Building Energy & Sustainability Team at St. Francis
Our 1st. Core Team meeting on Building Energy & Sustainability met
Monday morning, May 21st, 2012, at St. Francis Parish.
These groups were represented:
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light (MI-IPL) - (Jane Vogel)
St. Francis of Assisi Parish - (Steve Lavender)
St. Mary Student Parish - (Steve Wolbert)
Clean Energy Coalition
UofM Business School - Institute for Sustainability
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In addition, the sub-committee of the St. Francis Finance Council on the environment also met Monday evening, May 21, 2012. Their recently published documents are:
-- St. Francis Parish Environmental Policy Statement published in Sept 2011 by St. Francis Finance Council;
-- A Forum article published in September 2011, entitled, "Parish and School Blazing Trails for the Environment!";
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PARISH AND SCHOOL BLAZING TRAILS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!
St. Francis Parish and School have been honored for a third four-year term as members of Community Partners for Clean Streams, a program of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's office to support and preserve our county's water resources; you may have noticed the "No Dumping, Drains to River" signs painted near parking lot drains. To retain our membership we went through an operational audit by the Commissioner's staff, and developed our own Environmental Policy Statement, approved unanimously by the Parish Finance Council in September, 2011; a copy of that statement follows.
As reported earlier this year, the Parish and School were again awarded a "Waste-Knot" Award for 2011, by Washtenaw County, Department of Planning and Environment, marking our twelfth consecutive year that we have been so honored! The award stated that our "waste reduction and reuse, recycling, use of recycled products, and education efforts are outstanding". A wide variety of items, including laser printer cartridges, pizza boxes, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and wood pallets, are collected for recycling, and recycling containers are conveniently located throughout the School and Parish Office. Re-usable items that are no longer needed by the Parish or School are typically taken to the Re-Use Center of Recycle Ann Arbor, or offered to local social service agencies, and, during the growing season, organic waste is collected and delivered to the Drop Off Station located on Ellsworth Road. We are proud and pleased to continue to be among the leaders in our community in these important efforts.
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St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Environmental Policy Statement
Our patron Saint, St. Francis of Assisi, believed that nature itself was "the mirror of God." He preached the duty of all people "to protect and enjoy nature as both the stewards of God's creation and as creatures ourselves."
Following the path of our patron, St. Francis of Assisi Parish (Church and School) recognizes that our daily operations impact the environment, and pledges to protect and improve the environment through best management practices wherever possible.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish will work to integrate environmental considerations into our business decisions and to adopt environmentally-friendly alternatives throughout our operations wherever possible.
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Also, we recall the "Carbon Fast" work of our St. Francis Peace & Justice Committee on our 2010 Lenten Effort.
We recall that in April of 2010, our St. Francis Parish "Energy Fast to Sack Hunger" Lenten Project not only produced $9,282.75 for Food Gatherers, but, also motivated many of us at St. Francis to evaluate our home energy use.
Here I'm collecting the many articles that we have written and published in the bulletin FORUM and CANTICLE about environmental stewardship and sustainability. These are some of the items we own that may be useful for us to use again.
(Attached 2010 Lenten Calendar)
Vegetarian Recipes Posted Weekly on our Recipes Blog, Here! http://stfrancisa2recipes.blogspot.com/
EACH WEEK OF LENT 2010 articles found in the FORUM... (also, included below here.)
February 14, 2010, is "Introducing our Energy Fast to Sack Hunger SACK" (written by Kelly Gauthier). Also, Lenten Season Prayers of the Faithful
February 21, 2010, is "Is Your Lifestyle "Sustainable"? (written by Kelly Gauthier).
February 28, 2010, is "St. Francis' Energy Evaluation" (written by Stephen Lavender).
March 7, 2010, is "Going Deeper ~ Digging Deeper!" (written by Patti and Charles Yonka).
March 14, 2010, is "Reducing Pollution" (written by Kelly Gauthier).
March 21, 2010, is "Environmental Justice" (written by Kelly Gauthier).
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGlXRklkZWZUY2J1a0JTalZNQVc0TkE6MA
FINAL RESPONSE REPORT: As of 2010-04-20, we have a total of 179 + "SACK responses" (this does not count loose checks/cash, which will be part of the dollar total, but, not part of this number of "SACK responses").
