representatives to shift away from carbon-based energies and to create new ways of carbon accounting.
discourage the release of greenhouse gases and
raise money for adaptation measures, especially in developing countries, and for further emissions reductions.
All the world’s religions can play a vital part in raising public awareness of the fact that everyone will need to contribute their talents and money, and to stimulate pressure on elected representatives to shift away from carbon-based energies and to create new ways of carbon accounting.
Landmark injunction halts old-growth logging
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/landmark-injunction-halts-oldgrowth-logging-20090914-fnas.html
Black Mountain Walk Saturday 10th October, 9.30 am
Please note that the traditional Black Mountain walk on Saturday 10th October to look at the spring flowers will start from the Belconnen Way entrance at 9.30 am, not the Caswell entrance as stated in the current walks program. The leaders will be Laurie Adams and Jean Geue because Peter Ormay is unavailable.
NPAACT General Meeting Thursday 17 September 2009 - Reptiles of the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales
Where: 8.00pm Uniting Church Hall, 56 Scrivener St, O'Connor
Who: Everyone is welcome, bring a friend, ample parking in the church grounds.
Geoff Robertson, President of Friends of Grasslands, and active member of the ACT Herpetological Association will talk on how he has focused on promoting education about local reptiles in the Association. On his and Margaret Ning's property, Garuwanga, he has identified thirty species of frogs and reptiles.
Join us for refreshments afterwards.
Who: Everyone is welcome, bring a friend, ample parking in the church grounds.
Geoff Robertson, President of Friends of Grasslands, and active member of the ACT Herpetological Association will talk on how he has focused on promoting education about local reptiles in the Association. On his and Margaret Ning's property, Garuwanga, he has identified thirty species of frogs and reptiles.
Join us for refreshments afterwards.
Monday, September 14, 2009
African cousins could replace Indian cheetahs hunted to extinction
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26069583-2703,00.html
Saving energy in the kitchen
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/features/1109/how-save-electricity-when-you-cook
Australia coming last on climate
Australia ranks last among wealthy countries in being ready to compete in a clean energy future or play its part in a strong climate treaty, an international report has found.
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/australia-coming-last-on-climate-20090913-fm7a.html
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/australia-coming-last-on-climate-20090913-fm7a.html
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
Can a new climate treaty be built on strong principles of equity? This depends on the answers to two questions: How should rights to emit greenhouse gases be allocated? Who should bear the costs of emissions reductions? Four competing principles have been advocated: Under the Egalitarian Principle everyone on the planet has the same emission allowance. So India, with a population 3.8 times the size of the US, would be entitled to 3.8 times the US emissions allowance. Under the Sovereignty Principle every nation reduces its emissions by the same percentage. For a 10% reduction, for example, the US would reduce its emissions by 579 million tons of CO2 while India reduces hers by 141 million tons. Under the Polluter Pays Principle, the US since 1950 has emitted ten times as much CO2 as India, therefore the US bill for dealing with climate costs should be ten times greater. Under the Ability to Pay Principle, allocating the burden of costs according their wealth as indicated by GDP, the US burden will be about 12 times greater than India’s. In practice, any agreement on emissions allocation may require a mixture of principles. Some see the Egalitarian Principle as a long-term goal, with other principles being used as a route map towards egalitarianism.
Calling on YOU to Decide the Future of the World
We all know polling booths strike fear into the hearts of politicians. Imagine their faces when they see over 330 climate polling booths and tens of thousands of online votes, organised by young people, for young people, this week, in the world's first youth climate vote.
Less than 3 hours in to Youth Decide voting week and already over 1,000 votes have been cast. Vote for the world you want to inherit now at:
www.youthdecide.com.au
Building a movement big enough to overcome all the barriers to solving climate change will not be easy. Make no mistake what we're up against.
We're up against the stereotype that our generation doesn't care about these issues - that young people don't have anything to say, and that if we do, we should wait our turn until we're old enough to be taken seriously.
And we're not just up against the coal, oil, gas, aluminium, cement, electricity generation and mining industries - but also our own doubts about whether we really can make a difference. Do you think we can?
www.youthdecide.com.au
The Australian Youth Climate Coalition and World Vision, through this Youth Decide vote, have created the chance for young Australians to lay our cards on the table and express what kind of future we want to choose.
This campaign is original and creative enough to cut through. We can present a unified youth voice calling for a very different kind of future to the path we're currently on.
Voting opens Monday 14th and closes Monday 21st September and if you're aged 12 - 29 and live in Australia you're eligible to vote.
Please vote right now in Youth Decide - and make sure all your friends vote as well.
Choose wisely - it's your future,
Ellen, Nathan, Dan, Anna, Amanda, Alana, Ella, Gemma, Kirsty, Sophie, Sasha, Tash and the rest of the team
P.S. If you're aged 12 - 29 and think our generation has the right to a voice in the kind of world we want to inherit, vote here in Australia's first national youth climate vote.
Less than 3 hours in to Youth Decide voting week and already over 1,000 votes have been cast. Vote for the world you want to inherit now at:
www.youthdecide.com.au
Building a movement big enough to overcome all the barriers to solving climate change will not be easy. Make no mistake what we're up against.
We're up against the stereotype that our generation doesn't care about these issues - that young people don't have anything to say, and that if we do, we should wait our turn until we're old enough to be taken seriously.
And we're not just up against the coal, oil, gas, aluminium, cement, electricity generation and mining industries - but also our own doubts about whether we really can make a difference. Do you think we can?
www.youthdecide.com.au
The Australian Youth Climate Coalition and World Vision, through this Youth Decide vote, have created the chance for young Australians to lay our cards on the table and express what kind of future we want to choose.
This campaign is original and creative enough to cut through. We can present a unified youth voice calling for a very different kind of future to the path we're currently on.
Voting opens Monday 14th and closes Monday 21st September and if you're aged 12 - 29 and live in Australia you're eligible to vote.
Please vote right now in Youth Decide - and make sure all your friends vote as well.
Choose wisely - it's your future,
Ellen, Nathan, Dan, Anna, Amanda, Alana, Ella, Gemma, Kirsty, Sophie, Sasha, Tash and the rest of the team
P.S. If you're aged 12 - 29 and think our generation has the right to a voice in the kind of world we want to inherit, vote here in Australia's first national youth climate vote.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
Every country benefits directly from actions within its borders that release greenhouse gases, but the emissions have an effect on the whole global climate. Under the Clean Development Mechanism, carbon trading in 2006 and 2007 allowed $19.5 billion to move from industrial to developing countries to enable them to develop low-carbon technologies, so preventing an estimated 1.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions. But one problem with the CDM is that resulting avoidance of CO2 emissions might not take effect for many years. However, it is clear, despite objections from FoE and others, that carbon trading is here to stay, so that the challenge at Copenhagen will be to turn CDM into a system which delivers real emissions reductions both in industrial nations and, in the longer term allowing for much-needed development, in the rest of the world too.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
Commercial deployment of pre-combustion carbon capture & storage (CCS) requires 90% more fresh water than in a conventional power station. Also, the chemical reactions of the scrubbing agents would increase the hazardous waste while CCS could exacerbate local environmental problems tied to the extraction and transport of coal, damage to waterways and air pollution. Yet viable alternatives already exist. The greenhouse emissions for electricity generated by solar thermal or wind power are just 2-3% of the amounts for coal-fired CCS plants, while the emissions generated by advanced gas-fired CHP stations are about the same. Cost estimates for CCS by 2020 are 35-50 euros per ton of CO2 – a 50% increase in electricity costs if one assumes no increase in fossil fuel prices. In the 15-20 years required for deployment of CCS, renewable technologies such as offshore wind and solar thermal power plants could already be offering cheaper electricity, so undermining the argument that CCS can be a “bridge” to renewable energy.
Friday, September 11, 2009
New solar rebate takes effect
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/new-solar-rebate-takes-effect-20090910-fiup.html
North Sea cod doomed by climate change, not fishing
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26053982-30417,00.html
Rare Fiji petrel spotted at sea
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26057728-12335,00.html
The world's worst polluters
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/the-worlds-worst-polluters-20090910-fjdt.html
A teenager from a remote village in Nepal has invented a cheap and efficient solar panel made out of human hair.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/859872/nepalese-teen-makes-solar-panel-from-human-hair
Global warning may increase cyanide in plants
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200909/s2680907.htm
How to green up your home
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,26049966-5005370,00.html
Want a copy of the book? Be one of the first 15 people to email your name and address to tell@my.perthnow.com.au to win
Want a copy of the book? Be one of the first 15 people to email your name and address to tell@my.perthnow.com.au to win
Seaweed to help cows fart less methane
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/news/1555/seaweed-help-cows-fart-less-methane
Temperature drop linked to dolphin deaths
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/temperature-drop-linked-to-dolphin-deaths-20090909-fgvv.html
- an effect of global warming?
- an effect of global warming?
Labor calls for tougher fishing bans
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/6017532/labor-calls-for-tougher-fishing-bans/
Rare snails found on Kimberley islands
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/6017578/rare-snails-found-on-kimberley-islands/
Save forests with online billing
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/blog/1552/save-forests-with-online-billing
Sustainability is Kylie's passion
http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/good-living/green-is-the-new-gold/2009/09/10/1252519574688.html
Home power plants project unveiled in Germany
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/home-power-plants-project-unveiled-in-germany-20090910-fhrs.html
Burnoffs useless in slowing fire: ACF
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26051915-2702,00.html
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
Black carbon, a component of soot, is second only to CO2 as a cause of global warming. However, it only stays in the atmosphere for a few days or weeks, so reducing emissions could be the quickest means of climate mitigation. It is a product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. Its main sources are the open burning of biomass, diesel engines and the burning of coal, wood, dung and crop residues. It converts solar radiation into heat and, by darkening ice and snow surfaces, reduces the earth’s ability to reflect light and thereby increases heat absorption and accelerates melting. Measures to reduce its effect include: Requiring diesel particulate filters on all vehicles, new and old, and Restricting agricultural burning in northern countries during the springtime melt season, so as to reduce the impact pf black carbon on snow and ice.
Leap into Frogwatch this Spring!
Find out all about our local frogs
Learn how to identify different frog species
Take action to protect these fascinating creatures
Frogwatch is an exciting community activity that is open to everyone with an interest in frogs. Frogwatch aims to involve large numbers of volunteers to undertake frog monitoring in the ACT and region.
To participate, simply come along to one of our free Frogwatch training events, where you will learn all about our amphibian friends. You will receive your free Frogwatch Kit that includes all you need to know to participate in the ACT and Region National Water Week Frogwatch Census in October 2009. See below for more details on Frogwatch training events.
FROGWATCH TRAINING EVENTS, 2009 - DETAILS
In early Spring 2009, we will be conducting a series of Frogwatch Training Events. You will only need to attend one of these to participate in the spring Census in October. We recommend attending one of the Introductory Seminars if you have never done Frogwatch before, or if you'd like a refresher on the basics of Frogwatching. The Advanced Field Trip is suitable for experienced Frogwatchers who would like to opportunity to learn more about frogs and frogwatching.
Introducing Frogwatch - Frogwatch Basics
This seminar is essential for the first time Frogwatcher or as a refresher for those who have participated in previous years. It will cover all you need to know to participate in the 2009 National Water Week Frogwatch Census, including identifying frog species, using Frogwatch Field Data Sheets, undertaking habitat assessments and performing your first frog monitoring activity.
This seminar will include a short walk in the gardens to practice our frog identification skills. Please be prepared by bringing sturdy shoes, a torch, and wet weather gear if necessary.
Please note: both of these introductory seminars will be the same - you only need to attend on one evening.
Introductory Seminar 1
DATE: Wednesday 23rd September, 2009
TIME: 6:00 - 9:00pm
VENUE: Australian National Botanic Gardens - Education Centre (Crosbie Morrison Building)
Clunies Ross St, Acton
The gates to the botanic gardens will be open from 5:45 pm. Please arrive promptly as the gates will be locked at 6:15 pm sharp! Please understand we are relying on good will from the Australian National Botanic Gardens to allow us to be there after hours so please follow instructions and respect both arrival and departure times.
Introductory Seminar 2 (Repeat of Seminar 1) Note: this session will only run if the first seminar is fully booked
DATE: Wednesday 7th October, 2009
TIME: 6:00 - 9:00pm
VENUE: Australian National Botanic Gardens - Education Centre (Crosbie Morrison Building)
Clunies Ross St, Acton
The gates to the botanic gardens will be open from 5:45 pm. Please arrive promptly as the gates will be locked at 6:15 pm sharp! Please understand we are relying on good will from the Australian
National Botanic Gardens to allow us to be there after hours so please follow instructions and respect both arrival and departure times.
Advanced Frogwatch Training - Field Trip to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
This seminar is aimed at experienced Frogwatchers, who would like to further develop their identification and monitoring skills. Participants in this field trip will have the opportunity to investigate important components of frog habitat, and talk with expert ecologists in the field. Come along and learn about the Corroboree Frog Breeding Program as well as practice your Frogwatching skills.
