Vol: 3 - Issue 3 March 2016 Reflect. Overconsumption and consumerism are central themes in Pope Francis encyclical, Laudato Si : These problems are closely linked to a throwaway culture which affects the excluded just as it quickly reduces things to rubbish A serious consideration of this issue would be one way of counteracting the throwaway culture which affects the entire planet (#22), and We all know that it is not possible to sustain the present level of consumption in developed countries and wealthier sectors of society, where the habit of wasting and discarding has reached unprecedented levels. The exploitation of the planet has already exceeded acceptable limits and we still have not solved the problem of poverty. (#27) How do we consciously and unconsciously participate in a throwaway culture? What habits of wasting and discarding are we guilty of in our lives? How does our overconsumption affect the poor and vulnerable? How can we contribute to a just and sustainable future for the earth in our personal life, in our community, and as global citizens?
ECO EASTER Maybe we ve tried our hand at a green Christmas, but Easter is a green festival by its very nature. Originally a celebration of the newness of life represented by the season of spring (the word Easter is said to be derived from Ēastre, an ancient goddess of spring); in Christendom, we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus our eternal hope of life springing fresh and new. The way in which we celebrate Easter (or indeed any other festival) should reflect this bountiful new life that is not restricted to humans alone. God s gift of life is varied and diverse and ALL life is precious. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis names the need for a conversion thirteen times, saying,...all people need an ecological conversion whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them. Living our vocation to be protectors of God s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience. Promoting this ecological conversion, the Archdiocesan Office for Environment (AOE) came up with a few ways to make our celebration of Easter a true Green celebration of Life. Some suggestions: Decorating the backdrop with cloth and plants The beautiful hand-painted backdrops put up for the Vigil service certainly inspire us to be prayerful and reverent, but these are used only once, and paints are known to contain chemicals which are toxic to us and the environment. The fresh flowers used for adorning the altar belie their true origins. Nature they may be, but these blooms tend to be resource-intensive exotic species taking up large amounts of fertiliser and space which could have otherwise been used to grow edible plants. The withered bouquets with their associated plastic and paraphernalia of materials are then discarded, that too after being used for only the few hours duration of the Mass. Instead, the AOE proposes using cloth in different hues, already present with the stage decorators, and potted plants (which will continue to grow) for altar ornamentation. This will also be a creative conceptualising-exercise for those involved in decoration.
Using one of the many outfits already in our closets If we do an inventory of our clothes, we will discover we have much more than we need. The accumulation of clothes drives production which is a tremendous burden on the environment. We could try mixing and matching existing clothes to create different looks perhaps the shoes from the last birthday with the silk tie from two years ago, the sari used just once for a milestone anniversary, the gown worn for wedding in the native place which the people here haven t seen yet so many, many possibilities!!! Attending the Easter Vigil service, and walking or carpooling for it The more services on Sunday morning, the more the consumption of electricity, which in India, comes majorly from highly-polluting thermal sources. As fans consume more power than lights, attending the Vigil under the caress of the cooler night can contribute to energy savings. At the morning masses, we could sit closer together instead of spreading across the church, so fewer lights, fans, speakers, etc. need to be used. The whole family could attend Mass together in one vehicle. A car or other automobile could be avoided altogether, if within walking distance. Or we could carpool with others and foster greater camaraderie. Conserving the blessed water Water is a precious resource and must be conserved. Let us spare a thought for so many of our fellow human beings who must walk vast distances to obtain a single container, or even less than that, of drinking water. Please take just enough holy water for the blessing of the home. Even if we fall short later in the year, holy water can be added to the desired quantity of ordinary tap water whenever needed. The holy water has immense purifying power; it is our faith which tends to be smaller than a mustard seed! Getting Easter goodies from small scale producers, or going in for home-made These are usually tastier, waste less, and don t cause as much of pollution in production and shipping as the larger commercial suppliers. The egg baskets could be saved and reused. Making Easter eggs at home has great potential to be a fun activity in which the entire family participates. The little ones are experts at tearing up newspapers to use as grass for adorning egg baskets. Feasting at home Home celebrations ensure food is prepared according to need and taste, avoiding wastage. We could also avoid exotic packaged foods that have an impact on the environment because of food miles, processing techniques, and packaging materials. Perhaps we could opt for locally grown in-season produce which is fresher and requires less energy to produce and transport. As meat production is a huge contributor to global warming, we could try to incorporate just one type of meat for our meal, thereby lessening its environmental impact.
