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December 8, 2020December 2020
Pope Francis has said: “God our Father gave us the task of protecting the earth, not for money …... We have this task. Nevertheless, men and women are sacrificed to the idols of profit and consumption:
Pope Francis is asking us to protect the Earth for all God’s creatures so we must stop abusing the Earth for our own selfish means.
We are entering the Season of Christmas. Let us not contribute to this Culture of Waste, let us not make Christmas a burden on our Planet. With a little effort and imagination, we can reduce the environmental impact of the holiday season.
Consumerism and the culture of waste cause significant damage to the environment. Below are some examples:
1. Fast fashion: This refers to inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. It is the second most polluting industry on Earth, right behind oil.*
2. One-time-use items: Tons of one-time-use items are polluting our lands and oceans.
3. Food waste: The amount of food waste is astonishing, more than half of food is wasted in North America.
Let us start to make changes to the culture of waste this Christmas.
*: https://www.bwss.org/fastfasion/
SOME IDEAS OF SEASONAL GIFTS WHILE CARING FOR THE EARTH:
1. Services instead of goods: child care, car wash, snow shovelling.
2. Experiences: gift certificates for theatre, movies, sports events, swimming programs, etc.
3. “Used gifts”: computers, bikes, tools, books.
4. Gifts to charities in the name of the receiver.
5. Homemade edibles: cookies, candies, etc.
6. Battery free gifts (batteries are toxic to the environment).
7. “Re-gifting”. There is nothing wrong with it. It is the best for the environment.
8. Reduce wrapping paper, consider cloth bags, shoe boxes, etc.
Use your imagination!
Please pass this message to your family, friends, coworkers, etc!
Green Eco Tips for Sustainable Living
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1yqcagavfY
https://owsagottawa.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u= f86c7e3d6f185d746758ecd26&id= 8fa1eb8c0e&e=227a493277
A Prayer for the Care of our Earth
God of all,
Open our eyes to see you in all that you have created.
As we think of how great you are,
move us to help our brothers and sisters
and care for the earth that we share. Amen.
Adapted from the Global Catholic Climate Movement.
