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Greening the Parish - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AmericaGreening the Parish is an initiative started by the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecunemical and Interfaith relations. It was inspired by the work of Patriarch Bartholomew, who is more commonly known as the Green Patriarch. On this website, there are initiatives, practices, and educational materials that teach environmental stewardship.
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Jessica Locke on Buddhism and Environmental EngagementIn this podcast, Jessica Locke begins her talk about the intersectionality of Buddhist religion and environmental engagement by describing how upholding tradition while trying to address modern issues is difficult. There are different Buddhisms, as the original religion has been interpreted differently over the years; however there are commonalities throughout such as the idea of karma. Locke states that the unit of analysis for Buddhist ethics is changing from an individualistic perspective to larger scale in order to analyze environmental problems.
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Fifth National Climate Assestment, Chapter 16: Tribes and Indigenous PeoplesIn this chapter of the Fifth National Climate Assessment, the NOAA outlines and describes three key messages regarding the relationship between Native communities in the U.S and our changing environment. This report goes over how Indigenous peoples face a high risk of changing livelihoods due to climate change and environmental injustice, and how they are responding to these threats. The report also explains the nature of their resilience to such change and how Indigenous leadership can guide our response to climate change.
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Catholicism and the Natural WorldReligious writer Thomas Storck's field guide for navigating environmentalism for devout Catholic congregation members takes an in-depth look into the Catechism of the Catholic Church and how it portrays creation of the environment and instructs Catholic followers on how to relate with that creation and behave accordingly. It touches on Pantheism and Deism and how they clash with traditional Catholic ideas of creation and environmentalism.
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From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent MannerThis article describes the correlations between psychedelic use and nature relatedness. The surveyors used questionnaires 1 week before, 2 weeks after, 4, and 2 years after the dose given. They concluded that due to the consistent positive affects on the subjects, the use of psychedelic treatment bears relevance on mental and planetary health.
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El Niño caused the greatest ever mass extinctionThis article describes new updated research that shows the weather event El Niño has led to the worst mass extinction. El Niño causes the ocean to become warmer all leading back to climate change. Marine ecosystems and terrestrials are suffering greatly because of volcanic eruptions occurring. Mass extinctions are very damaging and mess up multiple ecosystems causing more destructiveness than we realize.
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A Jewish Response to Environmental Stewardship: LEEDing the WayThe article highlights Temple Israel of Minneapolis's achievement of LEED Gold Certification, reflecting their commitment to sustainability through a multi-year renovation project. This accomplishment aligns with their Jewish values, particularly the principle of Pikuach Nefesh, which emphasizes protecting life and the environment. The synagogue's efforts extend beyond their building to include community-wide initiatives such as climate action resource fairs and partnerships with environmental organizations. Their ongoing commitment to sustainability is showcased through continuous improvements and active participation in broader climate justice movements.
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Buffalo in the Badlands National Park"I went on a trip to see Mt. Rushmore, however my favorite part was stopping at the Badlands. The badlands is a national park and it is full of wildlife and nature. The best part was seeing the live buffalo out in the wild." Photo taken by Jacob Nichols.
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Their Eyes Were Watching GodA book about a girl's transition from girlhood into womanhood. The girl, named Janie, expresses this transition through imagery of nature, which is especially fixated on a pear tree from her youth. Religion also plays a role in the background throughout the story.
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Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Learning from Indigenous Practices for Environmental SustainabilityIn this book, a number of scholarly writers share their works regarding Indigenous culture and environmentalism. There are a total of four parts that discuss Indigenous practices, ecological ethics, and nature-human relationships. The compilation of these viewpoints and topics makes for a compelling read and push towards a greener, sustainable Earth.
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Why Does the Church Care About Global Climate ChangeThis article explains why the Catholic Church is invested in climate change as an issue and why their religion requires them to take a stance on it. It pulls on scripture from the Bible and moral roots in caring for the poor and the common good to make this argument.
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How Religion Influences Our Relationship With the EnvironmentThe article shows how religious change can effect trends in the environment and how it can produce better environmental conditions attitudes. It lists statistics on which countries have certain environmental issues and how religion may play a role in certain situations.
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5 reasons why people of faith are a powerful force in the fight against climate change and environmental crisesThis article is from the environmental outreach group Greenpeace. It highlights why religious groups globally have a powerful voice in climate justice. It is a digestible first article if you want to familiarize yourself with religious environmental activism.
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Earth Dialogue TourTwo faith-based environmental leaders, Amy Woolam Echeverria and Gopal D. Patel, are travelling across the U.S.A to visit and speak to Catholic congregations, campuses, and other communities. They discuss faith-driven environmentalism and the responsibility to help communities affected by environmental damage.
