Category: Environment

Earth Day 2023 Theme: “Invest in Our Planet”

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The theme for Earth Day 2023 (22 April) is “Invest in Our Planet.” The theme is focused on engaging governments, institutions, businesses, and the more than 1 billion citizens who participate annually in Earth Day to do their part – everyone accounted for, everyone accountable.

“In 2023 we must come together again in partnership for the planet. Businesses, governments, and civil society are equally responsible for taking action against the climate crisis and lighting the spark to accelerate change towards a green, prosperous, and equitable future. We must join together in our fight for the green revolution, and for the health of future generations. The time is now to Invest In Our Planet,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earthday.org

El lema del Día de la Tierra 2023 (22 de abril) es “Invertir en nuestro planeta”. El tema se centra en lograr que los gobiernos, las instituciones, las empresas y los más de mil millones de ciudadanos que participan anualmente en el Día de la Tierra pongan de su parte: todos rinden cuentas, todos son responsables.

“En 2023 debemos unirnos de nuevo en una alianza por el planeta. Las empresas, los gobiernos y la sociedad civil son igualmente responsables de tomar medidas contra la crisis climática y encender la chispa para acelerar el cambio hacia un futuro verde, próspero y equitativo. Debemos unirnos en nuestra lucha por la revolución verde y por la salud de las generaciones futuras. Ha llegado el momento de invertir en nuestro planeta”, ha declarado Kathleen Rogers, Presidenta de Earthday.org.

International Day of Zero Waste, 31 March

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The International Day of Zero Waste aims to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns.

A zero-waste approach entails responsible production, consumption and disposal of products in a closed, circular system. This means that resources are reused or recovered as much as possible and that we minimize the pollution to air, land or water.

Achieving zero waste requires action from individuals, communities, organisations and governments.

We can all have an impact in enabling zero waste by changing habits and reusing and repairing products as much as possible before properly disposing of them.

What contribution can you make?

El Día Internacional de Residuo Cero tiene como objetivo promover modelos de consumo y producción sostenibles.

Un planteamiento de residuo cero implica una producción, consumo y eliminación responsables de los productos en un sistema cerrado y circular. Esto significa que los recursos se reutilizan o recuperan en la medida de lo posible y que reducimos al mínimo la contaminación del aire, la tierra o el agua.

Conseguir cero residuos requiere la acción de individuos, comunidades, organizaciones y gobiernos.

Todos podemos influir en la consecución de cero residuos cambiando hábitos y reutilizando y reparando los productos en la medida de lo posible antes de desecharlos correctamente.

¿Qué puedes hacer tú?

 

 

 

Mercy Water Campaign and 2023 UN Water Conference

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Today concludes 2023 UN Water Conference (March 22-24).

At the UN, Mercy Global Action is promoting a Mercy Water Campaign to strengthen a more unified voice in the Mercy World, in solidarity with our partners and water defenders in the water justice movement, to protect and promote the human right to water, and the rights-based implementation of SDG6 (clean water and sanitation).

The Mercy World is concerned about the universal need for equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water as opposed to the commodification and privatization of water. We promote integrated management of the various sources, functions and uses of water, from an ecosystemic perspective and a human rights-based approach.

Download information about the Mercy Water Campaign.

IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Report “Makes for grim reading”

Posted on by Diane Smyth

“We commit ourselves, through contemplative and compassionate presence, to: Listening and responding to the cry of Earth and the cry of the poor as one…” (Chapter Statement 2021)

On Monday, 20 March the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) released its latest report on the climate crisis. The AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 summarizes five years of reports on global temperature rises, fossil fuel emissions and climate impacts.

In the words of the World Economic Forum “The viability of humanity living within planetary boundaries rests on the actions we take in the next seven years. There’s no time to lose to keep to the target of limiting the global average temperature to below 1.5°C.” In other words, “Urgent climate action can secure a liveable future for all”

You might like to read the article from the World Resources Institute: 10 Big Findings from the 2023 IPCC Report on Climate Change

“Como una presencia contemplativa y compasiva, nos comprometemos a: Escuchar y responder al clamor de la Tierra y al clamor de los pobres como uno solo…” (Declaración del Capítulo 2021)

El lunes 20 de marzo, el IPCC (Grupo Intergubernamental de Expertos sobre el Cambio Climático) publicó su último informe sobre la crisis climática. El Informe de Síntesis AR6: Cambio Climático 2023 resume cinco años de informes sobre el aumento de la temperatura global, las emisiones de combustibles fósiles y los impactos climáticos.

En palabras del Foro Económico Mundial “La viabilidad de que la humanidad viva dentro de los límites planetarios depende de las medidas que tomemos en los próximos siete años. No hay tiempo que perder para cumplir el objetivo de limitar la temperatura media mundial por debajo de 1,5 °C”. En otras palabras: “La acción climática urgente puede garantizar un futuro habitable para todos”

Can an Hour Change the World?

Posted on by Diane Smyth

It’s 48 hours to Earth Hour!

Join the Sisters of Mercy Newfoundland and people in 190 countries and territories for #EarthHour on 25th March at 8:30 pm local time by switching off and spending 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet.

¡Falta una semana para la Hora del Planeta!

Únete a las Hermanas de la Misericordia de Terranova y a personas de 190 países y territorios en la #HoraDeLaTierra el 25 de marzo a las 20:30 hora local, apagando y dedicando 60 minutos a hacer algo positivo por nuestro planeta.

World Water Day, 22 March

Posted on by Diane Smyth

World Water Day is the annual UN observance highlighting the human right of all people to fresh water. Currently, 2.1 billion people live without safe water at home, putting them at risk of illness and disease.

