Category: Environment

We are called to personal and communal reflection and action

Week Five: 30 September – 4 October: Advocacy

This week of the Season of Creation calls us to amplify the many diverse voices that are crying out to us from our suffering Earth- home and from its most vulnerable creatures, both human and non-human.  Most of us are aware of climate-change catastrophes, loss of biodiversity and other critical issues facing our planet, but awareness and lament are not enough. It is a well-known fact that those who have the least in our world and who have contributed least to the climate crisis suffer the most. Their voices cry out, but they are not easily heard at the national or global levels.  Our call as Christians is to amplify these voices through advocacy.

While advocacy begins with listening, reflection and dialogue, it cannot stop there. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis challenges us on our lack of basic awareness of our common origin, of our mutual belonging and of a hope-filled future for everyone. He further reminds us that at this present time “a greater cultural, spiritual and educational challenge stands before us, demanding that we set out on the long and difficult path of renewal.” This week focuses us on this challenge and calls us to action.

How can we begin to advocate on behalf of Earth and earth’s vulnerable people? A few simple steps may put us on that path …

• Educate ourselves about at least one area of deep concern to people today: loss of biodiversity, air pollution, global warming, fossil fuels, water pollution. Talk to at least two other people about your concerns in this area
• Write and/or sign letters and petitions to provincial and federal governments related to one or other of these concerns that affect the people of your area
• Participate in a current advocacy campaign
• Sign the petition “Healthy Planet, Healthy People” calling on world leaders to advocate on behalf of our common home and our common family – at this link:

A short prayer service on the Gift of Water is provided for anyone who wishes to use it for personal or communal reflection. This prayer calls us to listen to Water and to ask forgiveness for our waste and carelessness regarding its use.

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Week Four: 23-29 September: The Burning Bush – Take Off your shoes

Week Four of this special season calls us to wonder and awe. Carl Sagan, astronomer, cosmologist and planetary scientist speaks of the thirst for wonder as a deeply human quality. He asserted that Nature is a lot better at inventing wonders than we are.

As we read, reflect and pray this week, let us look around us and really see the beauty of nature that our God has given us on this wonderful Earth.

As we look,
let wonder fill us;
let gratitude well up in us;
let the Divine Mystery present in all creation lead us to deeper respect and love;
let respect, compassion, awe and celebration be our response to whatwe hear and see and experience this week.

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Week Three: 15-22 September: The Burning Bush – God’s Presence

The fire that attracted Moses’ attention on Mount Horeb while he was tending his flock did not consume or destroy the bush.  God’s fire is not ultimately destructive. It is rather a sign of God’s Presence and life-giving and life-sustaining energy.This marvellous phenomenon that Moses experienced declared God’s presence in the midst of ordinary life.  Elizabeth Barrett Browning captures this reality inher little poem:

                                    Earth’s crammed with heaven
                                    and every common bush afire with God;
                                    but only those who see take off their shoes …
                                    the rest sit around and pluck blackberries.

 As we ponder this evocative image, let us in this third week of the Season of Creation,  reflect on all those situations/events/experiences that call us to stop, take notice of and engage with the experience.  We have all experienced “burning bush” moments. These moments occur when we sense that God is seeking our attention, speaking to us, calling us to participate in what God is doing in our midst. The Burning Bush experience changed Moses’ life.  These moments can change our lives and the lives of those to whom God sends us.  They draw us into a deep engagement with the living God, Who is always present and active in our lives and in the lives of those around us, especially those who suffer oppression, alienation and injustice of any kind.

As we become more conscious that all of life is holy ground, we become more attuned to what Pope Francis calls the “sweet songs of praise” and the “anguished pleas” coming from all parts of creation, both human and non-human. Week Three offers us another opportunity to tune in to those voices of creation, and to bring them the loving heart of God.

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Week Two: 8 – 14 September: The Burning Bush – Physical Fires

Today the prevalence of deadly wildfires is a sign of the devastating effects of climate change on the most vulnerable of our planet.  Disintegration of ecosystems have led to habitat destruction and loss of livelihood for many of Earth’s species. Forests are being wiped out, animals are being driven out of their natural habitat, and forced migration of peoples all over the world are all happening at an alarming rate.

In this second week, we are again urged to listen to and really heed the different voices of creation.  Moreover, we are being called to recognize our negligence and destructive patterns and to lament and ask pardon for our refusal to heed the anguished cries of Earth and her creatures. Laudato Si speaks very poignantly of our current situation:

The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes.