$9,160.85 (one check mailed from St. Francis)
+ $121.90 (received directly at Food Gatherers)
= $9,282.75 for Food Gatherers.
-- of those, 114 + "SACK responses" were returned with a donation in the sack but nothing marked on the sack feedback form.
-- of those, 74 "SACK responses" had offered some feed back on the sack and the data is all entered in the form.
RESULTS FROM THE 2010 LENTEN PROJECT
The St. Francis Peace and Justice Committee would like to say "thank you" to everyone who participated in our Lenten project this year.
"Thank you" to everyone who participated in the Energy Fast, and especially to those who provided feedback. Your input is extremely helpful and we appreciate all your comments. Of the 74 responses we received:
• 76% tried at least one of the calendar tips
• 72% said they learned something new
• 65% replaced at least one incandescent light bulb in their home with an LED or compact fluorescent bulb.
This translates to a savings of 14,000+ pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year – which shows that very small changes can have a very BIG impact!
Let's thank God for the bountiful gifts we have been given, and strive to always be good stewards of God's creation!
A Summary of The 74 responses (with feed back)
Did you Learn something new about caring for God's creation?
Share your comments/feedback about the Energy Fast:
1 I want to join the St. Francis Parish Green Team.
2 Great!
3 good idea.
4 Does the form capture ip address, or any other way of identifying multiple entries from same person? probably doesn't matter for this one.
5 Was an interesting and valuable way to help our enviroment.
Used new curly bulbs in the entire house.
6 A.H. #1780
7 Creative idea. Keep it up.
8 quite interesting and well done; thank you!
9 Not a good idea. Too much work that is not as effective for requesting money.
10 I already do all of the above that i am able to do.
11 Needs to be more kid friendly.
12 Fine, but i prefer the CRS rice bowl and calendar. "We're already vegetarian."
13 Great idea, we use a lot of CFL's. We turned heat down more.
14 We ate healthy foods and no fast foods.
15 Good exercise to increase awareness.
16 Bulbs are a hoax!
17 Global warming is a political hoot.
18 We gave up t.v & video games so saved energy that way. "We had changed our light bulbs already."
19 Very clever, great idea, good tips & informative websites.
20 thank you!
21 thank you!
22 a great idea for st. francis!
23 Happy to see the church show concern for the environment.
24 i have read and understood about energy fast. i will be implementing it in the days to come. Thank you.
25 I put money in here to feed the poor, NOT to participate in your "energy" program. I can make my own decisions regarding the environment.
26 Great ideas!
$9,160.85 (one check mailed from St. Francis)
+ $121.90 (received directly at Food Gatherers)
= $9,282.75 for Food Gatherers.
-- of those, 114 + "SACK responses" were returned with a donation in the sack but nothing marked on the sack feedback form.
-- of those, 74 "SACK responses" had offered some feed back on the sack and the data is all entered in the form.
The St. Francis Peace and Justice Committee would like to say "thank you" to everyone who participated in our Lenten project this year.
"Thank you" to everyone who participated in the Energy Fast, and especially to those who provided feedback. Your input is extremely helpful and we appreciate all your comments. Of the 74 responses we received:
• 76% tried at least one of the calendar tips
• 72% said they learned something new
• 65% replaced at least one incandescent light bulb in their home with an LED or compact fluorescent bulb.
This translates to a savings of 14,000+ pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year – which shows that very small changes can have a very BIG impact!
Let's thank God for the bountiful gifts we have been given, and strive to always be good stewards of God's creation!
Did you Learn something new about caring for God's creation?
- Yes! 53 = 72%
- No. 21 = 28%
- Yes! 56 = 76%
- No. 18 = 24%
- Yes! 20 = 27%
- No. 54 = 73%
- Yes! 12 = 16%
- No. 62 = 84%
- Yes! 6 = 8%
- No. 68 = 92%
- Yes, with a compact fluorescent! 29 = 39%
- Yes, with an LED bulb! 5 = 7%
- Yes, several. 12 = 16%
- No. 26 = 35%
Share your comments/feedback about the Energy Fast:
1 I want to join the St. Francis Parish Green Team.
2 Great!
3 good idea.