DATE: Wednesday 30th September, 2009
TIME: 5:30 - 8:30pm
LOCATION: Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. More detailed directions will be provided upon registration.
We will be walking as a group around the nature reserve, throughout the evening. Please be prepared by bringing sturdy shoes, a torch and wet weather gear if necessary. In case of severe weather conditions, participants who have registered will be advised of an alternative venue closer to the date.
1 October - Start of Frogwatch monitoring period
18 to 24 October - National Water Week - FROGWATCH CENSUS WEEK (all Frogwatch sites monitored this week)
RSVPs are essential. Registrations CLOSE on Wednesday 16 September 2009.
To reserve your place at any of the Frogwatch Training Events, or to register your participation in the Frogwatch Census, please contact:
Emma Keightley
ACT & Region Frogwatch Coordinator
Ginninderra Catchment Group
Ph: 6278 3309
waterwatch@ginninderralandcare.org.au
Learn how to identify different frog species
Take action to protect these fascinating creatures
Frogwatch is an exciting community activity that is open to everyone with an interest in frogs. Frogwatch aims to involve large numbers of volunteers to undertake frog monitoring in the ACT and region.
To participate, simply come along to one of our free Frogwatch training events, where you will learn all about our amphibian friends. You will receive your free Frogwatch Kit that includes all you need to know to participate in the ACT and Region National Water Week Frogwatch Census in October 2009. See below for more details on Frogwatch training events.
FROGWATCH TRAINING EVENTS, 2009 - DETAILS
In early Spring 2009, we will be conducting a series of Frogwatch Training Events. You will only need to attend one of these to participate in the spring Census in October. We recommend attending one of the Introductory Seminars if you have never done Frogwatch before, or if you'd like a refresher on the basics of Frogwatching. The Advanced Field Trip is suitable for experienced Frogwatchers who would like to opportunity to learn more about frogs and frogwatching.
Introducing Frogwatch - Frogwatch Basics
This seminar is essential for the first time Frogwatcher or as a refresher for those who have participated in previous years. It will cover all you need to know to participate in the 2009 National Water Week Frogwatch Census, including identifying frog species, using Frogwatch Field Data Sheets, undertaking habitat assessments and performing your first frog monitoring activity.
This seminar will include a short walk in the gardens to practice our frog identification skills. Please be prepared by bringing sturdy shoes, a torch, and wet weather gear if necessary.
Please note: both of these introductory seminars will be the same - you only need to attend on one evening.
Introductory Seminar 1
DATE: Wednesday 23rd September, 2009
TIME: 6:00 - 9:00pm
VENUE: Australian National Botanic Gardens - Education Centre (Crosbie Morrison Building)
Clunies Ross St, Acton
The gates to the botanic gardens will be open from 5:45 pm. Please arrive promptly as the gates will be locked at 6:15 pm sharp! Please understand we are relying on good will from the Australian National Botanic Gardens to allow us to be there after hours so please follow instructions and respect both arrival and departure times.
Introductory Seminar 2 (Repeat of Seminar 1) Note: this session will only run if the first seminar is fully booked
DATE: Wednesday 7th October, 2009
TIME: 6:00 - 9:00pm
VENUE: Australian National Botanic Gardens - Education Centre (Crosbie Morrison Building)
Clunies Ross St, Acton
The gates to the botanic gardens will be open from 5:45 pm. Please arrive promptly as the gates will be locked at 6:15 pm sharp! Please understand we are relying on good will from the Australian
National Botanic Gardens to allow us to be there after hours so please follow instructions and respect both arrival and departure times.
Advanced Frogwatch Training - Field Trip to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
This seminar is aimed at experienced Frogwatchers, who would like to further develop their identification and monitoring skills. Participants in this field trip will have the opportunity to investigate important components of frog habitat, and talk with expert ecologists in the field. Come along and learn about the Corroboree Frog Breeding Program as well as practice your Frogwatching skills.
DATE: Wednesday 30th September, 2009
TIME: 5:30 - 8:30pm
LOCATION: Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. More detailed directions will be provided upon registration.
We will be walking as a group around the nature reserve, throughout the evening. Please be prepared by bringing sturdy shoes, a torch and wet weather gear if necessary. In case of severe weather conditions, participants who have registered will be advised of an alternative venue closer to the date.
1 October - Start of Frogwatch monitoring period
18 to 24 October - National Water Week - FROGWATCH CENSUS WEEK (all Frogwatch sites monitored this week)
RSVPs are essential. Registrations CLOSE on Wednesday 16 September 2009.
To reserve your place at any of the Frogwatch Training Events, or to register your participation in the Frogwatch Census, please contact:
Emma Keightley
ACT & Region Frogwatch Coordinator
Ginninderra Catchment Group
Ph: 6278 3309
waterwatch@ginninderralandcare.org.au
Switch to Green Conference and Expo – 11&12 September
The Switch to Green Conference and Expo provides an opportunity for students and the wider community to gain a greater understanding of the environmental impact of our lifestyle and how we can switch to a greener, more sustainable way of life. As part of an initiative organised by the *ANU Climate Change Institute*, SEE-Change, ACT Government and various other councils and organisations in Canberra, Switch to Green is a great opportunity to track and consider Canberra's
movement towards a green and sustainable future.
11-12 September, National Convention Centre Canberra
Entry: Gold Coin Donation/ Children Free
For more information visit www.switchtogreen.unaa.org.au today!
movement towards a green and sustainable future.
11-12 September, National Convention Centre Canberra
Entry: Gold Coin Donation/ Children Free
For more information visit www.switchtogreen.unaa.org.au today!
Volunteers Needed for ANU/Dell Recycling Day
ANUgreen will be running a joint recycling initiative with Dell to collect and recycle computers across Canberra on 17 October. The event will be held in the carpark across from Old Canberra House on the ANU campus. In previous years this event has drawn a huge crowd and provides a valuable service to the Canberra community.
We need 24 volunteers for half day shifts (or 12 volunteers for full day shifts) to assist with the recycling procedure. Volunteers are required to assist with crowd control, information and ensuring an efficient process which allows people dropping of computers to come in and out quickly. There is no lifting or packing of computers required.
Volunteers will be provided with a Dell sleeveless jacket and food/drink on the day. ANUgreen will also provide volunteers with a voucher for a free coffee and lunch at God’s café.
Please contact Barry Hughes at ANUgreen (barry.hughes@anu.edu.au) if you are able to volunteer for one or both shifts (8.00am to 12.30pm and/or 11.30am to 4.00pm).
We need 24 volunteers for half day shifts (or 12 volunteers for full day shifts) to assist with the recycling procedure. Volunteers are required to assist with crowd control, information and ensuring an efficient process which allows people dropping of computers to come in and out quickly. There is no lifting or packing of computers required.
Volunteers will be provided with a Dell sleeveless jacket and food/drink on the day. ANUgreen will also provide volunteers with a voucher for a free coffee and lunch at God’s café.
Please contact Barry Hughes at ANUgreen (barry.hughes@anu.edu.au) if you are able to volunteer for one or both shifts (8.00am to 12.30pm and/or 11.30am to 4.00pm).
National Consultation on Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt: Perspective from the Philippines
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES and PEACE FOR LIFE
National Consultation on Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt:
Perspective from the Philippines
13 August 2009 • Quezon City, Philippines
CLOSING STATEMENT
Peace and Wholeness of Life for All:
A Call for an ‘Eco-Just’ World
We are church leaders, youth, women and representatives from various churches and non-government organisations, people’s movements and ecological advocacy groups participating in this national consultation on the issues of ecological justice and ecological debt. We gather also in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Week, seeking to draw inspiration and wisdom from indigenous communities for whom soil whence life springs is sacred and justice to land and all of creation is the key to liberation and human dignity.
The Biblical imperative for an ecological spirituality
We lament that the dominant Judaeo-Christian theology of creation, which places the human at the summit of the natural order, has led to human disconnectedness from nature and the desacralisation of the natural environment, becoming for humanity’s powerful few a biblical injunction for the rape and total subjugation of the natural order. [Gen. 1:28]
Amidst so much poverty and massive violation of human dignity and integrity of creation, we are challenged to nurture an ‘ecospirituality’ that sees the human both as having emerged from the earth (adamah) and tiller of the earth (abad). [Gen. 2:15] We stand on our biblico-theological understanding of human belongingness to creation, not creation belonging to humans, for all of creation—including humans—is God's: "The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. [Psa. 24:1]
We affirm therefore that all things are one: different manifestations but interdependent and inseparable parts of the cosmic whole. Creation is groaning, and longs for its redemption [Rom. 8:20-23]. But our adamic consciousness leads us to believe that God’s redemptive project does not end with humanity’s salvation as phrased in traditional theology, but with the restoration of all of created reality to wholeness.
We reject the notion of nature as ‘resource’—inferior to and separate from human, an inert object to be subdued, exploited, abused. We renounce the ideology of neoliberal globalisation that transforms everything and everyone into a commodity for sale at a price, desecrating the human and the environment and sacrificing life at the altar of greed.
We declare that ecological wholeness is inextricably linked to the prophetic vocation to re-order social relations. Reflecting on God’s equal justice for all—peoples, the earth itself and all that dwell therein—as symbolised in the biblical celebration of the Sabbath as the climax of creation, the Sabbath Year and the Sabbath Jubilee, reminds us that we cannot achieve social justice if we do not do justice to our natural environment, and that ecological justice cannot be realised without the institution of interhuman justice. There is only justice when there is equitable distribution of social goods, including the requirements for the earth’s own regeneration.
Ecological debt in Philippine historical perspective
Our biblico-theological reflections lead us to an understanding that the abuse and overexploitation of the natural environment is tied to human misery and greed, especially imperial greed [Jer. 14:2-5; Hos. 4:1-3; Rom. 8:22], and that it constitutes a debt towards all life forms and to future generations.
We understand Ecological Debt as the debt owed by industrial countries of the North (with its local collaborators in Third World countries) to countries of the South due to ecological damage caused over time by the industrial North’s plunder of ‘resources’ and to the resulting destruction not only of natural environments but also of human societies. While we acknowledge our common responsibility in the destruction of our environment due to our neglect, ignorance and unsustainable lifestyles, we hold as primarily responsible centuries of colonisation and the continuing imposition of the neoliberal economic model upon Philippine society.
The current administration under Gloria Arroyo is even pushing for changes in our Constitution that will eliminate the remaining nationalist economic provisions that impose limits on foreign ownership and control over our country’s lands and natural resources. The removal of these constitutional constraints will only perpetuate the resource-intensive growth strategies of globalisation at the expense of our patrimony, the environment, and the future generations of our children’s children.
The looting of our environment
The degradation and depletion of our natural riches prove that historical and current implementation of neoliberal policies have plunged our country into a serious ecological crisis:
Our forest cover has shrunk from 270,000 sq. km. at the end of Spanish colonisation in 1898 (marking the start of American colonisation) to only 8,000 sq. km. in 2006. In the late 1980s, the government stopped issuing logging permits when the Philippines was declared among the most severely deforested countries in Asia. But the current Arroyo administration lifted the log bans and farmed out commercial logging permits in remaining forest and critical watershed areas, covering a total of 1.4 million hectares.
Our native flora and fauna are under constant threat from severe deforestation and overexploitation. In 1998, Conservation International named the Philippines one of 17 “biodiversity superstars” in the world, being ranked either first or second in biodiversity per unit area. This means many of the world's species of plants and animals are endemic to the Philippines. But CI also declared the Philippines the most urgent biodiversity conservation priority on the planet, being the second or third in fastest rate of species extinction worldwide.
Our marine and coastal resources are at the brink of depletion because of the government’s open access policy for fishing by foreign firms, import-export policy, rampant practice of commercial aquaculture, privatisation and conversion of municipal fishing grounds. Our freshwater resources are also running out; many lakes and rivers are biologically dead due to decades of continuous waste dumping in inland water systems from domestic, industrial and agribusiness wastes as well as impacts of large-scale extractive logging, mining and dam construction.
Our agricultural lands are diminishing in size and quality. Subservience to globalisation policies on agricultural products and foreign monopoly ownership and control of resources have led to land and land-use conversions that aggravate the innate problem of backward agricultural technology, pollution and degradation.
The poor’s greater burden
Global warming and climate change, depletion of mineral resources and fossil fuels, food and water shortages, pollution and other environmental problems are disproportionately affecting the country’s poor more than the rich, an inequality made even more unjust by the fact that the consumption patterns of the rich are a primary cause of these problems.
Arroyo’s failure to harness our rich renewable energy resources to lessen our country’s dependence on fossil fuels, an ecologically unsound and profit-oriented biodiversity program, and other destructive environmental policies make our country more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, further aggravating the plight of our country’s poor and marginalised.
Landslides and flashfloods resulting from deforestation and soil erosion caused by large-scale commercial mining and logging as well as internationally financed dam projects have led to massive displacement of local communities (particularly of indigenous peoples), destroyed livelihoods, and violated human and civil rights. Projects such as the Japanese Rio Tuba Nickel Mining in Palawan, the San Roque Dam Project, Lafayette Mining in Albay, Lepanto Mining in Benguet have been implemented with the collaboration of corrupt local officials with little consideration of their ecological and social impacts.
