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Coronavirus, Faith Leaders, and Sustainable Development
An event organized by the United Nations Environment Progamme and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency led a digital conference to discuss innovation to combat the environmental crisis in light of the COVID-19. The Faith for Earth Initiative calls for interfaith collaboration to combat environment problems. In the midst of a global crisis, the UN encourages this time to be used for innovation and educational progression. This quote from Iyad Abumoghi summarizes the mission:
“'The coronavirus pandemic is focusing hearts and minds, says the director of Faith for Earth, Iyad Abumoghli. “Faith for Earth is mobilizing youth, the leaders of faith-based organizations, as well as scientists and theologians to work together for innovative change to speed up sustainable development.'” -
Zero Net Energy Grants
The Mennonite Creation Care Network published information on how a Mennonite Church congregation can qualify and get approved for a grant from the Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund. The grant would allow congregations to install solar panels, car charging stations, or other sustainable improvements. Any Mennonite Church USA congregations willing to become more sustainable are eligible for the grant. -
Laudato Si’ in Columbus: Bishop Campbell Regales OSU Students with Historical Overview of Catholic Tradition
Bishop Campbell spoke to OSU students about Laudato Si', specifically regarding how Catholic tradition develops the context for it.
"Bishop Campbell highlighted four themes in his talk, including how Catholicism has considered nature for 2,000 years, a Catholic imagination of nature, historical trends of alienation from nature in the Western world, and a discussion of how sin – light and shadow of the world together – plays a role in our ecological situation."
Please click on the link below to view the entire article. -
In Threatened Island Nation, Pope Hears Plea for Climate Action
Pope Francis visited Papua New Guinea, a Pacific Island nation facing serious environmental issues including water pollution, sea level rise, and deforestation. This continued his involvement in the discussion on climate change as he met with governor general Bob Dadae and spoke at meetings. The article covers the Pope's visit, the environmental challenges facing Papua New Guinea, and the ties between religious positions and care for the environment and people who are affected by climate change. -
Episcopalians Confronting Climate Change
This article discusses American Episcopalians' concern over climate change and the impact with regard to those facing poverty. The introduction to the article is stated below:
"In September 2011, the House of Bishops in the Episcopal Church, attending a meeting in Quito, Ecuador, sent a pastoral letter to Episcopal clergy worldwide expressing 'mounting urgency' to address climate change within church membership. The letter argued the critical need for Christians to care for all of God’s creation and urged that justice be sought for the poor, who it said will suffer most from climate change." -
Why Lutherans Care for Creation
This article discusses how various concepts of Lutheran theology are woven into ecological messages with regard to God as creator, human interactions, and ways of worship. The following is a section from the introduction of the article, emphasizing human responsibility towards care for the Earth:
"For Christians, care of the Earth is not an 'environmental cause.' Rather, it is central to our holy calling to treasure the Earth and to care for it as our common home, fully integrating creation-care into our love of God and neighbor. Without sacrificing the transformational effects of the 16th-century Reformation, we are called to embrace an eco-reformation that will re-examine and rethink how we read the Bible, how we can expand the scope of our theology, how we can reconfigure our personal vocation and our common ethic, how we worship, how we organize our church life together, and how we understand ourselves as creatures within creation as a whole. This call to continuing reformation is for the whole church, not solely for the committed. Earth care is not an add-on. It is not just for those who happen to be interested in it. It is a call for all Christians to participate in this great work of our time." -
Environmental Stewardship and Conservation
An article under the Mormon Newsroom from the official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that explains the Church teachings and stance regarding environmental stewardship and conservation. The article also links other Church video resources, as well as a few articles, resources, and a book titled, “Stewardship and the Creation: LDS Perspectives on the Environment”. The book is a compilation of 17 essays that aim to inspire Latter-day Saints to strongly consider the importance of being environmental stewards and protecting God’s creations. -
Overpopulation and the Lifeboat Metaphor: A Critique from an African Worldview
Many scientists have warned that the earth is nearing overpopulation or has already reached its carrying capacity. Garret Hardin proposed the lifeboat ethics metaphor to address this crisis and proper resource distributions. Okyere-Manu comments that this metaphor does not take into account the African political and cultural worldview. Hardin's metaphor is also reliant on inequality which disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. -
How to Green your Parish
This article is about the importance of parishes to participate in environmentally sustainable actions based on Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’. It encourages parishes to strive to become more eco-friendly by taking work together as a community and focusing on change one issue at a time. The article focuses on three main areas: reducing the parishes greenhouse gas, sustaining food and land use, and preserving water. -
The Wisdom of Houseplants
There has been a recent rise in the popularity of houseplants. This resource relates aspects of tending to houseplants to different ways you can be more mindful about your own life. Through caring for the houseplants, this web page reminds you to be adaptable, to be patient, and to expand yourself. While also additionally reminding the reader that letting go and paying attention to your physical health are both key in positive personal growth. -
Applying the hard lessons of coronavirus to the biodiversity crisis
In this article, Jamison Ervin, Manager of Nature for Development at UNDP, summarizes key lessons we have learned during the Covid-19 pandemic and how these can be applied to environmental protection efforts. -
Mercury Pollution a Concern of Evangelical Environmental Network
This article talks about mercury pollution and the pressing issues in need of attention and advocacy. The pro-life evangelicals have been pushing for more restrictions and regulations relating to mercury. This article intends to show how mercury poisoning hurts human lives and its different aspects that have long been overlooked. -
How Religion Influences Our Relationship With the Environment
This article, drawing references from a study in the Journal of Religion and Demography, summarizes how religions influence many environmentally relevant behaviors.
The author and his colleagues discovered that countries with a lower religious population utilize more resources and emit more emissions, but they are also better prepared to deal with the environmental difficulties that emerge since they are wealthier. On the other hand, countries with more religious populations tend to use fewer resources, but they also have less capability to address environmental concerns and are more vulnerable to negative consequences, owing to their high levels of poverty and continued population increase.
The link between religion, poverty, environmental impact, and governance is intricate and ever-evolving; the field continues to call for more research. -
People of faith are allies to stall climate change (Nature Magazine)
Tobias Müller is a political scientist who studies how religious groups respond to problems, from environmental crises to domestic violence to racism. In this article, he explores changes in the intersection of climate science and communities of faith. Müller shares with us patterns he's observed and strategies he's learned in his years in the field that help strengthen collaboration and the power to pursue climate justice. Some core ideas include:
1. Collaborate with religious scientists and local leaders.
2. Stories speak louder than graphs.
3. Talk about what matters to you and your audience. -
The 12 Principles of Permaculture: A Way Forward
This blog article describes the basics of permaculture (permanent culture). Permaculture is rooted in the observation of natural systems and indigenous knowledge. The author introduces the solution permaculture offers to help us transition to a more resilient, ethical, and sustainable future better for the planet and its inhabitants. -
Educational Programme: “The Use of Plants in the Worship of the Orthodox Church” and Its Contribution in Shaping Values of Sustainability
The goal is to connect children to nature with plants that have symbolic value to the bible. They created a Sunday School curriculum that will teach kids the value of having a connection with nature and God. 73% of the students that went through the course said that they cared more about the environment after taking the course.