4 Does the form capture ip address, or any other way of identifying multiple entries from same person? probably doesn't matter for this one.
5 Was an interesting and valuable way to help our enviroment.
Used new curly bulbs in the entire house.
6 A.H. #1780
7 Creative idea. Keep it up.
8 quite interesting and well done; thank you!
9 Not a good idea. Too much work that is not as effective for requesting money.
10 I already do all of the above that i am able to do.
11 Needs to be more kid friendly.
12 Fine, but i prefer the CRS rice bowl and calendar. "We're already vegetarian."
13 Great idea, we use a lot of CFL's. We turned heat down more.
14 We ate healthy foods and no fast foods.
15 Good exercise to increase awareness.
16 Bulbs are a hoax!
17 Global warming is a political hoot.
18 We gave up t.v & video games so saved energy that way. "We had changed our light bulbs already."
19 Very clever, great idea, good tips & informative websites.
20 thank you!
21 thank you!
22 a great idea for st. francis!
23 Happy to see the church show concern for the environment.
24 i have read and understood about energy fast. i will be implementing it in the days to come. Thank you.
25 I put money in here to feed the poor, NOT to participate in your "energy" program. I can make my own decisions regarding the environment.
26 Great ideas!
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February 14, 2010, is (written by Kelly Gauthier)
Introducing our
Energy Fast to Sack Hunger Sack
ST. FRANCIS' LENTEN ENERGY FAST
The Lenten theme at St. Francis this year is "Go Deeper with God". How many of us have felt the presence of God when we hiked a trail in the autumn woods or fished in the morning on a serene lake, or dug into the rich, black earth of our backyard garden? When we need to connect more deeply with our Creator, we often turn to the natural world, where we enjoy the beauty and the bounty of God's creation.
During Lent we usually give up something as a sacrifice – often sweets or luxuries. This year, the St. Francis Peace and Justice Committee invites you to make a different type of sacrifice: to participate in a parish-wide "Energy Fast". We hope that by doing this, we will all learn to make small changes that make our lifestyles more sustainable over the long-term. We want to ensure that the natural places we love will exist for our great-grandchildren to enjoy. Plus, all donations we make will go to Food Gatherers, the Food Rescue/Food Bank Program in Washtenaw County, to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community.
By "giving up" energy and other carbon dioxide sources this Lent, you will be making a sacrifice that puts into practice our Catholic obligation to care for God's creation. Catholic Social Teaching tells us that God gave humanity this moral responsibility and urges us to action to create a sustainable way of life. There's an old saying, "we don't inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children". Yet too often we live as if the earth's bounty can never be exhausted – as if fossil fuels will never be depleted, natural spaces will never be developed, garbage dumps will always remain far from our homes, and pollution will not ruin the air we breathe, the food we eat, or the water we drink.
You can immediately take simple steps to help reduce levels of carbon dioxide (your "carbon footprint"), reduce fossil fuel consumption, and reduce pollution. Throughout this season of Lent, we'll offer tips for doing this. You might begin your Energy Fast by learning more about the Catholic Church's teachings related to environmental stewardship. Two great resources are:
• The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climate/index.shtml
"At its core, global climate change is not about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. It is about the future of God's creation and the one human family." (Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good, USCCB, 2001)
• The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change – visit their site and take their St. Francis Pledge! The website address is: www.catholicsandclimatechange.org
"The brutal consumption of Creation begins where God is not, where matter is henceforth only material for us, where we ourselves are the ultimate demand, where the whole is merely our property and we consume it for ourselves alone … true and effective initiatives to prevent the waste and destruction of Creation can be implemented and developed, understood and lived, only where Creation is considered as beginning with God." --Pope Benedict XVI, August 2008
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Please join us in praying these environmental-themed Lenten Season Prayers of the Faithful:
Oh Lord, bless our efforts in using our Lenten - Energy Fast to Sack Hunger Sack, we pray to you Lord.
Sample Prayers of the Faithful – Environmental Stewardship
Oh, God make care for the environment spring up in human hearts, we pray to you Lord.