Land-grabbing and conversion of arable lands to large-scale plantations and non-agricultural uses, the unhampered operation of foreign trawlers on the country’s waters and conversion of traditional fishing grounds for commercial aquaculture have severely limited local community access to natural resources, depriving the people of their sources of livelihood and increasing poverty and food insecurity to crisis levels, especially among farm and coastal communities.
Environmentally destructive projects, in order to operate, are necessarily accompanied by militarisation for the company’s protection and in order to suppress and counteract—often by use of military force—opposition and resistance from affected communities. As of March 2009, under the Arroyo administration, there have been 24 environmental activists summarily killed, two cases of enforced disappearance, and two cases of attempted murder.
Climate change, the depletion of non-renewable resources, widespread pollution and overall environmental degradation have adversely affected the socio-economic well-being of communities, especially among the poor whose underdevelopment—caused by the very same forces that has driven the world into a global ecological crisis—and continued marginalisation and exploitation limit their capacity to cope and adapt.
Our response and call to action
Ecological justice, that is, the restoration to wholeness of creation, is at the heart of God’s redemptive plan, in the cosmo-vision not only of the Judaeo-Christian faith but more so of primal religions. Salvation is an ecological truth, a celebration of God's reign where the values of neighborly concern, love and kinship are extolled and made the norm—and not those of disconnectedness and subjugation and dominion. We need to live out an ecospirituality in which love and caring are the basis of our relationship with one another and with nature.
We share in WCC’s vision of an eco-just world. We are in deep agreement with the World Council of Churches whose study process on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology has shaped a vision of a new world founded on a just and moral economy where:
People—regardless of class, race and gender—are empowered to be involved in making political decisions that affect their lives;
Public and private institutions and enterprises are made accountable and held responsible for the environmental and social impacts and consequences of their operations; and
The Earth and the whole created order is treated with utmost respect and reverence rather than exploited and degraded.
We support WCC’s position on eco-justice and ecological debt as we challenge the industrialised countries of the North, especially our coloniser country, the USA, and their multinational corporations and partner governments to recognise, pay off and make amends for their ecological debt to the countries of the South. We too call on Northern nations—based on the principles of ecological justice, historical responsibility, and "common but differentiated responsibilities"—to:
Adopt a fair, ambitious and binding deal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen in December, which includes:
Drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within and beyond the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and according to the fixed timelines set out by the UNFCCC report of 2007; and
Effective support to vulnerable communities to adapt to the consequences of climate change through adaptation funds and technology transfer.
Transfer financial resources to countries of the South, without conditionalities, to pay for the costs of preservation—petroleum, other natural riches and the global commons—and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Cancel the illegitimate financial debts of Southern countries, especially of the poorest nations, as part of social and ecological reparations, not as official development assistance.
Reduce overall consumption even as this implies zero growth or, worse, de-growth.
Support the capacities of Southern countries to develop sustainable growth paths, including through technology transfers and measures that reinforce and promote local knowledge systems.
In addition, we:
Challenge the Philippine government and international financial institutions to take responsibility for their policies that have caused ecological destruction;
Call for corporate social accountability within international and national legal frameworks; and
Reject all market-based or market-driven solutions to ecological debt repayment such as climate funding and carbon trading.
We urge our churches and faith-based groups and institutions to carry forward and build on the lessons and gains of the environmental ministry begun by the NCCP, grounding it anew on ‘ecospirituality’ and the principles of ecological justice and ecological debt.
To this end, we will explore and undertake the following courses of action:
Awareness-building and theological reflection on ecological spirituality, eco-justice and ecological debt, through study and action, and deeper ecumenical and inter-faith engagement.
Support and participation in advocacy campaigns by churches and environmental groups around the issues of eco-justice and ecological debt, locally and internationally.
Ecological debt audits in partnership with civil society groups, including self-assessment of consumption patterns.
Deepening of dialogue and building of alliances among churches, ecumenical and faith-based organisations, advocacy groups and social movements around the issue of ecological debt and ecological justice.
Support for community-based sustainable economic activities as well as efforts to build not only adaptation capacities but, importantly, people’s resilience to the harsh socio-economic impacts of environmental destruction, resource depletion and climate change.
Development of a course of study on ecological justice and ecospirituality that may be integrated in the curricula of seminaries and church-run educational institutions.
Use of existing programs and resources (liturgical and theological) of churches to address the ecological issue
Inclusion of ecological justice in the churches’ program thrust; creation of an ecological desk or program arm within the churches
Mobilising church members with technical knowledge on environmental problems, alternative livelihoods and technologies, whose expertise may be tapped for investigative/research projects in collaboration with local environmental groups
A national gathering of environmental activists, community organisers, church people and technical experts to draw up a unified and systematised action plan that will concretely address the various manifestations of ecological debt and ecological injustice in the Philippine context.
Finally, we lift up and celebrate the wisdom of our fellow Indigenous Peoples, women, peasant and forest communities whose examples and leadership point to alternative ways of thinking and living within creation. From their societies we learn not only traditional and ecologically respectful forms of production and consumption, but importantly the value of caring and sharing, of restoring right relationships. Our common faith impart the ethical traditions we need to pursue the struggle for ecological justice and wholeness.
Adopted by the participants of the National Consultation on Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt:
Bp. John Leo Zafra – Apostolic Catholic Church
Msgr. Floro Jonathan Escamus, OMHS – Apostolic Catholic Church
Rev. Fr. Christian Benedict – Apostolic Catholic Church
Msgr. Alfonso Crispin S. Talay, Jr. – Apostolic Catholic Church
Ms. Joyce Ortilano – Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
Pastor Job Santiago – Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
Bp. Elmer Bolocon – Ecumenical Bishops Forum/United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Ms. Ofelia Cantor – Ecumenical Bishops Forum
Rev. Eduardo P. Solangan – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Sharon Gusto-Dagson – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Benny F. Mendoza – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Most Rev. Edward Malecdan – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Levi Marie Camballa – Iglesia evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas
Mr. Lingkod F. Maducdoc – Iglesia evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas
Fr. Christian Rey – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Fr. Ramil Aguilar – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Mr. Lesley Capus – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Mr. Ismael T. Fisco – Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas (Philippine Christian Youth Federation)
Mr. Antonio Flores – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Mr. Wilfredo Marbella – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Sr. Mela Alvarez – Religious of Good Shepherd-WJPIC
Ms. Leni Valeriano – Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
Ms. Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses – United Methodist Church
Rev. Arturo Andres Bautista, Jr. – United Methodist Church
Ms. Len Carreon – United Methodist Church
Mr. Ricardo Jontarciego – United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Mr. Edwin Egar – United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Ms. Pinky de Leon – Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK)
Ms. Jinky Bautista – Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK)
Mr. Antonio Casitas – Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa
Ms. Rosario Bella Guzman – Ibon Foundation
Mr. Clemente Bautista – Kalikasan-PNE (People’s Network for the Environment)
Rev. Dr. Ferdinand Anno – Union Theological Seminary
Ms. Athena Peralta – World Council of Churches
Mr. Percy Nuevo – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Mr. Mervin Toquero – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Rev. Rex Reyes – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Ms. Carmencita Karagdag – Peace for Life
Rev. Alan Rey Sarte – Peace for Life
Ms. Silahis Diloy-Ramos – Peace for Life
Ms. Iris Ann Agustin-Capus – Peace for Life
Ms. Bes Rifareal – Peace for Life
NCCP-PfL National Consultation on Ecological Justice & Ecological Debt (13 Aug 2009) ... 1 of 5
National Consultation on Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt:
Perspective from the Philippines
13 August 2009 • Quezon City, Philippines
CLOSING STATEMENT
Peace and Wholeness of Life for All:
A Call for an ‘Eco-Just’ World
We are church leaders, youth, women and representatives from various churches and non-government organisations, people’s movements and ecological advocacy groups participating in this national consultation on the issues of ecological justice and ecological debt. We gather also in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Week, seeking to draw inspiration and wisdom from indigenous communities for whom soil whence life springs is sacred and justice to land and all of creation is the key to liberation and human dignity.
The Biblical imperative for an ecological spirituality
We lament that the dominant Judaeo-Christian theology of creation, which places the human at the summit of the natural order, has led to human disconnectedness from nature and the desacralisation of the natural environment, becoming for humanity’s powerful few a biblical injunction for the rape and total subjugation of the natural order. [Gen. 1:28]
Amidst so much poverty and massive violation of human dignity and integrity of creation, we are challenged to nurture an ‘ecospirituality’ that sees the human both as having emerged from the earth (adamah) and tiller of the earth (abad). [Gen. 2:15] We stand on our biblico-theological understanding of human belongingness to creation, not creation belonging to humans, for all of creation—including humans—is God's: "The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. [Psa. 24:1]
We affirm therefore that all things are one: different manifestations but interdependent and inseparable parts of the cosmic whole. Creation is groaning, and longs for its redemption [Rom. 8:20-23]. But our adamic consciousness leads us to believe that God’s redemptive project does not end with humanity’s salvation as phrased in traditional theology, but with the restoration of all of created reality to wholeness.
We reject the notion of nature as ‘resource’—inferior to and separate from human, an inert object to be subdued, exploited, abused. We renounce the ideology of neoliberal globalisation that transforms everything and everyone into a commodity for sale at a price, desecrating the human and the environment and sacrificing life at the altar of greed.
We declare that ecological wholeness is inextricably linked to the prophetic vocation to re-order social relations. Reflecting on God’s equal justice for all—peoples, the earth itself and all that dwell therein—as symbolised in the biblical celebration of the Sabbath as the climax of creation, the Sabbath Year and the Sabbath Jubilee, reminds us that we cannot achieve social justice if we do not do justice to our natural environment, and that ecological justice cannot be realised without the institution of interhuman justice. There is only justice when there is equitable distribution of social goods, including the requirements for the earth’s own regeneration.
Ecological debt in Philippine historical perspective
Our biblico-theological reflections lead us to an understanding that the abuse and overexploitation of the natural environment is tied to human misery and greed, especially imperial greed [Jer. 14:2-5; Hos. 4:1-3; Rom. 8:22], and that it constitutes a debt towards all life forms and to future generations.
We understand Ecological Debt as the debt owed by industrial countries of the North (with its local collaborators in Third World countries) to countries of the South due to ecological damage caused over time by the industrial North’s plunder of ‘resources’ and to the resulting destruction not only of natural environments but also of human societies. While we acknowledge our common responsibility in the destruction of our environment due to our neglect, ignorance and unsustainable lifestyles, we hold as primarily responsible centuries of colonisation and the continuing imposition of the neoliberal economic model upon Philippine society.
The current administration under Gloria Arroyo is even pushing for changes in our Constitution that will eliminate the remaining nationalist economic provisions that impose limits on foreign ownership and control over our country’s lands and natural resources. The removal of these constitutional constraints will only perpetuate the resource-intensive growth strategies of globalisation at the expense of our patrimony, the environment, and the future generations of our children’s children.
The looting of our environment
The degradation and depletion of our natural riches prove that historical and current implementation of neoliberal policies have plunged our country into a serious ecological crisis:
Our forest cover has shrunk from 270,000 sq. km. at the end of Spanish colonisation in 1898 (marking the start of American colonisation) to only 8,000 sq. km. in 2006. In the late 1980s, the government stopped issuing logging permits when the Philippines was declared among the most severely deforested countries in Asia. But the current Arroyo administration lifted the log bans and farmed out commercial logging permits in remaining forest and critical watershed areas, covering a total of 1.4 million hectares.
Our native flora and fauna are under constant threat from severe deforestation and overexploitation. In 1998, Conservation International named the Philippines one of 17 “biodiversity superstars” in the world, being ranked either first or second in biodiversity per unit area. This means many of the world's species of plants and animals are endemic to the Philippines. But CI also declared the Philippines the most urgent biodiversity conservation priority on the planet, being the second or third in fastest rate of species extinction worldwide.
Our marine and coastal resources are at the brink of depletion because of the government’s open access policy for fishing by foreign firms, import-export policy, rampant practice of commercial aquaculture, privatisation and conversion of municipal fishing grounds. Our freshwater resources are also running out; many lakes and rivers are biologically dead due to decades of continuous waste dumping in inland water systems from domestic, industrial and agribusiness wastes as well as impacts of large-scale extractive logging, mining and dam construction.
Our agricultural lands are diminishing in size and quality. Subservience to globalisation policies on agricultural products and foreign monopoly ownership and control of resources have led to land and land-use conversions that aggravate the innate problem of backward agricultural technology, pollution and degradation.
The poor’s greater burden
Global warming and climate change, depletion of mineral resources and fossil fuels, food and water shortages, pollution and other environmental problems are disproportionately affecting the country’s poor more than the rich, an inequality made even more unjust by the fact that the consumption patterns of the rich are a primary cause of these problems.