Celebrating responsibly We could avoid late night or overnight parties. Not only are these overly high in alcohol consumption, they also tend to result in food, electricity and water wastage, and not to mention reckless behaviour which endangers the well-being and safety of ourselves and others. Easter is the celebration of Christ's victory over death and a time of hope, rekindled faith, and new energy. Turning off our cell phones, computers, televisions and other gadgets saves energy. Our digital detox time may be used to deepen our relationship with God, the Earth, ourselves, and others. We could go for walks, explore nature, seek out conversation with neighbours (especially those who are lonely), or engage in some other constructive activity. Implementing any of these suggestions will aid in conserving resources, reducing carbon emissions, pollution and other adverse impacts on our environment. And yes, they do count as mercy for the environment bonus ways for us to fulfil our Christian obligations in this Jubilee Year of Mercy. We also want to hear about how eco-easter was celebrated in your parishes/homes and invite more suggestions please do write to us at: bombaydioceseenvironmentoffice@gmail.com Wishing you all an Ecological conversion this Easter. Contributed by Suren Abreu, Allwyn D Silva and Shawna Nemesia Rebello AN APPEAL EARTH HOUR World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - India, an independent national organization of the global WWF network, is one of the country s leading conservation organizations. With a country-wide presence and experience spanning over four decades, WWF-India works tirelessly towards preserving biodiversity and reducing our ecological footprint to build a planet where humans and nature coexist in harmony. Earth Hour, a global initiative of WWF, aims to take the organization s message to the masses and has, within just a few years of its inception, become the world s largest grassroots movement for the environment. In 2015, a record 172 countries and territories participated in the Earth Hour.
India joined Earth Hour in 2009 and has since then inspired governments, corporations and individuals, to move towards responsible consumption and resource conservation. Iconic monuments such as the Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Mysore Palace, Howrah Bridge, the Gateway of India and several others have inspired many to follow suit by switching off their lights in support of the movement. This year, Earth Hour will be observed on Saturday, 19th March 2016 from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm and, with its central focus on solar power, will inspire people to adopt rooftop solar systems to generate energy that is clean and pollution-free. WWF-India's Maharashtra State Office together with the Archdiocesan Office for Environment wishes to raise awareness about climate change and the consequent plight of our environment. We humbly request the following actions: Announcements regarding Earth Hour in Churches and affiliated educational institutions in weeks preceding Earth Hour Display of Earth Hour posters at Churches and affiliated educational institutions Turning-off all façade and non-essential lighting during Earth Hour Saturday evening, 19 th March: Mass to be celebrated in candle-light Additionally, we suggest involving the community by organizing candle-light vigils in co-operative societies and promoting Earth Hour on your online and social media platforms. WWF-India/AOE and indeed all other stewards of the environment greatly appreciate your participation. Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to contact us at any time for further information or assistance. Michael Saldanha Project Officer - Education and Outreach, WWF Fr Allwyn D Silva Head - Archdiocesan Office for Environment Young Environmentalists Programme Trust Powai Elsie Gabriel Founder The Young Environmentalists Programme Trust is an NGO comprising professionals like lawyers, teachers, professors, corporates and other highly experienced adults. It was founded a decade ago by senior journalist Elsie Gabriel, and is Equipping Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow, Today! Elsie was involved in relief work in Filterpada after the 2005 floods in Mumbai. The condition of the affected poor people was pitiful and prompted Elsie to investigate
the cause. She saw that small industries were polluting the Mithi river and the drains were clogged with plastic bags. The environmentalist Valsa Nair advised Elsie and other supporters that the north-east area of Mumbai needed a strong environmental NGO. Thus the Young Environmentalists Programme Trust was born. It has now over 300 members, of which fifty of them are very active. The NGO s foremost focus is on community education. The biggest project is working to ban plastic bags. However, they could not fight against the plastic bag association or the mindset of the adult community so the NGO went in for interactive education. Rather than preach, members distribute cloth bags outside shopping malls, the local markets and at traffic signals so that people will get the message and go biodegradable. A popular project is Greening the Blue. This consists of making old denim jeans into designer bags or pouches instead of throwing them away. Cloth bags being distributed at a fish market Community education and religion wherein festivals are celebrated in an ecofriendly manner has been the NGO s strongest foothold for the last ten years. The eco-ganesha workshop, in particular, is very popular and obtained the Mayor s Award two years ago. Workshops are conducted in the play-way method. Clay from the Mithi river, silt from Powai lake and garden clay were used to make idols; similar to how our ancestors used to do. Children were encouraged to touch and feel the mud when was the last time a city child did so? As a result of the NGO s work, the pollution department and the Maharashtra environment department are considering taking a policy decision that every Ganesha idol be checked if it is ecofriendly or not. Eco-Christmas is celebrated by ensuring that everything is recycled and green gifts are given. Solar lanterns are gifted to the downtrodden students in slums. Up to 200 people gather impromptu when carol singing takes place at road corners. The Nativity play is performed on the street. Elsie has authored a book titled Get Going Outdoors, which tries to bridge the gap between the digital world and the environment and bring the city children back to nature. The most pivotal work of the NGO is EVS education in 300-400 city schools. The children are encouraged to do their own research and submit quality project work based on quantitative research which prevents them from doing the usual copy-paste job. Students have routinely been scoring 100 on 100 in their EVS projects! They are also given programs like how to cook outdoors, photography and environmental journalism, so that it becomes fun and they are not taxed with rote learning another subject. Elsie is also involved in environmental education in Sunday Schools. For juniors, she starts with the Genesis creation and the value of wildlife conservation, how God asked Noah to take pairs of wild animals on board the ark because God did not want them to go extinct. The seniors are told to reflect on the environment