Oh, God open our eyes to the richness and beauty of creation and instill in us a deep love for the earth and all that is in and around it, we pray to you Lord.
By our actions, oh, Lord, may we model environmental stewardship, we pray to you Lord
Let us be wise stewards of God's creation, that we use it responsibly and protect it from abuse and exploitation, we pray to you Lord.
May future generations enjoy a healthy environment that reflects the goodness and beauty of the Creator, we pray to you Lord.
For social justice for the poor and vulnerable who suffer disproportionately from environmental destruction, we pray to you Lord.
For the unborn and for children, who are at greater risk from exposure to environmental hazards, we pray to you Lord.
God our Creator has blessed us with the goodness of the earth, we ask forgiveness when we fail to care for it, we pray for help to change, and we give thanks for the gifts given to us, we pray to you Lord.
May we work for a sustainable environment, which is in great peril due to human greed and apathy for God's creation, we pray to you Lord.
February 21, 2010, is (written by Kelly Gauthier).
Is Your Lifestyle "Sustainable?
"Sustainability" is the ability to endure. In ecology, it describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. For humans, it is the potential for long term well-being.
Lent is the perfect time to take a step back and evaluate our lifestyle: Do we live in a way that promotes sustainability, or do we live for the moment? Do we care about the impact of our choices on the poor (both at home and abroad), or do we selfishly focus on satisfying our own wants? Do we choose consumption, greed, and wastefulness? Or, do we choose conservation, moderation, and thrift?
We cannot continue to consume so much more than the rest of the world, gobbling natural resources for ourselves and leaving others with nothing. Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas raises the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which contributes to environmental damage. According to the US Dept. of Energy, the average US citizen generates about 20 tons of carbon dioxide a year; whereas in Canada the average is about 16 tons, and in Spain it's about 7 tons. Those in the developing world generate almost no carbon dioxide. This is a huge disparity – reducing our "carbon footprint" is, according to the Catholic Church, a matter of justice.
Here are 6 things that you can do in your own life that go a long way to promoting sustainability and reducing your carbon footprint:
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Eat less meat, especially red meat.
• Ditch bottled water – try a filter if your tap water doesn't taste good.
• Buy locally or USA-made goods – the less distance your "stuff" has to travel, the better.
• Carpool (even 1-2 days a week makes a big difference) and when flying, try to take a direct flight whenever possible.
• We use lots of electronics – remember to turn them off when not in use.
February 28, 2010, is (written by Stephen Lavender)
St. Francis' Energy Evaluation
Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that we show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. As part of our ongoing stewardship effort, St. Francis of Assisi conducted an energy evaluation of its entire campus (church, school, parish offices and rectory) on December 30, 2009. Support for the evaluation was provided through a grant from Michigan Interfaith Power & Light. St. Francis joined the group of 81 congregations comprising MiIP&L in October, 2009. (Their partner organization is, the Warm Training Program.)
The wide ranging review covered systems such as heating, air conditioning and lighting as well as structural components including roofs, insulation and windows. The evaluator's observations during the review confirmed both the importance and proper focus of our proactive, ongoing maintenance efforts.
The energy conservation opportunities identified by the evaluator fell into five categories. The opportunities were prioritized by the evaluator based on two considerations - first, an approximate projection of energy savings, and second, the current needs of the facilities within the St. Francis campus. Additionally, the five categories include recommendations for both near term and long term actions. The areas of opportunity identified by the evaluator were (1) efficient lighting systems, (2) weather stripping, (3) occupancy sensors, (4) appliances and office equipment and (5) water conservation. These opportunities have been condensed into a work-plan format for review and consideration by the various functional committees within the parish. Recommendations from the evaluation will assist the St. Francis community as we strive to remain faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to our care.
Also, for up-dates on our Parish ENERGY EVALUATION see: www.stfrancisa2.com/socialministry/energy.htm
March 7, 2010, is (written by Patti and Charles Yonka)
"Going Deeper ~ Digging Deeper!"
Joe and Genevieve Jostock harvesting produce!
As we explore going deeper with God, we would like to share with you our Faith & Food experience with Food Gatherers, Growing Hope and the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice.