Arroyo’s failure to harness our rich renewable energy resources to lessen our country’s dependence on fossil fuels, an ecologically unsound and profit-oriented biodiversity program, and other destructive environmental policies make our country more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, further aggravating the plight of our country’s poor and marginalised.
Landslides and flashfloods resulting from deforestation and soil erosion caused by large-scale commercial mining and logging as well as internationally financed dam projects have led to massive displacement of local communities (particularly of indigenous peoples), destroyed livelihoods, and violated human and civil rights. Projects such as the Japanese Rio Tuba Nickel Mining in Palawan, the San Roque Dam Project, Lafayette Mining in Albay, Lepanto Mining in Benguet have been implemented with the collaboration of corrupt local officials with little consideration of their ecological and social impacts.
Land-grabbing and conversion of arable lands to large-scale plantations and non-agricultural uses, the unhampered operation of foreign trawlers on the country’s waters and conversion of traditional fishing grounds for commercial aquaculture have severely limited local community access to natural resources, depriving the people of their sources of livelihood and increasing poverty and food insecurity to crisis levels, especially among farm and coastal communities.
Environmentally destructive projects, in order to operate, are necessarily accompanied by militarisation for the company’s protection and in order to suppress and counteract—often by use of military force—opposition and resistance from affected communities. As of March 2009, under the Arroyo administration, there have been 24 environmental activists summarily killed, two cases of enforced disappearance, and two cases of attempted murder.
Climate change, the depletion of non-renewable resources, widespread pollution and overall environmental degradation have adversely affected the socio-economic well-being of communities, especially among the poor whose underdevelopment—caused by the very same forces that has driven the world into a global ecological crisis—and continued marginalisation and exploitation limit their capacity to cope and adapt.
Our response and call to action
Ecological justice, that is, the restoration to wholeness of creation, is at the heart of God’s redemptive plan, in the cosmo-vision not only of the Judaeo-Christian faith but more so of primal religions. Salvation is an ecological truth, a celebration of God's reign where the values of neighborly concern, love and kinship are extolled and made the norm—and not those of disconnectedness and subjugation and dominion. We need to live out an ecospirituality in which love and caring are the basis of our relationship with one another and with nature.
We share in WCC’s vision of an eco-just world. We are in deep agreement with the World Council of Churches whose study process on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology has shaped a vision of a new world founded on a just and moral economy where:
People—regardless of class, race and gender—are empowered to be involved in making political decisions that affect their lives;
Public and private institutions and enterprises are made accountable and held responsible for the environmental and social impacts and consequences of their operations; and
The Earth and the whole created order is treated with utmost respect and reverence rather than exploited and degraded.
We support WCC’s position on eco-justice and ecological debt as we challenge the industrialised countries of the North, especially our coloniser country, the USA, and their multinational corporations and partner governments to recognise, pay off and make amends for their ecological debt to the countries of the South. We too call on Northern nations—based on the principles of ecological justice, historical responsibility, and "common but differentiated responsibilities"—to:
Adopt a fair, ambitious and binding deal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen in December, which includes:
Drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within and beyond the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and according to the fixed timelines set out by the UNFCCC report of 2007; and
Effective support to vulnerable communities to adapt to the consequences of climate change through adaptation funds and technology transfer.
Transfer financial resources to countries of the South, without conditionalities, to pay for the costs of preservation—petroleum, other natural riches and the global commons—and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Cancel the illegitimate financial debts of Southern countries, especially of the poorest nations, as part of social and ecological reparations, not as official development assistance.
Reduce overall consumption even as this implies zero growth or, worse, de-growth.
Support the capacities of Southern countries to develop sustainable growth paths, including through technology transfers and measures that reinforce and promote local knowledge systems.
In addition, we:
Challenge the Philippine government and international financial institutions to take responsibility for their policies that have caused ecological destruction;
Call for corporate social accountability within international and national legal frameworks; and
Reject all market-based or market-driven solutions to ecological debt repayment such as climate funding and carbon trading.
We urge our churches and faith-based groups and institutions to carry forward and build on the lessons and gains of the environmental ministry begun by the NCCP, grounding it anew on ‘ecospirituality’ and the principles of ecological justice and ecological debt.
To this end, we will explore and undertake the following courses of action:
Awareness-building and theological reflection on ecological spirituality, eco-justice and ecological debt, through study and action, and deeper ecumenical and inter-faith engagement.
Support and participation in advocacy campaigns by churches and environmental groups around the issues of eco-justice and ecological debt, locally and internationally.
Ecological debt audits in partnership with civil society groups, including self-assessment of consumption patterns.
Deepening of dialogue and building of alliances among churches, ecumenical and faith-based organisations, advocacy groups and social movements around the issue of ecological debt and ecological justice.
Support for community-based sustainable economic activities as well as efforts to build not only adaptation capacities but, importantly, people’s resilience to the harsh socio-economic impacts of environmental destruction, resource depletion and climate change.
Development of a course of study on ecological justice and ecospirituality that may be integrated in the curricula of seminaries and church-run educational institutions.
Use of existing programs and resources (liturgical and theological) of churches to address the ecological issue
Inclusion of ecological justice in the churches’ program thrust; creation of an ecological desk or program arm within the churches
Mobilising church members with technical knowledge on environmental problems, alternative livelihoods and technologies, whose expertise may be tapped for investigative/research projects in collaboration with local environmental groups
A national gathering of environmental activists, community organisers, church people and technical experts to draw up a unified and systematised action plan that will concretely address the various manifestations of ecological debt and ecological injustice in the Philippine context.
Finally, we lift up and celebrate the wisdom of our fellow Indigenous Peoples, women, peasant and forest communities whose examples and leadership point to alternative ways of thinking and living within creation. From their societies we learn not only traditional and ecologically respectful forms of production and consumption, but importantly the value of caring and sharing, of restoring right relationships. Our common faith impart the ethical traditions we need to pursue the struggle for ecological justice and wholeness.
Adopted by the participants of the National Consultation on Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt:
Bp. John Leo Zafra – Apostolic Catholic Church
Msgr. Floro Jonathan Escamus, OMHS – Apostolic Catholic Church
Rev. Fr. Christian Benedict – Apostolic Catholic Church
Msgr. Alfonso Crispin S. Talay, Jr. – Apostolic Catholic Church
Ms. Joyce Ortilano – Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
Pastor Job Santiago – Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
Bp. Elmer Bolocon – Ecumenical Bishops Forum/United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Ms. Ofelia Cantor – Ecumenical Bishops Forum
Rev. Eduardo P. Solangan – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Sharon Gusto-Dagson – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Benny F. Mendoza – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Most Rev. Edward Malecdan – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Levi Marie Camballa – Iglesia evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas
Mr. Lingkod F. Maducdoc – Iglesia evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas
Fr. Christian Rey – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Fr. Ramil Aguilar – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Mr. Lesley Capus – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Mr. Ismael T. Fisco – Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas (Philippine Christian Youth Federation)
Mr. Antonio Flores – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Mr. Wilfredo Marbella – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Sr. Mela Alvarez – Religious of Good Shepherd-WJPIC
Ms. Leni Valeriano – Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
Ms. Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses – United Methodist Church
Rev. Arturo Andres Bautista, Jr. – United Methodist Church
Ms. Len Carreon – United Methodist Church
Mr. Ricardo Jontarciego – United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Mr. Edwin Egar – United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Ms. Pinky de Leon – Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK)
Ms. Jinky Bautista – Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK)
Mr. Antonio Casitas – Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa
Ms. Rosario Bella Guzman – Ibon Foundation
Mr. Clemente Bautista – Kalikasan-PNE (People’s Network for the Environment)
Rev. Dr. Ferdinand Anno – Union Theological Seminary
Ms. Athena Peralta – World Council of Churches
Mr. Percy Nuevo – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Mr. Mervin Toquero – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Rev. Rex Reyes – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Ms. Carmencita Karagdag – Peace for Life
Rev. Alan Rey Sarte – Peace for Life
Ms. Silahis Diloy-Ramos – Peace for Life
Ms. Iris Ann Agustin-Capus – Peace for Life
Ms. Bes Rifareal – Peace for Life
NCCP-PfL National Consultation on Ecological Justice & Ecological Debt (13 Aug 2009) ... 1 of 5
Fascinating blog - Endangered Ugly Things
Hey everyone, don't forget to check out this blog when you get chance. I think it is fantastic! Remember that God loves all creatures, no matter how ugly they are!
http://endangered-ugly.blogspot.com/
http://endangered-ugly.blogspot.com/
Christian Ecology Link Prayer for Today
The Montreal Protocol for eliminating ozone-depleting gases did not include the refrigerant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) even though a pound of HFC has the same global warming effect as 3,830 pounds of CO2. A successor to Kyoto could stimulate the recovery of tons of “banked” HFCs and CFCs sitting in old cooling equipment that need to be safely recovered and destroyed. Meanwhile a coalition called Refrigerants Naturally which includes Unilever, Coca-Cola. PepsiCo, McDonalds, IKEA and Carlsberg has pledged to replace HFCs with natural refrigerants in vending machines, freezers and fridges. The timing is crucial.
National Consultation on Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt:Perspective from the Philippines
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES and PEACE FOR LIFE
National Consultation on
Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt:
Perspective from the Philippines
13 August 2009 • Quezon City, Philippines
CLOSING STATEMENT
Peace and Wholeness of Life for All:
A Call for an ‘Eco-Just’ World
We are church leaders, youth, women and representatives from various churches and non-government organisations, people’s movements and ecological advocacy groups participating in this national consultation on the issues of ecological justice and ecological debt. We gather also in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Week, seeking to draw inspiration and wisdom from indigenous communities for whom soil whence life springs is sacred and justice to land and all of creation is the key to liberation and human dignity.
The Biblical imperative for an ecological spirituality
We lament that the dominant Judaeo-Christian theology of creation, which places the human at the summit of the natural order, has led to human disconnectedness from nature and the desacralisation of the natural environment, becoming for humanity’s powerful few a biblical injunction for the rape and total subjugation of the natural order. [Gen. 1:28]
Amidst so much poverty and massive violation of human dignity and integrity of creation, we are challenged to nurture an ‘ecospirituality’ that sees the human both as having emerged from the earth (adamah) and tiller of the earth (abad). [Gen. 2:15] We stand on our biblico-theological understanding of human belongingness to creation, not creation belonging to humans, for all of creation—including humans—is God's: "The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it.
[Psa. 24:1]
We affirm therefore that all things are one: different manifestations but interdependent and inseparable parts of the cosmic whole. Creation is groaning, and longs for its redemption [Rom. 8:20-23]. But our adamic consciousness leads us to believe that God’s redemptive project does not end with humanity’s salvation as phrased in traditional theology, but with the restoration of all of created reality to wholeness.
We reject the notion of nature as ‘resource’—inferior to and separate from human, an inert object to be subdued, exploited, abused. We renounce the ideology of neoliberal globalisation that transforms everything and everyone into a commodity for sale at a price, desecrating the human and the environment and sacrificing life at the altar of greed.
We declare that ecological wholeness is inextricably linked to the prophetic vocation to re-order social relations. Reflecting on God’s equal justice for all—peoples, the earth itself and all that dwell therein—as symbolised in the biblical celebration of the Sabbath as the climax of creation, the Sabbath Year and the Sabbath Jubilee, reminds us that we cannot achieve social justice if we do not do justice to our natural environment, and that ecological justice cannot be realised without the institution of interhuman justice. There is only justice when there is equitable distribution of social goods, including the requirements for the earth’s own regeneration.
Ecological debt in Philippine historical perspective
Our biblico-theological reflections lead us to an understanding that the abuse and overexploitation of the natural environment is tied to human misery and greed, especially imperial greed [Jer. 14:2-5; Hos. 4:1-3; Rom. 8:22], and that it constitutes a debt towards all life forms and to future generations.
We understand Ecological Debt as the debt owed by industrial countries of the North (with its local collaborators in Third World countries) to countries of the South due to ecological damage caused over time by the industrial North’s plunder of ‘resources’ and to the resulting destruction not only of natural environments but also of human societies. While we acknowledge our common responsibility in the destruction of our environment due to our neglect, ignorance and unsustainable lifestyles, we hold as primarily responsible centuries of colonisation and the continuing imposition of the neoliberal economic model upon Philippine society.
The current administration under Gloria Arroyo is even pushing for changes in our Constitution that will eliminate the remaining nationalist economic provisions that impose limits on foreign ownership and control over our country’s lands and natural resources. The removal of these constitutional constraints will only perpetuate the resource-intensive growth strategies of globalisation at the expense of our patrimony, the environment, and the future generations of our children’s children.
The looting of our environment
The degradation and depletion of our natural riches prove that historical and current implementation of neoliberal policies have plunged our country into a serious ecological crisis:
Our forest cover has shrunk from 270,000 sq. km. at the end of Spanish colonisation in 1898 (marking the start of American colonisation) to only 8,000 sq. km. in 2006. In the late 1980s, the government stopped issuing logging permits when the Philippines was declared among the most severely deforested countries in Asia. But the current Arroyo administration lifted the log bans and farmed out commercial logging permits in remaining forest and critical watershed areas, covering a total of 1.4 million hectares.