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In Threatened Island Nation, Pope Hears Plea for Climate ActionPope 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.
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God’s Creation WaitsThis document is a children's activity book. It discusses topics of different species and environments, showing the importance of each part of our world and connecting it to Christian teachings and values. This includes activities such as crosswords, coloring pages, and much more.
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Voting and Our Common Home: Reflections from the Catholic TraditionThis resource shares information and resources related to the importance of voting for environmental issues on the basis of Catholic religious beliefs. This document is available in both English and Spanish and raises multiple different issues and considerations connecting religion, environmental issues, and voting.
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Federal Funding for Energy Work at Houses of WorshipThis website contains a collection of resources and links for federal funding information. This includes informative resources, webinars, and information on grants and tax credits. Nonprofits and houses of worship can use these resources to find funding their environmentalist projects and actions.
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Ontario Tech University Sustainability in Art Exhibition"The Faculty of Social Science and Humanities (FSSH) at Ontario Tech University recently hosted a Juried Art Exhibition with the theme of Sustainability in Art. Artists were invited to interpret sustainability in their own unique ways, resulting in a thought-provoking and inspiring collection. Due to an overwhelming response, the original plan to select the top ten submissions was expanded to include the top fifteen, who were then invited to bring their art to Charles Hall for the reception event... First place - Deanna Young for We All Are Part of the Great Circle – $1,250 cash prize Second place - Camille Augustyn for In Another Dimension – $500 cash prize Third place - Nuhad Kibria for It’s Not Too Late – $250 cash prize Three honourable mentions were also awarded to Avery Snelling for Preservation Story Quilt; Katherine Gifford for Nature: Harmonious for Sustainability; and Rebecca Fortin for Wildflowers on Blue."
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Gateway Into Sustainability"This photo depicts a gateway into sustainability. Portraying a pathway into a huge lush garden. I believe gardens of any kind are a sustainable practice. That brings people closer to the earth while also providing a variety of amenities for said people. Not to mention the wildlife that flourishes too.This photo was taken in the fall of 2022 at the botanical gardens in Madison WI. In my mind I envision you’re entering a new world which is a lush paradise. Among that it’s filled with vocal birds, reptiles of all kinds, an array of colorful flowers. On the flip side I also envision as if you’re leaving the suffocating, bland concrete world behind." Taken by Logan Gosse. Submitted to the RESTORExchange Sustainability Photo Contest.
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Reusable Water Bottle"A reusable water bottle, covered with natural imagery stickers, is placed on a picnic table outside on a college campus. The water bottle and the natural background reflect how sustainable practices emphasize doing what you can to preserve and connect with the natural world around you." Taken by Julia Dellapena. Submitted to the RESTORExchange Sustainability Photo Contest.
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Reflections of Our Impact on the Built Environment"Reflections of our impact on the built environment: This photo of a main canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands held deeper correlation to the meaning of sustainability to me since it demonstrates how the state of the natural environment is a reflection of the built environment and what measures we take to mitigate climate change and environmental degradation. Sustainability to me is deeply related to the intersection of the built environment and nature and how we can create an evolving world while maintaining the earth for future generations." Taken by Mikayla Carey. Submitted to the RESTORExchange Sustainability Contest.
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On Top of a Sustainable World"On top of a Sustainable World: this photo shows the view from the top of Volcan de Pacaya just outside of Antigua, Guatemala. In the background a set of windmills can be seen and just at the foot of the volcano is an eco-turism hub that uses hydroponics to grow produce in the volcanic soil. I paused when taking this photo to pause and think about what a sustainable built environment could look like with windmills replacing non-sustainable power plants, agriculture and local food production becoming a norm, living locally with access to public transportation, and equal access to opportunities." Taken by Mikayla Carey. Submitted to the RESTORExchange Sustainability Contest.
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Force of Nature"'Force of Nature' - the picture was taken when my family and I went to walk on one of the trails in Knights Ferry. When I came across this tree, it reminded me of resilience, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in the most challenging conditions. I say all this because even with the most challenging conditions this tree still recovered, found an innovative way to adapt in its environmental challenge, and found interconnectedness in its ecosystem." Taken by Mitzi G Osorio. Submitted to the RESTORExchange Sustainability Photo Contest.
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Backpacking"This is a photo of the sunset taken at a campsite in Dolly Sods, West Virginia, during a backpacking trip. Backpacking has taught me so much about sustainability and respect for the environment, and it is a meaningful way to take a step back from daily routine and stress and just be immersed in the beauty of nature." Taken by Georgia McLachlan. Submitted to the RESTORExchange Sustainability Photo Contest.