6 items

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  Decolonizing Thanksgiving

  "As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the United States, it’s great to think about all the things we can be grateful for. It is good to have a time to pause and reflect, to participate in the seasonality of gratitude for the year’s bountiful harvest, and to gather with family and friends. (We’ll ignore the über-consumerism of the day following Thanksgiving…)
  
  Many of us probably know by now, however, that the story many of us learned in school about the first Thanksgiving is rather inaccurate at best, and racist and paternalistic in many ways, with a focus on the Manifest Destiny idea of the divine mandate for Europeans to conquer the “New World” in the name of Christ and country.
  
  A few questions come to mind (at least my mind), for those of us with European-American roots, such as:
  
  Should we even celebrate Thanksgiving, since it’s so tainted with colonialism?
  What might it look like to “decolonize” our own understandings and our culture?
  How can we do this work in a way that encourages our own folks to partner, rather than making them (our White brethren) feel further ostracized, but while also speaking real truth?
  What can we do this Thanksgiving to begin to reconcile relationships damaged in the colonial era, both human to human and human to this land?"
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  The World on Fire: A Buddhist Response to the Environmental Crisis

  The World on Fire: A Buddhist Response to the Environmental Crisis by Katie Javanaud explores how Buddhist teachings can inspire environmental activism. Javanaud examines key Buddhist sermons, such as the "Fire Sermon," which metaphorically portrays the world consumed by the flames of greed, hatred, and delusion, resonating deeply with contemporary environmental challenges.
  
  Greed is identified as a driving force behind the environmental crisis, fueling overconsumption and disregard for ecological balance. Javanaud illustrates how Buddhist principles offer insights to counteract societal norms of materialism and promote mindful living.
  
  The article addresses common objections to applying Buddhist teachings to environmentalism, providing valuable perspectives for those interested in integrating spirituality with environmental activism. This article serves as a concise introduction to Buddhist environmentalism, offering clarity on the compatibility of Buddhist values with ecological stewardship.
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  Towards a Psychology of Religion and the Environment

  This article discusses how religion is a powerful tool that can be utilized in promoting environmentalism. While religious text can be utilized both for and against environmentalism, religion more often than not helps to promote protection of the environment according to their findings.
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  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.
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  How to Decolonize Your Thanksgiving Dinner

  "If your favorite meats, legumes, vegetables, and fruits could talk to you this Thanksgiving, they would probably tell you all about the historical traumas that they've endured as they traveled and evolved through the Old World, New World, and finally as components in your favorite dish.
  
  Welcome to the world of decolonial cuisine, a culinary movement with the goal of getting people with indigenous roots to honor their heritage through their dietary choices. In addition, the movement aims to simply allow people to become more conscious of where their food comes from and how it got there."
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  Golden Temple, Grey Air: Pollution in Amritsar

  This article describes how increasing tourist activity and reliance on the Bhgatanwala dumping site is creating air pollution that is threatening the integrity of the Golden Temple in India. While the Management Committee Golden Temple (SGPC) has taken action to reduce pollution from its kitchen and energy production, the government is failing to intervene and reduce pollution in surrounding areas.