This year’s World Water Day is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis that many parts of the world are experiencing. Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals aims to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene is the most basic human need for health and well-being. Currently we are far from meeting Sustainable Goal 6: water and sanitation for all earth’s inhabitants by 2030.

This year’s global campaign, Be the Change encourages all of us to take action to change the way we use and manage water. The UN 2023 Water Conference being held in New York from March 22 -24 will provide an opportunity to bring together world leaders to accelerate action for water. However, all of us can play a part in the solution. Let us pray for the success of this conference and take whatever concrete actions we can to live more sustainably by monitoring our use of water and by becoming more aware of our consumption patterns.

Our congregation has signed on to the Water Justice Manifesto organised by
The People’s Water Forum. Below are English and Spanish links to the Manifesto:

https://thepeopleswaterforum.org/2023/02/28/water-justice-manifesto/

https://thepeopleswaterforum.org/2023/02/28/el-manifiesto-por-la-justicia-hidrica/

 

Laudato Si’ Animators’ Course

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The Vatican backed Laudato Si Movement organises an online Laudato Si’ Animators’ Course which is set up to educate and enable people to inspire others, in parishes, schools and in the world at large, to engage in dialogue and action on the current environmental crises. 

The Course, which starts on the 19th April this year, will educate and empower you to bring the Laudato Si’ Encyclical to life.

The Course requirements include weekly readings including chapters from the LS Encyclical, discussion groups, videos to watch, some webinars and some homework which may include things like writing your reflections.

The Course will explain the causes and consequences of climate change, will show how the Laudato Si’ Encyclical fits into Catholic Social Teaching and will encourage a personal ecological conversion to enable action for the planet.

For more information and to register: https://laudatosianimators.org/

Historic Agreement re World’s Oceans

Posted on by Diane Smyth

On March 4, 2023 after two decades of negotiations, nations of the world agreed on a legal framework for parts of the oceans outside international boundaries.

This treaty will not automatically establish new protection areas in the high seas but it will create a mechanism for designating them. This is a crucial step in enforcing the promises made in COP15, where delegates pledged to protect nearly a third of the world’s land and waters by 2030 as a refuge for the planet’s remaining wildlife and a way of sharing the genetic resources of the high seas.

Oceans cover approximately 70% of the planet and in reality are the planet’s largest ecosystem, providing food, water and energy as well as absorbing about a quarter of the world’s CO2 emissions. Human activity continues to endanger oceans and seas, negatively impacting the livelihoods of billions of people and destroying irreplaceable marine life and habitats. Currently only 1.2% of the world’s oceans are protected.

This High Seas Treaty aims to place 30% of the world’s oceans in protected areas, to manage conservation of ocean life, to limit pollution, illegal fishing and deep- sea mining. Antonio Gutteres, Secretary General of the United Nations, says that “this treaty is crucial for addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.”

Learn more from this news clip from the BBC (6:12)

 

El 4 de marzo de 2023, tras dos décadas de negociaciones, las naciones del mundo acordaron un marco jurídico para las partes de los océanos situadas fuera de las fronteras internacionales.

Este tratado no establecerá automáticamente nuevas zonas de protección en alta mar, pero creará un mecanismo para designarlas. Se trata de un paso crucial para hacer cumplir las promesas hechas en la COP15, donde los delegados se comprometieron a proteger casi un tercio de la tierra y las aguas del mundo para 2030 como refugio para la vida salvaje que queda en el planeta y una forma de compartir los recursos genéticos de alta mar.

Los océanos cubren aproximadamente el 70% del planeta y en realidad son el mayor ecosistema del planeta, ya que proporcionan alimentos, agua y energía, además de absorber aproximadamente una cuarta parte de las emisiones mundiales de CO2. La actividad humana sigue poniendo en peligro los océanos y los mares, repercutiendo negativamente en los medios de vida de miles de millones de personas y destruyendo una vida y unos hábitats marinos irremplazables. En la actualidad, sólo el 1,2% de los océanos del mundo están protegidos.

Este Tratado de Alta Mar tiene como objetivo situar el 30% de los océanos del mundo en zonas protegidas, gestionar la conservación de la vida oceánica, limitar la contaminación, la pesca ilegal y la minería de aguas profundas. Antonio Gutteres, Secretario General de las Naciones Unidas, afirma que “este tratado es crucial para hacer frente a la triple crisis planetaria del cambio climático, la pérdida de biodiversidad y la contaminación.”

 

2023 Season of Creation Launch

Posted on by Diane Smyth

The Season of Creation begins on the 1st September, World Day of Prayer for Creation, and finishes on the 4th October, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.

The theme this year is ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow.’

The Prophet Amos cries out: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5: 24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity.

As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.

In this video Faith leaders invite participation in the Season of Creation.

Preserving Biodiversity: Creation Care from Faith to Action

Posted on by Diane Smyth

Join For the Love of Creation and Citizens for Public Justice for a thoughtful conversation on Biodiversity and Creation Care in Canada!

Expert and diverse panelists will talk about our planetary boundaries, the latest updates from COP15 and Indigenous perspectives on biodiversity. The online gathering will conclude with a theological reflection on creation care.

Thursday, March 23 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Register here

Queries here

For the Love of Creation (FLC) is a faith-based initiative for climate justice. Find out more about this initiative here

Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) is an ecumenical, non-profit organization that promotes justice in Canadian public policy through research and analysis focused on poverty reduction, ecological justice, and refugee rights.
Find out more here