teachings, pick out chapters in the Old Testament and New Testament where creation is given so much of abundant focus and learn from it. The teachers are instructed to ask the children to reflect, discuss and draw creation. Children are also asked to connect the environmental calendar with the Christian calendar. The NGO gets its funding from local shops and brands around Powai. Every June 5 th (World Environment Day), a big tree plantation event is conducted. Also notable is the establishment of the ALM in Powai. Instead of criticising the BMC, members work with the government and encourage citizens to even inspect garbage centres. During the monsoon, the BMC tells them to put stickers of landslide warnings in the slum area and caution residents reluctant to move for fear of losing their huts. Elsie with Mr Al Gore, former US Vice President. She is also the mentor for India of the latter s Climate Reality Project Elsie s message is simply to be the change we want to see in the world and never ever feel that our planet Earth cannot be saved. It is our first home, one we leave behind for future generations. So instead of a jhoota world, make sure we leave behind an enriched, green, refuelled, prosperous, environment-friendly world for the next generation. Excerpt from Urban Rainbows A Selection of Green Practices in the Archdiocese of Bombay Philippine Catholic Shrine to go 100% Green Solar panels will generate enough electricity to operate church and parish buildings Tapping into greener power, a popular Catholic shrine in Manila is taking steps toward becoming the first church in the Philippine capital to be completely solarpowered. The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, a shrine operated by the Redemptorists, will be installing solar panels in the coming months. Brother Ciriaco Santiago, head of the congregation's Commission on Social Mission Apostolate, said the project is a "step toward becoming a green church." The religious community approved to use the church's roof to generate electricity for the shrine, including its offices and other facilities. "It would take at least three months to finish the installation, but the target is to complete it within the year," Brother Santiago told ucanews.com.
More than reducing the electricity bills, the brother said the decision to go solar is part of the congregation's environmental advocacy that is inspired by Pope Francis encyclical Laudato Si'. Brother Santiago said the use of solar power will reduce the shrine's carbon footprint, a key goal in the church's mission to fight climate change and protect the environment. "This is basically rooted on our desire to help protect our environment and raise awareness about climate change," he said. The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Manila will be using 100 percent solar energy within the year (Photo by Mark Saludes) The shrine also will be using art as a medium to promote "care of protection." At the front and right side of the church will rise a dynamic mixed media installation, including mosaics and sculptures, about the environment and other social issues. Visual artist Emil Yap said it will take two years to finish the project using recycled materials. Source: UCAN Philippine nun urges Catholics to be like Leonardo DiCaprio Actor's acceptance speech was call to protect environment Leonardo DiCaprio's Academy Award acceptance speech calling for protection of the environment should serve as a model for Catholics, a Philippine nun says. "Be like Leonardo DiCaprio." This was the call of Sister Aloha Vergara of the Handmaid of the House of God congregation.
The nun said DiCaprio's speech at Sunday's Academy Awards "reflects the people and the churches' position on the protection of the environment." The Hollywood actor declared that climate change "is real" and blasted what he called the "politics of greed" in his speech accepting his first acting award at the Oscars. Redemptorist Brother Ciriaco Santiago, convener of an anti-mining group in Manila, said candidates in May national elections should take DiCaprio's position and "act upon people's concrete and legitimate demands." The religious brother said it is "very timely" for Filipinos to reflect and respond to the situation, especially after years of plunder of the country's natural resources. "We need to stand to uphold the protection of all creation," Sister Vergara said at a March 1 press conference where church and environmental activists denounced alleged human rights violations in a mining town in the northern Philippines. The nun slammed the recent violent dispersal and arrest of protesters opposed to mining operations in the town of Santa Cruz in Zambales province. Sister Vergara urged Catholics to reflect on Pope Francis encyclical Laudato Si and "support those who speak for all those who are affected of corporate greed and the destruction of the environment." In the same forum, Lito Latorre, coordinator of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation program of the Redemptorist congregation in the Philippines, said "the church is always on the side of the environment." "Actions and programs that destroy creation is an attack on the church s mission, therefore, the church should be in the frontline to protect people who go against these plunderers of the environment," said Latorre. Protestant pastor Irma Balaba of the National Council of Churches of the Philippines said Catholic and Protestant groups are coming together to challenge candidates to pledge for anti-mining campaigns. "Our leaders must make a stand," Balaba told ucanews.com. "They only have two options, to support the people or to become spokespersons of big mining corporations," she said. The Center for Environmental Concerns reported March 1 that "massive losses in livelihood and worsening health conditions" of residents due to mining operations were recorded in the town of Santa Cruz in the past week. The organization said that since 2006, when mining started in the town, people noted a rapid decrease in their income.
Farmers have seen their rice yields drop by one third since 2009, while fishermen who used to have an average catch per day of 50 kilograms in 2000 now only net at most five kilograms. Source: UCAN In March: Earth Hour 20:30 to 21:30 World Forestry Day World Water Day World Meteorological Day Easter