As you may know, the St. Francis Sustainable Garden Project, led by Tracy Nagy, provides fresh produce to Perry Nursery School children throughout the growing season. This means that in the 10+ years of this project, children have been fed healthier, fresh food through the hard work and love of this parish. We decided that we would like to be able, as a family, to provide fresh produce to hungry people. We enlarged our garden and through the Faith & Food 2009 initiative, we learned how to prepare the soil, how to purchase inexpensive fencing and compost, what produce was needed, when to plant, how to treat garden pests organically and when to harvest at the optimum time.
'Digging deeper' was a most gratifying experience for us and, by dividing garden tasks, was manageable for a few people. Patti's parents, who live with us during the summer months, were able to participate in maintaining the garden. We will be sharing 50%+ of our produce with Food Gatherers again this year!
To learn more:
1. Look for information in the Forum and on the website www.stfrancisa2.com/socialministry/garden.htm re: Sustainable Garden Project need for volunteers for seed sales, planting, weeding and harvesting.
2. Visit the Food Gatherers' website www.foodgatherers.org and click on "Get Growin' for Food Gatherers" for information and resources on how to begin growing produce. Container gardens work too!
3. Come on March 22, 2010 from 6:30-8:30 PM for Faith & Food dinner and discussion about this garden growing initiative for 2010. Location: Memorial Christian Church, 730 Tappan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Contacts: or us @ 734-461-2964 or .
March 14, 2010, is (written by Kelly Gauthier)
"Reducing Pollution"
Youth soccer starts soon in Ann Arbor. On Saturday mornings, the park behind my home will be filled with the shouts of children and the cheers of their parents. And I'll spend Saturday evenings collecting the discarded water bottles, juice boxes, candy wrappers, and other garbage left behind by the soccer players and their families.
Other forms of pollution may be less obvious, but more damaging. Water pollution, for example, is especially harmful in Michigan, given our tremendous fresh water resources. Besides the more obvious pollutants (like mercury from coal plants), phosphorus is a problem. Phosphorus occurs naturally in the soil, but too much in our water creates plant growth that leaves less oxygen for fish and other water life. This disrupts the natural balance of life and affects water quality.
A law that takes effect July 1st will help. It requires that detergents sold in Michigan for washing dishes or clothes must contain less than 0.5% phosphorus by weight (the previous limit was 8.7%). Lawn fertilizers, however, are not included in the law, although they are a major source of phosphorus in our water. In 2007, Ann Arbor restricted the use of lawn fertilizers containing phosphates – and phosphorus concentrations in the Huron River in the past two years declined an average of 17% in the river and 29% in tributary streams. This improves our water quality and reduces the cost of water treatment.
Interestingly, the MSU Extension Service says that 84% of the local soil samples they tested did not need phosphorus application – the soil already had enough. So if you use lawn fertilizer, you may want to look at the nitrogen-only fertilizer that Washtenaw County soy farmers have created.
Take advantage of opportunities to learn more about pollution and to advocate with policy makers to protect the long-term health of our land, air, and water. And take simple actions: pick up your garbage when you're out, and use detergents and fertilizers that are phosphate-free!
March 21, 2010, is (written by Kelly Gauthier)
"Environmental Justice"
As we conclude our Lenten Energy Fast project, you might consider volunteering or advocating in the area of environmental justice. Environmental justice activists seek an equitable distribution of environmental burdens and benefits to racial minorities, the poor, and people in developing nations. They define the environment as "where we live, work, play, learn, and pray".
Environmental burdens like pollution, industrial facilities, and soil/water contamination most often impact low-income and minority communities. Environmental benefits like parks, "clean" businesses, and the availability of organic foods more often impact higher-income and white communities.
A case that brought national attention to the concept of environmental justice occurred in 1982 in North Carolina. The state approved a hazardous waste landfill (with PCB-contaminated soil) to be built in a community where 69% of the residents were nonwhite and 20% had incomes below the poverty level. There were numerous protests but, with permission from the EPA, the dump was built and put the contaminated waste only 7 feet above the water table, instead of the 50 feet usually required for PCBs.
At the national level, in 1992 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established an Office of Environmental Justice to ensure that all citizens, especially those of color or low income, receive protection under existing environmental laws. Congress, however, failed to pass an Environmental Justice Act.
