MNO Green Initiative

THE ENVIRONMENT:Hot Topic

What do you know? What does our future hold?

What do we hope for their future?

What do we hope for their future?

Major Causes of Environmental

Problems

Environmental Problems

• Human Population Growth– 4/5 of the more than 6 billion people on Earth

do not have adequate food, housing and safe-drinking water.

– Every day almost 110 000 people die from starvation or related illnesses.

– In Manitoba, in March of 2006, 44,461 people visited a food bank, and 20,503 were children making up 46.4% of food bank recipients. (Hunger Watch 2006)

Environmental Problems

• Over-consumption of Resources & Inequitable Distribution– We don’t consider the limits of renewable &

non-renewable resources.– Developed nations comprise 20% of world’s

population and CONSUME 80% OF WORLD’S RESOURCES EACH YEAR!

– In Canada, energy and material consumption is THREE to FIVE times the world average

• and as other countries strive to attain a similiar standard of living…what will happen to our Earth?

Environmental Problems

• Pollution– Pollutants: substances that adversely affect

the quality of the Earth’s environment or accumulate in living organisms in amounts that threaten their health or survival.

– Current issues include increases in greenhouse gases, decline in ozone, and acidification of soils, forests, and lakes.

– Effects include climate change, smog, loss of habitat and species.

Our Earth

Oil SpillsClear cutting

Smog

How are we called to respond?

Environmental Sustainability

• Environmental Sustainability: to maintain environmental resources so that they continue to provide benefits to us, to other living things, and to the larger environment of which we are a part.– Important concept if we are to enjoy an

acceptable quality of life in the future

Ecological Footprint

• Ecological Footprint – What is the impact of your consumption

patterns and activities on the environment?– If everybody consumed as much as the

average Canadian, we would need 4.6 more planets to support everyone!

– Individual Awareness: http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp

– Action:http://www.davidsuzuki.org/

Environmental Stewardship

• God calls us to be caretakers, not owners, of the Earth

• Environmental Stewardship – taking leadership roles and acting responsibly in caring for and maintaining the Earth and all living creatures

• How can we do this?

Brainstorm

What can we do to reduce our impact?

Discussion

• What will you do?• What will your church do? What will

individual congregation members be encouraged to do?

• What will the church encourage the community to do?

• What are some of the barriers we may face?

Solutions/Ideas

• Individual Level– Home Repair/Upgrades

• Energy efficient appliances• Turn out lights, reduce thermostat temperature• Fix leaky taps immediately

– Transportation• Carbon Neutral!• Walking, Cycling, Busing, Carpooling

– Composting/Organic Gardening– Buy Local, Fair Trade

Solutions/Ideas

• Congregational Level– Go Carbon Neutral

• Meetings, travel for conferences/retreats

– Building Renovations/Repairs/Upgrades• KAIROS Energy Workbook for Religious Buildings• Manitoba Hydro Rebates & Initiatives

– Recycling/Reusing– Organic landscaping– Buy Local, Fair Trade

Solutions/Ideas

• Community Level– Letter writing campaign

• Newspapers• Politicians• http://www.davidsuzuki.org/

– Active & Safe Routes To School (ASRTS)– What could you do at work?

Plan of Action

• What is one thing you will do?

• What are appropriate ideas for your conference/congregation?

• Determine two people in your conference to participate in this action?

• What are you going to tell them?

• When will you contact them by?

Additional Resources

• Websites:http://www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/

http://www.ec.gc.ca/eco/main_e.htm

http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/ecology/index.asp

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/

• Please contact the MNO Committee for Church & Society

Thank you!

Theological Reflections

• We have a first article of faith– I believe in God…creator of heaven and earth

God has created me and all that exists

God has given…and still preserves…

God provides…protects…and guards…

Luther, Small Catechism, Apostles’ Creed

• Romans 8: 19-23For the whole creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God…in hope that creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay…we know that the whole creation has been groaning…salvation is not for our souls only but for all creation.

• There is an ecological complaint against ChristianityThe command to be fruitful and multiply without regard

to balance or accommodationThe sense that being in the image of God separates

soul from body, [humankind] from the earthDualism separates [humankind] from God, man from

woman, humanity from creatures, soul from body, spirit from matter

A limited eschatology expects Christ and negation of current existence, a destruction of the earth

Divine and human transcendence emphasized to the extent of desacralizing nature

• The church has been a captive to modern Western culture

The church has accepted the anthropocentrism of modernity

The Western culture and the church have made technology a god

The church has forgotten creation

The ecological predicament is the hubris of the Western Church

(Granberg-Michaelson)

• Revelation 22: 1-2And the angel showed me the river of the water

of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

• Salvation uses ecologically sound imagery

• The Covenant with Noah is with humankind and all creation– Genesis 9

A covenant with Noah, his descendants and every creature v.9-10

With every creature v.12

With every living creature v.15

With every living creature v.16

Between god and all flesh v.17

• The Eschatological Vision of Revelation 21-22A new heaven and a new earthThe chaotic sea is no moreNo more tears, no more crying, no more painAll things newA way in the wilderness, rivers in the desertWater of lifeA place of righteousness and justiceA holy city of safety, beauty and shalomAnd the nations shall bring fruits and vegetables grown with tender

careAnimals and children raised with familial love A river of the water of lifeWith trees sown from the seeds of the tree of lifeA flourishing forest

• Belief in the TrinityAs an expression of community, inseparable

indwelling

The fullness of God, the fullness of love

Love seeking and fulfilling relationships

• Ecological Virtues– Respect and Receptivity– Self-Restraint and Frugality– Humility and Honesty– Wisdom and Hope – Patience and Serenity– Benevolence and Love– Justice and Courage

• Sacred Stewardship– Caretakers, not owners– Everything is on loan from our children– Everything is a gift, freedom in simplicity– Preference for the poor and the oppressed

• Isaiah 54A promise of resettlement…

This is like the days of Noah to me:Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.