Our native flora and fauna are under constant threat from severe deforestation and overexploitation. In 1998, Conservation International named the Philippines one of 17 “biodiversity superstars” in the world, being ranked either first or second in biodiversity per unit area. This means many of the world's species of plants and animals are endemic to the Philippines. But CI also declared the Philippines the most urgent biodiversity conservation priority on the planet, being the second or third in fastest rate of species extinction worldwide.
Our marine and coastal resources are at the brink of depletion because of the government’s open access policy for fishing by foreign firms, import-export policy, rampant practice of commercial aquaculture, privatisation and conversion of municipal fishing grounds. Our freshwater resources are also running out; many lakes and rivers are biologically dead due to decades of continuous waste dumping in inland water systems from domestic, industrial and agribusiness wastes as well as impacts of large-scale extractive logging, mining and dam construction.
Our agricultural lands are diminishing in size and quality. Subservience to globalisation policies on agricultural products and foreign monopoly ownership and control of resources have led to land and land-use conversions that aggravate the innate problem of backward agricultural technology, pollution and degradation.
The poor’s greater burden
Global warming and climate change, depletion of mineral resources and fossil fuels, food and water shortages, pollution and other environmental problems are disproportionately affecting the country’s poor more than the rich, an inequality made even more unjust by the fact that the consumption patterns of the rich are a primary cause of these problems.
Arroyo’s failure to harness our rich renewable energy resources to lessen our country’s dependence on fossil fuels, an ecologically unsound and profit-oriented biodiversity program, and other destructive environmental policies make our country more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, further aggravating the plight of our country’s poor and marginalised.
Landslides and flashfloods resulting from deforestation and soil erosion caused by large-scale commercial mining and logging as well as internationally financed dam projects have led to massive displacement of local communities (particularly of indigenous peoples), destroyed livelihoods, and violated human and civil rights. Projects such as the Japanese Rio Tuba Nickel Mining in Palawan, the San Roque Dam Project, Lafayette Mining in Albay, Lepanto Mining in Benguet have been implemented with the collaboration of corrupt local officials with little consideration of their ecological and social impacts.
Land-grabbing and conversion of arable lands to large-scale plantations and non-agricultural uses, the unhampered operation of foreign trawlers on the country’s waters and conversion of traditional fishing grounds for commercial aquaculture have severely limited local community access to natural resources, depriving the people of their sources of livelihood and increasing poverty and food insecurity to crisis levels, especially among farm and coastal communities.
Environmentally destructive projects, in order to operate, are necessarily accompanied by militarisation for the company’s protection and in order to suppress and counteract—often by use of military force—opposition and resistance from affected communities. As of March 2009, under the Arroyo administration, there have been 24 environmental activists summarily killed, two cases of enforced disappearance, and two cases of attempted murder.
Climate change, the depletion of non-renewable resources, widespread pollution and overall environmental degradation have adversely affected the socio-economic well-being of communities, especially among the poor whose underdevelopment—caused by the very same forces that has driven the world into a global ecological crisis—and continued marginalisation and exploitation limit their capacity to cope and adapt.
Our response and call to action
Ecological justice, that is, the restoration to wholeness of creation, is at the heart of God’s redemptive plan, in the cosmo-vision not only of the Judaeo-Christian faith but more so of primal religions. Salvation is an ecological truth, a celebration of God's reign where the values of neighborly concern, love and kinship are extolled and made the norm—and not those of disconnectedness and subjugation and dominion. We need to live out an ecospirituality in which love and caring are the basis of our relationship with one another and with nature.
We share in WCC’s vision of an eco-just world. We are in deep agreement with the World Council of Churches whose study process on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology has shaped a vision of a new world founded on a just and moral economy where:
People—regardless of class, race and gender—are empowered to be involved in making political decisions that affect their lives;
Public and private institutions and enterprises are made accountable and held responsible for the environmental and social impacts and consequences of their operations; and
The Earth and the whole created order is treated with utmost respect and reverence rather than exploited and degraded.
We support WCC’s position on eco-justice and ecological debt as we challenge the industrialised countries of the North, especially our coloniser country, the USA, and their multinational corporations and partner governments to recognise, pay off and make amends for their ecological debt to the countries of the South. We too call on Northern nations—based on the principles of ecological justice, historical responsibility, and "common but differentiated responsibilities"—to:
Adopt a fair, ambitious and binding deal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen in December, which includes:
Drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within and beyond the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and according to the fixed timelines set out by the UNFCCC report of 2007; and
Effective support to vulnerable communities to adapt to the consequences of climate change through adaptation funds and technology transfer.
Transfer financial resources to countries of the South, without conditionalities, to pay for the costs of preservation—petroleum, other natural riches and the global commons—and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Cancel the illegitimate financial debts of Southern countries, especially of the poorest nations, as part of social and ecological reparations, not as official development assistance.
Reduce overall consumption even as this implies zero growth or, worse, de-growth.
Support the capacities of Southern countries to develop sustainable growth paths, including through technology transfers and measures that reinforce and promote local knowledge systems.
In addition, we:
Challenge the Philippine government and international financial institutions to take responsibility for their policies that have caused ecological destruction;
Call for corporate social accountability within international and national legal frameworks; and
Reject all market-based or market-driven solutions to ecological debt repayment such as climate funding and carbon trading.
We urge our churches and faith-based groups and institutions to carry forward and build on the lessons and gains of the environmental ministry begun by the NCCP, grounding it anew on ‘ecospirituality’ and the principles of ecological justice and ecological debt.
To this end, we will explore and undertake the following courses of action:
Awareness-building and theological reflection on ecological spirituality, eco-justice and ecological debt, through study and action, and deeper ecumenical and inter-faith engagement.
Support and participation in advocacy campaigns by churches and environmental groups around the issues of eco-justice and ecological debt, locally and internationally.
Ecological debt audits in partnership with civil society groups, including self-assessment of consumption patterns.
Deepening of dialogue and building of alliances among churches, ecumenical and faith-based organisations, advocacy groups and social movements around the issue of ecological debt and ecological justice.
Support for community-based sustainable economic activities as well as efforts to build not only adaptation capacities but, importantly, people’s resilience to the harsh socio-economic impacts of environmental destruction, resource depletion and climate change.
Development of a course of study on ecological justice and ecospirituality that may be integrated in the curricula of seminaries and church-run educational institutions.
Use of existing programs and resources (liturgical and theological) of churches to address the ecological issue
Inclusion of ecological justice in the churches’ program thrust; creation of an ecological desk or program arm within the churches
Mobilising church members with technical knowledge on environmental problems, alternative livelihoods and technologies, whose expertise may be tapped for investigative/research projects in collaboration with local environmental groups
A national gathering of environmental activists, community organisers, church people and technical experts to draw up a unified and systematised action plan that will concretely address the various manifestations of ecological debt and ecological injustice in the Philippine context.
Finally, we lift up and celebrate the wisdom of our fellow Indigenous Peoples, women, peasant and forest communities whose examples and leadership point to alternative ways of thinking and living within creation. From their societies we learn not only traditional and ecologically respectful forms of production and consumption, but importantly the value of caring and sharing, of restoring right relationships. Our common faith impart the ethical traditions we need to pursue the struggle for ecological justice and wholeness.
Adopted by the participants of the National Consultation on Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt:
Bp. John Leo Zafra – Apostolic Catholic Church
Msgr. Floro Jonathan Escamus, OMHS – Apostolic Catholic Church
Rev. Fr. Christian Benedict – Apostolic Catholic Church
Msgr. Alfonso Crispin S. Talay, Jr. – Apostolic Catholic Church
Ms. Joyce Ortilano – Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
Pastor Job Santiago – Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
Bp. Elmer Bolocon – Ecumenical Bishops Forum/United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Ms. Ofelia Cantor – Ecumenical Bishops Forum
Rev. Eduardo P. Solangan – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Sharon Gusto-Dagson – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Benny F. Mendoza – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Most Rev. Edward Malecdan – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Levi Marie Camballa – Iglesia evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas
Mr. Lingkod F. Maducdoc – Iglesia evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas
Fr. Christian Rey – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Fr. Ramil Aguilar – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Mr. Lesley Capus – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Mr. Ismael T. Fisco – Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas (Philippine Christian Youth Federation)
Mr. Antonio Flores – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Mr. Wilfredo Marbella – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Sr. Mela Alvarez – Religious of Good Shepherd-WJPIC
Ms. Leni Valeriano – Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
Ms. Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses – United Methodist Church
Rev. Arturo Andres Bautista, Jr. – United Methodist Church
Ms. Len Carreon – United Methodist Church
Mr. Ricardo Jontarciego – United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Mr. Edwin Egar – United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Ms. Pinky de Leon – Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK)
Ms. Jinky Bautista – Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK)
Mr. Antonio Casitas – Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa
Ms. Rosario Bella Guzman – Ibon Foundation
Mr. Clemente Bautista – Kalikasan-PNE (People’s Network for the Environment)
Rev. Dr. Ferdinand Anno – Union Theological Seminary
Ms. Athena Peralta – World Council of Churches
Mr. Percy Nuevo – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Mr. Mervin Toquero – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Rev. Rex Reyes – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Ms. Carmencita Karagdag – Peace for Life
Rev. Alan Rey Sarte – Peace for Life
Ms. Silahis Diloy-Ramos – Peace for Life
Ms. Iris Ann Agustin-Capus – Peace for Life
Ms. Bes Rifareal – Peace for Life
NCCP-PfL National Consultation on Ecological Justice & Ecological Debt (13 Aug 2009) ... 1 of 5
National Consultation on
Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt:
Perspective from the Philippines
13 August 2009 • Quezon City, Philippines
CLOSING STATEMENT
Peace and Wholeness of Life for All:
A Call for an ‘Eco-Just’ World
We are church leaders, youth, women and representatives from various churches and non-government organisations, people’s movements and ecological advocacy groups participating in this national consultation on the issues of ecological justice and ecological debt. We gather also in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Week, seeking to draw inspiration and wisdom from indigenous communities for whom soil whence life springs is sacred and justice to land and all of creation is the key to liberation and human dignity.
The Biblical imperative for an ecological spirituality
We lament that the dominant Judaeo-Christian theology of creation, which places the human at the summit of the natural order, has led to human disconnectedness from nature and the desacralisation of the natural environment, becoming for humanity’s powerful few a biblical injunction for the rape and total subjugation of the natural order. [Gen. 1:28]
Amidst so much poverty and massive violation of human dignity and integrity of creation, we are challenged to nurture an ‘ecospirituality’ that sees the human both as having emerged from the earth (adamah) and tiller of the earth (abad). [Gen. 2:15] We stand on our biblico-theological understanding of human belongingness to creation, not creation belonging to humans, for all of creation—including humans—is God's: "The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it.
[Psa. 24:1]
We affirm therefore that all things are one: different manifestations but interdependent and inseparable parts of the cosmic whole. Creation is groaning, and longs for its redemption [Rom. 8:20-23]. But our adamic consciousness leads us to believe that God’s redemptive project does not end with humanity’s salvation as phrased in traditional theology, but with the restoration of all of created reality to wholeness.
We reject the notion of nature as ‘resource’—inferior to and separate from human, an inert object to be subdued, exploited, abused. We renounce the ideology of neoliberal globalisation that transforms everything and everyone into a commodity for sale at a price, desecrating the human and the environment and sacrificing life at the altar of greed.
We declare that ecological wholeness is inextricably linked to the prophetic vocation to re-order social relations. Reflecting on God’s equal justice for all—peoples, the earth itself and all that dwell therein—as symbolised in the biblical celebration of the Sabbath as the climax of creation, the Sabbath Year and the Sabbath Jubilee, reminds us that we cannot achieve social justice if we do not do justice to our natural environment, and that ecological justice cannot be realised without the institution of interhuman justice. There is only justice when there is equitable distribution of social goods, including the requirements for the earth’s own regeneration.
Ecological debt in Philippine historical perspective
Our biblico-theological reflections lead us to an understanding that the abuse and overexploitation of the natural environment is tied to human misery and greed, especially imperial greed [Jer. 14:2-5; Hos. 4:1-3; Rom. 8:22], and that it constitutes a debt towards all life forms and to future generations.
We understand Ecological Debt as the debt owed by industrial countries of the North (with its local collaborators in Third World countries) to countries of the South due to ecological damage caused over time by the industrial North’s plunder of ‘resources’ and to the resulting destruction not only of natural environments but also of human societies. While we acknowledge our common responsibility in the destruction of our environment due to our neglect, ignorance and unsustainable lifestyles, we hold as primarily responsible centuries of colonisation and the continuing imposition of the neoliberal economic model upon Philippine society.
The current administration under Gloria Arroyo is even pushing for changes in our Constitution that will eliminate the remaining nationalist economic provisions that impose limits on foreign ownership and control over our country’s lands and natural resources. The removal of these constitutional constraints will only perpetuate the resource-intensive growth strategies of globalisation at the expense of our patrimony, the environment, and the future generations of our children’s children.