The Catholic Church is a strong advocate for environmental justice throughout the world. The Catholic approach is based on the two commandments of Jesus: to love God above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Love of God requires respect for God's gifts and creation. Love of neighbor requires justice, which prohibits the selfish destruction of the environment without regard for people in need today, or for the needs of future generations.
For Catholic resources on environmental justice, visit www.silk.net/RelEd/environment.htm.
"The environment is God's gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations, and towards humanity as a whole." -Pope Benedict VI, Caritas in Veritate
March 28, 2010, is the final conclusion of the drive.
Tell us what your experience was
doing the Energy Fast to Sack Hunger!
Complete Our Survey! Click Here!
Help measure the success of our Lent 2010 ENERGY FAST to Sack Hunger.
During Lent, did you: (Click Here to Complete this Survey online.)
Did you Learn something new about caring for God's creation?
* Yes! * No.
Did you Try some of the tips on the calendar?
* Yes! * No.
Did you try any of the vegetarian recipes?
* Yes! * No.
Did you measure your household's carbon footprint?
* Yes! * No.
Did you take the St. Francis Pledge? The St. Francis Pledge is at: www.catholicsandclimatechange.org
* Yes! * No.
Did you change a light bulb in your home?
* Yes, with a compact fluorescent!
* Yes, with an LED bulb!
* Yes, several.
* No.
Share your comments/feedback about the Energy Fast:
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-- The St. Francis Pledge! from The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change website: www.catholicsandclimatechange.org
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St. Francis Peace & Justice Committee also had a series of bulletin Forum articles in September, 2010. We should include that group of articles in the summary highlighted. Here they are... (I had already, two years ago, posted them on my Service 4 Justice blog.)
#1) http://service4justice.blogspot.com/2010/09/hunger-and-care-of-earth-1st-article.html
#2) http://service4justice.blogspot.com/2010/09/hunger-and-care-of-earth-2nd-article.html
#3) http://service4justice.blogspot.com/2010/09/hunger-and-care-of-earth-3rd-article.html
#4) http://service4justice.blogspot.com/2010/09/hunger-and-care-of-earth-4th-article.html
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Hunger and Care of the Earth
Written by Patti Yonka for the September 12 Forum.
(Published September 12, 2010, in St. Francis Forum.)
The St. Francis Peace and Justice Committee is dedicated to educating and putting into practice the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching [CST]. Whether human being or living thing, we all need nourishment, shelter, clean water and air to breathe. We know there is enough food for all. We know that every country in the world has the potential of growing sufficient food on a sustainable basis. Two CST tenets that speak to these needs are Solidarity and Care for God's Creation.
Solidarity means we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers. We are one human family whatever our differences. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions.
Care of God's Creation is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's beings.
These 2 tenets of CST are intertwined. Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing information and ideas for action based on how caring for our earth affects the food we eat and the hunger crisis in Washtenaw County and the world. There are many ways to action. Consider these possibilities:
- September 1 – 30 is Hunger Action Month, a Food Gatherers and Feed America Initiative
- September 25-26 and October 2-3, after all masses, volunteers will have Activities, St. Francis of Assisi Prayer Cards , CROP Walker and Donation Sheets and Stickers .
- October 4 is St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day
- October 10 is the 36th Annual Washtenaw/Ann Arbor Crop Walk
- October 10, 2010 – www.350.org Getting to Work! Initiative
*1 www.fao.org
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Hunger and Care of the Earth
Written by Stephen Lavender for the September 19 Forum.
Our patron, St. Francis of Assisi possessed a special joy and care for all creation. His Canticle praises the Lord for the gifts of Sister Earth and Brothers Wind and Air. It's fitting to again assess our own care for creation as we approach St. Francis' October 4th feast day.
Catholic social teaching's mandate to care for creation demands vigilance and thoughtful consideration. There are few activities in daily life that don't somehow impact God's environmental creation. However, the environment God entrusts to our care is becoming warmer each day:
For 2010, Earth's global temperature registered the warmest January-July period on record.
January 2000 to December 2009 was the warmest decade on record. Six of the warmest years on record were recorded during the decade.
Increasing global temperatures are matched by increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. These increases are the result of human activity.
Our environment's response to rising temperatures and greenhouse gas levels will affect all of creation, humanity included. Public health will be increasingly affected by heat waves, storms, fresh water shortages and increases in both allergies and asthma. Critically, global warming is expected to slow or entirely offset progress toward clean air targets.
Beyond climate and health concerns, global warming is expected to increase patterns of hunger and depletion. The annual glacier melt is essential for food production in Asia's Indus and Brahmaputra river basins. Normally, springtime snow melt would be replenished the following winter, ensuring the ongoing availability of fresh water. Global warming however increases the rate of glacier melt beyond the level of winter replenishment. The glaciers are disappearing. The potential disappearance of the glaciers threatens the food security of an estimated 60 million people in this area alone.
Increasing temperatures, heightened health concerns, dwindling food security – is there a common link? Yes – it's the escalating level of greenhouse gases. Next week we'll discuss the significance of the number 350 as we assess our progress in caring for creation.
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Hunger and Care of the Earth
What are greenhouse gases? …a problem?
Written by Stephen Lavender for the September 26 Forum.
All creatures in God's earthly creation face rising temperatures, heightened health concerns and dwindling food security. Escalating greenhouse gas levels provide the common link. What are greenhouse gases? What makes their role in global warming a problem?
Greenhouse gases are nothing new. Carbon dioxide and methane, two of the most common greenhouse gases are critical atmospheric components. They "trap" the sun's warmth just as a greenhouse keeps plants warm, even on cool days. Balance however is critical. Too little greenhouse gas and earth's temperature drops. Too much and temperatures rise. Factories, power plants, automobiles and livestock alter the balance by pouring unprecedented quantities of greenhouse gas into the environment. Our atmosphere is retaining more solar energy than ever before. The earth's temperature is rising. Human activity is the source.
Environmental experts understand balance in our atmosphere. Through years of study we've determined that the highest safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 350 parts per million (ppm). Last month's level was 388.2 ppm. We haven't been below 350 ppm since September, 1989. The level rises each year. The global importance of returning to 350 ppm has prompted the creation of a terrific website appropriately called 350.org. Check the site for very helpful information.
Finally, contemplate the following:
PRAY for the wisdom to be faithful stewards of creation. Consider that Americans use 21% of the world's energy and generate 20% of humanity's greenhouse gas emissions yet we represent just 4.6% of earth's population.
REDUCE meat consumption. "Livestock's Long Shadow", a 2006 United Nations report states that livestock contribute "…about 18% of the (earth's total) global warming effect – an even larger contribution than the transportation sector worldwide."
READ next week's Forum for more on hunger and care of the earth!
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Hunger and Care of the Earth
You do make a difference!
Written by Patti Yonka for the October 3 Forum.
The Hunger and Care of the Earth articles and display have been featuring information regarding our Catholic call of Solidarity and Care for God's Creation. These commitments are inter-connected. Stop by the Hunger and Care of the Earth display table to learn how you do and can make a difference!
On October 4th, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. Almost 1,000 years ago, St. Francis praised ". . .radiant brother sun. . .sister moon. . . brothers wind and air".*[1] You can act on this call by picking up the St. Francis Pledge, reading it and going on-line, www.catholicclimatecovenant.
10/10/10 is Getting to Work Action Day for www.350.org. Last week you learned that our current carbon dioxide level of 388.2 parts per million [ppm] needs to be reduced to 350 ppm for everyone's health. To find out more about 350 Faith, go to the 350.org website and click on faith. Learn how other faith groups are raising awareness about the climate. Check out the children's books on climate and care of the Earth, too!
The 36th Annual Washtenaw / Ann Arbor CROP Walk takes place on Sunday, October 10, 2010. It's a great way to get to know your neighbors of all faiths by donating, walking, and prayer. Donations can be made to Church World Service [CWS] or Catholic Relief Services [CRS]. Learn more about these 2 organizations and the 13 local agencies that will benefit from the walk.
*The Circle of Days by Reeve Lindbergh; Illustrator, Cathie Felstead.
[1] The Circle of Days by Reeve Lindbergh; Illustrator, Cathie Felstead.
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