The looting of our environment
The degradation and depletion of our natural riches prove that historical and current implementation of neoliberal policies have plunged our country into a serious ecological crisis:
Our forest cover has shrunk from 270,000 sq. km. at the end of Spanish colonisation in 1898 (marking the start of American colonisation) to only 8,000 sq. km. in 2006. In the late 1980s, the government stopped issuing logging permits when the Philippines was declared among the most severely deforested countries in Asia. But the current Arroyo administration lifted the log bans and farmed out commercial logging permits in remaining forest and critical watershed areas, covering a total of 1.4 million hectares.
Our native flora and fauna are under constant threat from severe deforestation and overexploitation. In 1998, Conservation International named the Philippines one of 17 “biodiversity superstars” in the world, being ranked either first or second in biodiversity per unit area. This means many of the world's species of plants and animals are endemic to the Philippines. But CI also declared the Philippines the most urgent biodiversity conservation priority on the planet, being the second or third in fastest rate of species extinction worldwide.
Our marine and coastal resources are at the brink of depletion because of the government’s open access policy for fishing by foreign firms, import-export policy, rampant practice of commercial aquaculture, privatisation and conversion of municipal fishing grounds. Our freshwater resources are also running out; many lakes and rivers are biologically dead due to decades of continuous waste dumping in inland water systems from domestic, industrial and agribusiness wastes as well as impacts of large-scale extractive logging, mining and dam construction.
Our agricultural lands are diminishing in size and quality. Subservience to globalisation policies on agricultural products and foreign monopoly ownership and control of resources have led to land and land-use conversions that aggravate the innate problem of backward agricultural technology, pollution and degradation.
The poor’s greater burden
Global warming and climate change, depletion of mineral resources and fossil fuels, food and water shortages, pollution and other environmental problems are disproportionately affecting the country’s poor more than the rich, an inequality made even more unjust by the fact that the consumption patterns of the rich are a primary cause of these problems.
Arroyo’s failure to harness our rich renewable energy resources to lessen our country’s dependence on fossil fuels, an ecologically unsound and profit-oriented biodiversity program, and other destructive environmental policies make our country more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, further aggravating the plight of our country’s poor and marginalised.
Landslides and flashfloods resulting from deforestation and soil erosion caused by large-scale commercial mining and logging as well as internationally financed dam projects have led to massive displacement of local communities (particularly of indigenous peoples), destroyed livelihoods, and violated human and civil rights. Projects such as the Japanese Rio Tuba Nickel Mining in Palawan, the San Roque Dam Project, Lafayette Mining in Albay, Lepanto Mining in Benguet have been implemented with the collaboration of corrupt local officials with little consideration of their ecological and social impacts.
Land-grabbing and conversion of arable lands to large-scale plantations and non-agricultural uses, the unhampered operation of foreign trawlers on the country’s waters and conversion of traditional fishing grounds for commercial aquaculture have severely limited local community access to natural resources, depriving the people of their sources of livelihood and increasing poverty and food insecurity to crisis levels, especially among farm and coastal communities.
Environmentally destructive projects, in order to operate, are necessarily accompanied by militarisation for the company’s protection and in order to suppress and counteract—often by use of military force—opposition and resistance from affected communities. As of March 2009, under the Arroyo administration, there have been 24 environmental activists summarily killed, two cases of enforced disappearance, and two cases of attempted murder.
Climate change, the depletion of non-renewable resources, widespread pollution and overall environmental degradation have adversely affected the socio-economic well-being of communities, especially among the poor whose underdevelopment—caused by the very same forces that has driven the world into a global ecological crisis—and continued marginalisation and exploitation limit their capacity to cope and adapt.
Our response and call to action
Ecological justice, that is, the restoration to wholeness of creation, is at the heart of God’s redemptive plan, in the cosmo-vision not only of the Judaeo-Christian faith but more so of primal religions. Salvation is an ecological truth, a celebration of God's reign where the values of neighborly concern, love and kinship are extolled and made the norm—and not those of disconnectedness and subjugation and dominion. We need to live out an ecospirituality in which love and caring are the basis of our relationship with one another and with nature.
We share in WCC’s vision of an eco-just world. We are in deep agreement with the World Council of Churches whose study process on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology has shaped a vision of a new world founded on a just and moral economy where:
People—regardless of class, race and gender—are empowered to be involved in making political decisions that affect their lives;
Public and private institutions and enterprises are made accountable and held responsible for the environmental and social impacts and consequences of their operations; and
The Earth and the whole created order is treated with utmost respect and reverence rather than exploited and degraded.
We support WCC’s position on eco-justice and ecological debt as we challenge the industrialised countries of the North, especially our coloniser country, the USA, and their multinational corporations and partner governments to recognise, pay off and make amends for their ecological debt to the countries of the South. We too call on Northern nations—based on the principles of ecological justice, historical responsibility, and "common but differentiated responsibilities"—to:
Adopt a fair, ambitious and binding deal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen in December, which includes:
Drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within and beyond the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and according to the fixed timelines set out by the UNFCCC report of 2007; and
Effective support to vulnerable communities to adapt to the consequences of climate change through adaptation funds and technology transfer.
Transfer financial resources to countries of the South, without conditionalities, to pay for the costs of preservation—petroleum, other natural riches and the global commons—and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Cancel the illegitimate financial debts of Southern countries, especially of the poorest nations, as part of social and ecological reparations, not as official development assistance.
Reduce overall consumption even as this implies zero growth or, worse, de-growth.
Support the capacities of Southern countries to develop sustainable growth paths, including through technology transfers and measures that reinforce and promote local knowledge systems.
In addition, we:
Challenge the Philippine government and international financial institutions to take responsibility for their policies that have caused ecological destruction;
Call for corporate social accountability within international and national legal frameworks; and
Reject all market-based or market-driven solutions to ecological debt repayment such as climate funding and carbon trading.
We urge our churches and faith-based groups and institutions to carry forward and build on the lessons and gains of the environmental ministry begun by the NCCP, grounding it anew on ‘ecospirituality’ and the principles of ecological justice and ecological debt.
To this end, we will explore and undertake the following courses of action:
Awareness-building and theological reflection on ecological spirituality, eco-justice and ecological debt, through study and action, and deeper ecumenical and inter-faith engagement.
Support and participation in advocacy campaigns by churches and environmental groups around the issues of eco-justice and ecological debt, locally and internationally.
Ecological debt audits in partnership with civil society groups, including self-assessment of consumption patterns.
Deepening of dialogue and building of alliances among churches, ecumenical and faith-based organisations, advocacy groups and social movements around the issue of ecological debt and ecological justice.
Support for community-based sustainable economic activities as well as efforts to build not only adaptation capacities but, importantly, people’s resilience to the harsh socio-economic impacts of environmental destruction, resource depletion and climate change.
Development of a course of study on ecological justice and ecospirituality that may be integrated in the curricula of seminaries and church-run educational institutions.
Use of existing programs and resources (liturgical and theological) of churches to address the ecological issue
Inclusion of ecological justice in the churches’ program thrust; creation of an ecological desk or program arm within the churches
Mobilising church members with technical knowledge on environmental problems, alternative livelihoods and technologies, whose expertise may be tapped for investigative/research projects in collaboration with local environmental groups
A national gathering of environmental activists, community organisers, church people and technical experts to draw up a unified and systematised action plan that will concretely address the various manifestations of ecological debt and ecological injustice in the Philippine context.
Finally, we lift up and celebrate the wisdom of our fellow Indigenous Peoples, women, peasant and forest communities whose examples and leadership point to alternative ways of thinking and living within creation. From their societies we learn not only traditional and ecologically respectful forms of production and consumption, but importantly the value of caring and sharing, of restoring right relationships. Our common faith impart the ethical traditions we need to pursue the struggle for ecological justice and wholeness.
Adopted by the participants of the National Consultation on Ecological Justice and Ecological Debt:
Bp. John Leo Zafra – Apostolic Catholic Church
Msgr. Floro Jonathan Escamus, OMHS – Apostolic Catholic Church
Rev. Fr. Christian Benedict – Apostolic Catholic Church
Msgr. Alfonso Crispin S. Talay, Jr. – Apostolic Catholic Church
Ms. Joyce Ortilano – Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
Pastor Job Santiago – Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
Bp. Elmer Bolocon – Ecumenical Bishops Forum/United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Ms. Ofelia Cantor – Ecumenical Bishops Forum
Rev. Eduardo P. Solangan – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Sharon Gusto-Dagson – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Benny F. Mendoza – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
The Most Rev. Edward Malecdan – Episcopal Church in the Philippines
Ms. Levi Marie Camballa – Iglesia evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas
Mr. Lingkod F. Maducdoc – Iglesia evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas
Fr. Christian Rey – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Fr. Ramil Aguilar – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Mr. Lesley Capus – Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Mr. Ismael T. Fisco – Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas (Philippine Christian Youth Federation)
Mr. Antonio Flores – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Mr. Wilfredo Marbella – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
Sr. Mela Alvarez – Religious of Good Shepherd-WJPIC
Ms. Leni Valeriano – Student Christian Movement of the Philippines
Ms. Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses – United Methodist Church
Rev. Arturo Andres Bautista, Jr. – United Methodist Church
Ms. Len Carreon – United Methodist Church
Mr. Ricardo Jontarciego – United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Mr. Edwin Egar – United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Ms. Pinky de Leon – Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK)
Ms. Jinky Bautista – Tunay na Alyansa ng Bayan Alay sa Katutubo (TABAK)
Mr. Antonio Casitas – Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa
Ms. Rosario Bella Guzman – Ibon Foundation
Mr. Clemente Bautista – Kalikasan-PNE (People’s Network for the Environment)
Rev. Dr. Ferdinand Anno – Union Theological Seminary
Ms. Athena Peralta – World Council of Churches
Mr. Percy Nuevo – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Mr. Mervin Toquero – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Rev. Rex Reyes – National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Ms. Carmencita Karagdag – Peace for Life
Rev. Alan Rey Sarte – Peace for Life
Ms. Silahis Diloy-Ramos – Peace for Life
Ms. Iris Ann Agustin-Capus – Peace for Life
Ms. Bes Rifareal – Peace for Life
NCCP-PfL National Consultation on Ecological Justice & Ecological Debt (13 Aug 2009) ... 1 of 5
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
India and China have large programmes for revegetating millions of hectares to reduce rural poverty and protect critical watersheds. In Morocco 34 pastoral co-operatives with more than 8,000 members have rehabilitated and now manage 450,000 hectares of grazing reserves. On degraded soils, initial cultivation and re-seeding may be necessary to enable natural vegetation to re-establish itself. There are two keys to success:
* Engage local communities in planning, developing and maintaining watershed areas and
* Include areas of high local importance, such as local woodfuel sources and areas such as gullies that can be used for productive cropping.
* Engage local communities in planning, developing and maintaining watershed areas and
* Include areas of high local importance, such as local woodfuel sources and areas such as gullies that can be used for productive cropping.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Australian zoo helping Philippine crocodile population
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200909/2676092.htm?desktop
Children go hungry in Solomons' climate change
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200909/2675494.htm?desktop
World heading for abyss on climate change: UN chief
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/world-heading-for-abyss-on-climate-change-un-chief-20090903-f9tq.html
A new study has found that the genes of many species won't allow them to adapt to a warming climate.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/04/2676498.htm
Three words put tigers in danger
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26022483-2703,00.html
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
Between 2000 and 2005 the world lost forests at a rate of 7.3 million hectares a year. Clearance of every hectare of forest releases between 217 and 640 tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Paying farmers and land managers for afforestation projects and avoided deforestation is key to reducing carbon emissions and protecting carbon sinks. Costa Rica increased its forest cover from 21% in 1986 to 51% in 2006 by the use of markets that make payments for ecosystem services and ecotourism. The Copenhagen Summit needs to see agreement on the REDD programme (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation & Degradation) which currently faces major difficulties.
My speech to Canberra Ecumenical Breakfast on September 5th
I have come to ask you and your church to join me on a journey. Some of you may have already started on this journey, while others may still be standing on shore looking at the ship with trepidation. The first few steps may be hard, but I promise you it is worth the leap.
The journey I speak of is that of making our churches and lives more environmentally friendly and of reducing our impact on God’s creation. 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 the solar panels recently installed at Kippax Uniting Church.
It is an exciting journey we are on, and as with all journeys, we must find stars to navigate by. In this case, as in many others, the Bible acts as our guide.
In Genesis 2:15 the Bible says, “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it.” I think it is worth noting that one of the first tasks God ever gave us to do, as a species, was to tend the garden of Eden and to act as stewards of the earth, and all the life in it (Genesis 1:28). It was not until much later that we were given the Ten Commandments, and only thousands of years later that we were given the great commission. As stewards of the earth we are expected to care for God’s creation, as any good child cares for their parent’s things.
Pearl Bartel once said that “I fail or succeed in my stewardship of life in proportion to how convinced I am that life belongs to God.” So, maybe we all need to read Psalm 24:1 a couple more times, or even just the Bible in general. I don’t know how many of you have seen this, but this is the ‘green bible’. Similar to the popular red letter Bibles, this one has any verse to do with the environment highlighted in green. It turns out there are over a thousand, which is more mentions than even grace or love.
The Bible says that God cares for creation by providing for the various creatures (Psalm 104:10-13) any has his eye upon every sparrow (Luke 12:6). All things are held together by God (Psalm 119:91), and remain to praise the Glory of God and proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1-4).
In Deuteronomy 20:19 God tells his people not to destroy the trees, even during war, as they are not our enemies. If God is concerned for nature even in times of war, should we not also show a similar vigilance for creation?
There is an interesting paraphrase of Haggai 1:4-8 which goes like this: “Is it a time for you to be living in panelled houses, while the earth needs replenishing, and people are too busy to worship in my house? Consider your ways. You plant gardens but waste food. You eat when you're hungry, and continue eating when your stomachs are full. You eat just to eat while people are starving. Because you never seem to have enough to drink, many families suffer. You wear designer clothes and leave price tags showing to brag of their cost, but you are not warm. You work, work; and spend, spend, spend the money you earn. You rob the earth of its resources and deplete the ozone. This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Consider your ways. Feed the hungry, clothe the poor. Go plant trees; replenish the earth, so my creation will honour me. Make time to worship in the house of the Lord." Chris Seaton (1992), Whose earth? Crossway books (London)
Jeremiah 12:4 laments “How long must this land weep? Even the grass in the field has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land." Indeed, my question would be, how long are we going to leave the land to weep? Or are we going to get up today and do something about it? After all, the small selection of Bible verses I have already shown you indicate quite clearly that caring for creation is, as the former Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulbourn once said, core Christian business. It is not a peripheral task, but a core task of all Christians who love the Lord.
If we believe that creation belongs to God (see Psalm 50: 10-11), then to damage that with which we were entrusted is the ultimate disrespect to God, and to the responsibilities he has given us. One of my favourite quotes puts it nicely, “Imagine how you would feel about meeting Leonardo Da Vinci if you knew you had set fire to the Mona Lisa!” Yet that is exactly what humanity has been doing by putting its own needs and desire for ‘progress’ ahead of the needs of the natural world which sustains us. In some circles the church is blamed for allowing and even encouraging this abuse. As Alistair Macrae, the president elect of the Uniting church Assembly has said of environmental issues, "Unfortunately we are seen as ‘Johnny-come-latelies’ to this issue, but from our own deep theological reserves we should be showing leadership on issues of the environment and sustainable living.” "Whether it is questions of the abundance of life, the future of the planet, the nature of life, stewardship, justice — all the big theological issues are caught up in the environmental issue," he says.
According to Mr Macrae "Mainstream churches in Australia and elsewhere are in a crisis situation. Do we go into shutdown and fear mode, or consider that maybe God wants us to do and be something different?” "Our position in society has radically changed. Most of us see the threat in that but we need, as a church, to see the opportunities. I want to say ‘park the fear and trust God’.”
Mr Macrae wasn’t talking specifically of the environmental issue here, but I think his comments are still applicable. I believe God is calling urgently for us to act in the area of creation care. It might be a little new and scary, but we need to step out in faith and act.
So where are we headed on this journey? What does it mean to be a green church?
To be a ‘green’ church can mean different things to different people. I see a green church as a church that has taken a leadership role in their community’s progress towards sustainability. This involves two main steps; firstly, the church must put its own house in order by becoming as sustainable and ecologically friendly as it can; then it must promote and empower its congregation and the surrounding community to practice sustainability. On their own, most churches do not have a large ecological footprint (a measure of the impact of a person or organisation on the environment), however they have the potential to make a huge difference by influencing their communities.
My dream, and yours might be slightly different, goes something like this:
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 juice. 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 we are probably still a long way off. 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 Canberra; 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.
Along this journey you might need some help, so let me introduce you to some of the crew and tools available to you:
Uniting Earthweb
Uniting Earthweb is a network of Uniting Church people within NSW and the ACT who work for a greater connection between ecology and Christian faith and practice, including through theological study, the arts, worship, and practical projects and campaigns. The Uniting Earthweb website can be found at www.unitingearthweb.org.au and includes many awesome stories of what other churches are doing in NSW and the ACT to care for the environment. Why not add your story? Also, don’t forget to sign up to the monthly bulletin of faith and environment events...
ARRCC
The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) is a multifaith network committed to taking action on climate change. They believe that the religions of Australia have a shared sense of moral purpose on climate change. Each of our diverse traditions has a common concern for our world and a deep reverence for life. We strongly acknowledge the interdependent relationship between our welfare and that of the planet, and between social justice and ecological integrity. We recognise the threat posed to these by human-induced climate change. While celebrating the uniqueness of our different traditions, we stand together in working for an ecologically and socially sustainable future.
Become a member of ARRCC today at www.arrcc.org.au
‘Five Leaf Eco-Awards’ Canberra Pilot
The Five Leaf Eco-Awards are an ecumenical environmental award program. We inspire and assist churches to make their buildings, worship, congregation, outreach and leadership more environmentally friendly.
Our Mission: “To bring people closer to God by bringing them into a right and faithful relationship with creation as its appointed stewards.”
The Five Leaf Eco-Awards include both a basic and an advanced program which provides a framework and goals for churches to improve their environmental performance in the five areas and gives them recognition for doing so.
In the future we also hope to offer a range of additional yearly awards such as Best Eco-Sermon Award, Energy Saver Award, Water Saver Award, Creature Care Award, Australian Christian Eco-Hero Awards, Church Eco-Hero Certificates, Greenest Church Award and Church with the Biggest Improvement Certificate.
So why not start working towards one of these with your church?
We are also looking for more churches to join the Canberra pilot, so if you are interested please email me on fiveleafecoawards@gmail.com or talk to me after this.
Five Leaf also offers a range of extra services to individuals and churches interested in church greening. These include speeches and workshops at churches, the monthly Five Leaf Newsletter - Salt and Light, the Crown of Thorns blog written by Five Leaf founder Jessica Morthorpe : http://fiveleaf-crownofthorns.blogspot.com/ and the Church Greening and Christian Environmentalist Network on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48763181790&ref=ts
Now, it’s probably a good thing that we have some help, because as we all know, this ship of ours is taking on water. Climate change, species extinction, desertification, ocean acidification, salinity, introduced species, deforestation, fragmentation... our planet is in a bit of a mess and we must act now to save it. If you want to help, but don’t know where to start, here are some ideas:
At your church: Do a review of your pew sheets or newsletter. Is it printed on recycled paper (reflex has a 100% recycled and Australian made product out now if you can find it)? Is it printed on both sides? Do you need to have physical copies at all, or can you email it to some of your congregation? And do you have a weekly environmental tip included? Why not help your congregation on their sustainability journey too?
Another thing you can consider as a church is the ethical and environmental aspects of the food and drinks you have. Do you use Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance tea and coffee? And when you have communal meals, what kind of food do you encourage people to bring? Is it home grown, Local, Organic, Unprocessed, free range, Less packaged and is any seafood certified sustainable? If you have never been to the farmer’s markets at EPIC on Saturday mornings, why not try it when you leave here? Better yet, is it vegetarian? I know many people love their meat, and I won’t ask you to give it up, (although 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). But I must admit, as a vegetarian myself, I always feel a lot more included in a celebration when everything is vegetarian and I don’t have to spend five minutes peering at the food before I eat it.
We can also follow the Pope’s example and get solar panels on our roof.
At home, please remember to turn your appliances off when you aren’t using them, and unplug them so you don’t lose energy to the vampires. Appliances on standby can account for 10% of your electricity use, and turning just one off at the wall can save 45kg of greenhouse gas each year.
Also, think about your heating and cooling. This is an area where you can make big dividends for not only the environment, but also your pocket. By ensuring you keep the heating to eighteen degrees in winter, and the air conditioning to twenty four degrees in summer the average house can save $90 a year. Where you can, try and heat or cool only one room, or better yet, use clothing to moderate your temperature and save 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.
Heating is also a big issue in churches, so make sure you are using the most efficient system possible.
Ok, so hopefully that has given you some ideas of where to start, but remember this 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 our behaviours that have a negative impact on the earth, 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. And remember, as Lao Tzu said, “The longest journey begins with a single step.”
So I think it’s time for this ship to leave the harbour. Are you and your church on board?
The journey I speak of is that of making our churches and lives more environmentally friendly and of reducing our impact on God’s creation. 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 the solar panels recently installed at Kippax Uniting Church.
It is an exciting journey we are on, and as with all journeys, we must find stars to navigate by. In this case, as in many others, the Bible acts as our guide.
In Genesis 2:15 the Bible says, “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it.” I think it is worth noting that one of the first tasks God ever gave us to do, as a species, was to tend the garden of Eden and to act as stewards of the earth, and all the life in it (Genesis 1:28). It was not until much later that we were given the Ten Commandments, and only thousands of years later that we were given the great commission. As stewards of the earth we are expected to care for God’s creation, as any good child cares for their parent’s things.
Pearl Bartel once said that “I fail or succeed in my stewardship of life in proportion to how convinced I am that life belongs to God.” So, maybe we all need to read Psalm 24:1 a couple more times, or even just the Bible in general. I don’t know how many of you have seen this, but this is the ‘green bible’. Similar to the popular red letter Bibles, this one has any verse to do with the environment highlighted in green. It turns out there are over a thousand, which is more mentions than even grace or love.
The Bible says that God cares for creation by providing for the various creatures (Psalm 104:10-13) any has his eye upon every sparrow (Luke 12:6). All things are held together by God (Psalm 119:91), and remain to praise the Glory of God and proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1-4).
In Deuteronomy 20:19 God tells his people not to destroy the trees, even during war, as they are not our enemies. If God is concerned for nature even in times of war, should we not also show a similar vigilance for creation?
There is an interesting paraphrase of Haggai 1:4-8 which goes like this: “Is it a time for you to be living in panelled houses, while the earth needs replenishing, and people are too busy to worship in my house? Consider your ways. You plant gardens but waste food. You eat when you're hungry, and continue eating when your stomachs are full. You eat just to eat while people are starving. Because you never seem to have enough to drink, many families suffer. You wear designer clothes and leave price tags showing to brag of their cost, but you are not warm. You work, work; and spend, spend, spend the money you earn. You rob the earth of its resources and deplete the ozone. This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Consider your ways. Feed the hungry, clothe the poor. Go plant trees; replenish the earth, so my creation will honour me. Make time to worship in the house of the Lord." Chris Seaton (1992), Whose earth? Crossway books (London)
Jeremiah 12:4 laments “How long must this land weep? Even the grass in the field has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land." Indeed, my question would be, how long are we going to leave the land to weep? Or are we going to get up today and do something about it? After all, the small selection of Bible verses I have already shown you indicate quite clearly that caring for creation is, as the former Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulbourn once said, core Christian business. It is not a peripheral task, but a core task of all Christians who love the Lord.
If we believe that creation belongs to God (see Psalm 50: 10-11), then to damage that with which we were entrusted is the ultimate disrespect to God, and to the responsibilities he has given us. One of my favourite quotes puts it nicely, “Imagine how you would feel about meeting Leonardo Da Vinci if you knew you had set fire to the Mona Lisa!” Yet that is exactly what humanity has been doing by putting its own needs and desire for ‘progress’ ahead of the needs of the natural world which sustains us. In some circles the church is blamed for allowing and even encouraging this abuse. As Alistair Macrae, the president elect of the Uniting church Assembly has said of environmental issues, "Unfortunately we are seen as ‘Johnny-come-latelies’ to this issue, but from our own deep theological reserves we should be showing leadership on issues of the environment and sustainable living.” "Whether it is questions of the abundance of life, the future of the planet, the nature of life, stewardship, justice — all the big theological issues are caught up in the environmental issue," he says.
According to Mr Macrae "Mainstream churches in Australia and elsewhere are in a crisis situation. Do we go into shutdown and fear mode, or consider that maybe God wants us to do and be something different?” "Our position in society has radically changed. Most of us see the threat in that but we need, as a church, to see the opportunities. I want to say ‘park the fear and trust God’.”
Mr Macrae wasn’t talking specifically of the environmental issue here, but I think his comments are still applicable. I believe God is calling urgently for us to act in the area of creation care. It might be a little new and scary, but we need to step out in faith and act.
So where are we headed on this journey? What does it mean to be a green church?
To be a ‘green’ church can mean different things to different people. I see a green church as a church that has taken a leadership role in their community’s progress towards sustainability. This involves two main steps; firstly, the church must put its own house in order by becoming as sustainable and ecologically friendly as it can; then it must promote and empower its congregation and the surrounding community to practice sustainability. On their own, most churches do not have a large ecological footprint (a measure of the impact of a person or organisation on the environment), however they have the potential to make a huge difference by influencing their communities.
My dream, and yours might be slightly different, goes something like this:
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 juice. 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 we are probably still a long way off. 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 Canberra; 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.
Along this journey you might need some help, so let me introduce you to some of the crew and tools available to you:
Uniting Earthweb
Uniting Earthweb is a network of Uniting Church people within NSW and the ACT who work for a greater connection between ecology and Christian faith and practice, including through theological study, the arts, worship, and practical projects and campaigns. The Uniting Earthweb website can be found at www.unitingearthweb.org.au and includes many awesome stories of what other churches are doing in NSW and the ACT to care for the environment. Why not add your story? Also, don’t forget to sign up to the monthly bulletin of faith and environment events...
ARRCC
The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) is a multifaith network committed to taking action on climate change. They believe that the religions of Australia have a shared sense of moral purpose on climate change. Each of our diverse traditions has a common concern for our world and a deep reverence for life. We strongly acknowledge the interdependent relationship between our welfare and that of the planet, and between social justice and ecological integrity. We recognise the threat posed to these by human-induced climate change. While celebrating the uniqueness of our different traditions, we stand together in working for an ecologically and socially sustainable future.
Become a member of ARRCC today at www.arrcc.org.au
‘Five Leaf Eco-Awards’ Canberra Pilot
The Five Leaf Eco-Awards are an ecumenical environmental award program. We inspire and assist churches to make their buildings, worship, congregation, outreach and leadership more environmentally friendly.
Our Mission: “To bring people closer to God by bringing them into a right and faithful relationship with creation as its appointed stewards.”
The Five Leaf Eco-Awards include both a basic and an advanced program which provides a framework and goals for churches to improve their environmental performance in the five areas and gives them recognition for doing so.
In the future we also hope to offer a range of additional yearly awards such as Best Eco-Sermon Award, Energy Saver Award, Water Saver Award, Creature Care Award, Australian Christian Eco-Hero Awards, Church Eco-Hero Certificates, Greenest Church Award and Church with the Biggest Improvement Certificate.
So why not start working towards one of these with your church?
We are also looking for more churches to join the Canberra pilot, so if you are interested please email me on fiveleafecoawards@gmail.com or talk to me after this.
Five Leaf also offers a range of extra services to individuals and churches interested in church greening. These include speeches and workshops at churches, the monthly Five Leaf Newsletter - Salt and Light, the Crown of Thorns blog written by Five Leaf founder Jessica Morthorpe : http://fiveleaf-crownofthorns.blogspot.com/ and the Church Greening and Christian Environmentalist Network on Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48763181790&ref=ts
Now, it’s probably a good thing that we have some help, because as we all know, this ship of ours is taking on water. Climate change, species extinction, desertification, ocean acidification, salinity, introduced species, deforestation, fragmentation... our planet is in a bit of a mess and we must act now to save it. If you want to help, but don’t know where to start, here are some ideas:
At your church: Do a review of your pew sheets or newsletter. Is it printed on recycled paper (reflex has a 100% recycled and Australian made product out now if you can find it)? Is it printed on both sides? Do you need to have physical copies at all, or can you email it to some of your congregation? And do you have a weekly environmental tip included? Why not help your congregation on their sustainability journey too?
Another thing you can consider as a church is the ethical and environmental aspects of the food and drinks you have. Do you use Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance tea and coffee? And when you have communal meals, what kind of food do you encourage people to bring? Is it home grown, Local, Organic, Unprocessed, free range, Less packaged and is any seafood certified sustainable? If you have never been to the farmer’s markets at EPIC on Saturday mornings, why not try it when you leave here? Better yet, is it vegetarian? I know many people love their meat, and I won’t ask you to give it up, (although 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). But I must admit, as a vegetarian myself, I always feel a lot more included in a celebration when everything is vegetarian and I don’t have to spend five minutes peering at the food before I eat it.
We can also follow the Pope’s example and get solar panels on our roof.
At home, please remember to turn your appliances off when you aren’t using them, and unplug them so you don’t lose energy to the vampires. Appliances on standby can account for 10% of your electricity use, and turning just one off at the wall can save 45kg of greenhouse gas each year.
Also, think about your heating and cooling. This is an area where you can make big dividends for not only the environment, but also your pocket. By ensuring you keep the heating to eighteen degrees in winter, and the air conditioning to twenty four degrees in summer the average house can save $90 a year. Where you can, try and heat or cool only one room, or better yet, use clothing to moderate your temperature and save 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.
Heating is also a big issue in churches, so make sure you are using the most efficient system possible.
Ok, so hopefully that has given you some ideas of where to start, but remember this 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 our behaviours that have a negative impact on the earth, 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. And remember, as Lao Tzu said, “The longest journey begins with a single step.”
So I think it’s time for this ship to leave the harbour. Are you and your church on board?
Thursday, September 3, 2009
International agreement reached to combat illegal fishing
http://www.gmagazine.com.au/news/1546/international-agreement-reached-combat-illegal-fishing
Roof insulation rebate hides solar penalty
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26017225-3102,00.html
Human Waste Dumped in the Antarctic
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/big-stink-brews-in-antarctica-20090902-f8fq.html
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Another whale gets caught in a Shark Net - how unexpected... not!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/02/2673935.htm
I've said it before and I will say it again -shark nets are stupid and unethical. They give the public the illusion of safety* while providing none and killing thousands of sharks, turtles, fish, dolphins, birds, whales and everything else each year.
One day I'm going to stop whinging and do something about this... Preferably campaign for all nets to be exchanged for devices that create electromagnetic fields to deter sharks. It would be safer for the public and far less deadly.
* If you aren't aware, most shark nets on beaches do not, in fact close off the beach with a big net (in most cases nets would have to go too deep and wide for this to be cost effective), they are simply aimed at killing sharks to reduce population numbers in the area - assuming this will protect swimmers. Considering the research currently coming out about the behaviour of species like the Great White Shark (who travel great distances and are rarely in the same place for long) this seems incredibly unlikely to be at all effective. Hence, we are aiming to kill members of a very vulnerable group of species for no reason. This is a crime going on unnoticed beneath our noses.
I've said it before and I will say it again -shark nets are stupid and unethical. They give the public the illusion of safety* while providing none and killing thousands of sharks, turtles, fish, dolphins, birds, whales and everything else each year.
One day I'm going to stop whinging and do something about this... Preferably campaign for all nets to be exchanged for devices that create electromagnetic fields to deter sharks. It would be safer for the public and far less deadly.
* If you aren't aware, most shark nets on beaches do not, in fact close off the beach with a big net (in most cases nets would have to go too deep and wide for this to be cost effective), they are simply aimed at killing sharks to reduce population numbers in the area - assuming this will protect swimmers. Considering the research currently coming out about the behaviour of species like the Great White Shark (who travel great distances and are rarely in the same place for long) this seems incredibly unlikely to be at all effective. Hence, we are aiming to kill members of a very vulnerable group of species for no reason. This is a crime going on unnoticed beneath our noses.
Imperilled crocs get some Victorian help
http://www.theage.com.au/national/imperilled-crocs-get-some-victorian-help-20090901-f6y5.html
Festival of GDP worship must end! (Crikey)
http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=2430
Charcoal the way of the future for Carbon Sequestration?
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/its-no-drain-on-the-brain-to-see-that-this-is-a-potential-carbon-sink-we-need-to-explore-20090901-f6df.html
"The world according to Monsanto" - Ethical Consumer Group Meeting in Melbourne
Ethical Consumer Group September meeting - Thursday - 10th September >> 6.30 - 7.30pm - dinner - byo 'food and thoughts' to share >> 8pm - 10.30pm - movie & discussion. Nick & Janet's place, Footscray. RSVP for further details. Nick Ray 0417 114 492 email: nick (at) ethical.org.au The Ethical Consumer Group meets monthly to discuss aspects of living out sustainable alternatives in a consumerist culture.
Jess: I went to one of the Ethical Consumer Group meetings earlier in the year and I highly recommend them - they are very imformative and thought provoking.
Jess: I went to one of the Ethical Consumer Group meetings earlier in the year and I highly recommend them - they are very imformative and thought provoking.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Living Lightly Eco-Tip for September
This month's Eco-Tip:
If you belong to a local church, find out if there are plans for a service that raises awareness and encourages action around the Copenhagen climate talks in December. If not, ask the relevant person if this could be included in the Spring's programme.
If you belong to a local church, find out if there are plans for a service that raises awareness and encourages action around the Copenhagen climate talks in December. If not, ask the relevant person if this could be included in the Spring's programme.
Do you Feed the Ducks?
Feeding ducks is often a family favourite activity. Unfortunately feeding ducks bread is widely considered to cause more harm than good.
Bread is like junk food for ducks. It has very little nutritional value yet they love it! If eaten in moderation bread does little harm. However, if you consider the ducks at local ponds who are eating bread not just from your family but the families that visit before and after you, you can see that before long the birds have eaten much more bread than they should.
Feeding bread to birds in general can cause a whole lot of problems including malnutrition, gut problems, aggressive behaviour, and spread of disease. Unfortunately many of these problems can result in death.
Please visit our website to find out more about this and for some bread alternatives. www.ourenvironment.org.au
Bread is like junk food for ducks. It has very little nutritional value yet they love it! If eaten in moderation bread does little harm. However, if you consider the ducks at local ponds who are eating bread not just from your family but the families that visit before and after you, you can see that before long the birds have eaten much more bread than they should.
Feeding bread to birds in general can cause a whole lot of problems including malnutrition, gut problems, aggressive behaviour, and spread of disease. Unfortunately many of these problems can result in death.
Please visit our website to find out more about this and for some bread alternatives. www.ourenvironment.org.au
Event: Bushcare Activity!
Yes, another special opportunity is open for Gungahlin residents. Come and actively help your special Mulligans Flat.
We will be helping Ranger Grant spread Kangaroo Grass seed over areas that were damaged when erecting the Sanctuary Fence. Reseeding these areas is vitally important to prevent weeds such as Serrated Tussock taking hold.
When? Tuesday 22 September
10am – 12pm
Where? Mulligans Flat Carpark
Bring? Gloves, eye protection (such as sunglasses)
BYO Lunch
We hope to see you there!
We will be helping Ranger Grant spread Kangaroo Grass seed over areas that were damaged when erecting the Sanctuary Fence. Reseeding these areas is vitally important to prevent weeds such as Serrated Tussock taking hold.
When? Tuesday 22 September
10am – 12pm
Where? Mulligans Flat Carpark
Bring? Gloves, eye protection (such as sunglasses)
BYO Lunch
We hope to see you there!
Event: "An Introduction to Bird Watching"
Ever wondered what that pretty bird trilling away in the garden was? This is the perfect workshop for those of us who like birds but don't know much about them.
Learn from a bird expert. This workshop will start at Mulligans Flat where you will be given a "theory" lesson of how to successfully bird watch and identify some species of birds. Then you will put your new knowledge into practise with a walk around Mulligans Flat spotting and learning more about birds.
When? September 19, 8:30am
Where? Mulligans Flat Carpark off Amy Ackman St, Forde
All workshops are FREE
To register phone 6229 3204 or email bushcare@consact.org.au
Learn from a bird expert. This workshop will start at Mulligans Flat where you will be given a "theory" lesson of how to successfully bird watch and identify some species of birds. Then you will put your new knowledge into practise with a walk around Mulligans Flat spotting and learning more about birds.
When? September 19, 8:30am
Where? Mulligans Flat Carpark off Amy Ackman St, Forde
All workshops are FREE
To register phone 6229 3204 or email bushcare@consact.org.au
Creation Care Covenant
Covenants can be a great way to encourage people to make a real commitment to change. The following covenant originates in the US, but is just as relevant to Christians and churches here:
"We recognize that creation care is a part of the call to Christian discipleship. We are committed to integrating biblical principles of environmental stewardship into the life of our church. As first steps, we commit ourselves to improving our energy conservation practices, reducing waste through recycling, and promoting greater concern for God's creation. We seek to learn more about the impact of climate change, species loss, and other environmental problems on the vulnerable poor, doing our part to address these concerns for the benefit of all."
I encourage you to make use of this covenant as a tool in greening your lives and congregations. Let me know if you would like your commitment listed on this blog.
"We recognize that creation care is a part of the call to Christian discipleship. We are committed to integrating biblical principles of environmental stewardship into the life of our church. As first steps, we commit ourselves to improving our energy conservation practices, reducing waste through recycling, and promoting greater concern for God's creation. We seek to learn more about the impact of climate change, species loss, and other environmental problems on the vulnerable poor, doing our part to address these concerns for the benefit of all."
I encourage you to make use of this covenant as a tool in greening your lives and congregations. Let me know if you would like your commitment listed on this blog.
Christian Ecology Link prayer topic for today
The Copenhagen Summit in December has been described as “the last chance for the planet.” Churches Together in Britain and Ireland have put out a programme of resources to encourage churches to observe Creation Time from today till October 4th – which has been designated Climate Change Day of Prayer. “In the face of mounting evidence that we are heading for runaway climate change and massive losses in biodiversity, we need an international treaty to bind governments to drastic and immediate cuts in carbon emissions, but this requires courageous and far-sighted political leadership to transform our economy and many aspects of our culture.” Website: www.ctbi.org.uk/375
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