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Week One: 1-7 September: Beginning the 2022 Season of Creation.

The theme for this year “Listen to the Voices of Creation” provides opportunities for deep reflection and sharing on the gift of creation, with its many different voices, both those that are loud and clear and those that are barely heard or not heard at all. Let this be an opportunity for us to take note of the many different voices that call us to listen, to really hear and heed what Earth and Earth’s people are asking of us in these times.

The symbol of the Burning Bush, the revelation of God’s Presence, is a reminder to us to “take off our sandals, contemplate our connection to holy ground, listen for the voice of creation and be filled with hope to quench the fires of injustice with the light of God’s healing love that sustains our common home.”

The launch of the Season of Creation 2022 took place on February 23 of this year.

The theme for this year is Listening to the Voice of Creation and the symbol is the burning bush.

The Season of Creation is an ecumenical time, inviting Christian communities around the world to unite in prayer and action for creation. Patriarch Dimitrios 1 proclaimed September 1 as a special day of prayer for creation for his Orthodox community in 1989. The World Council of Churches was instrumental in expanding this day of prayer to a full season, and in 2015 Pope Francis made the season official for the Catholic Church.

The symbol of the burning bush was chosen:

• in reference to the physical fires with the consequent loss of life and property and being experienced by so many people in our world, as well as the terrible devastation of the environment
• in reference to the Book of Exodus where fire symbolizes God’s presence close to each of us. God heard the voice of all who suffered and promised to be with them in their suffering
• in reference to “taking off our shoes” because we are indeed on sacred ground. Our current lifestyle which disconnects us from nature is unsustainable

The Season of Creation opens on September 1 and closes on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. This is simply a preview of this upcoming special season.
As in previous years, it is our hope that our congregation will again be involved in celebrating the Season of Creation in union with all our sisters and brothers around the world as we reflect together on our relationship with our Creator and with all of creation.

For further information, please use the following link:

https://seasonofcreation.org/resources/

The NL Hydraulic Review Panel has forwarded its Final Report to Government.

The Report endorses the recommendations that were made in the submissions from Mercy Centre for Ecology and Justice (PDF) and from the Roman Catholic Religious Leaders of Newfoundland and Labrador (PDF) (of which our Leadership Team are members).  While they have not recommended a complete ban on fracking, they have suggested that much more information and certainty is needed before fracking can be allowed to proceed in this province – that information not only relates to the science and technology involved but equally to public health and socio-economic matters.

iStock.Used under licence

It is worth noting that, in a number of places, the authors of the Report use the actual wording from our Religious Leaders’ submission.  As a result, the submission from the Religious Leaders is actually cited in the Bibliography at the end of the Report.  We do believe that we influenced the Panel on matters relating to the appropriate health system infrastructure if fracking is undertaken (they specifically quote our submission on this point).  In many other instances they included our thinking, but we were among many others making the same points.  Perhaps most significantly, the Panel makes reference to the use of the Precautionary Principle or Precautionary Approach – this was at the basis of our submission.  It means that, if there is a significant risk to the health of people or the environment in undertaking a specific action and if there is not certainty that the risks can be addressed, the action should not be undertaken.  After our presentation had been submitted, Laudato Si’ was published – in the encyclical, Pope Francis also makes reference to this principle.

One of the key points from the Report is the focus on Community Engagement or Social Licence.  It is found within the Report as well as in a special Appendix to the Report.  Although we did not make reference to the actual term “social licence” in our presentation, we were strong in our wording that the voices of those most affected by and most vulnerable to the effects of fracking be heard and that special provisions be made to ensure that the voices could be heard (not simply an open invitation to a meeting).  Attached is the section of the Report on this issue.

It is safe to say that this is one ecological issue on which we have had a positive influence as a Congregation.  We thank you for your support and your prayers as we moved through the process.  The Religious Leaders have thanked the Panel members, noting especially their attention to community engagement and social licence.

Executive Summary (44pps; PDF):

	Download
	Executive Summary. NL Hydraulic Fracturing Review Panel. 31 May 2016

Community Engagement (7pps; PDF)

	Download
	Section of NLHFRP Report on Community Engagement

The struggle against the mining Project Conga continues in Cajamarca.

We are almost finishing two months of a state of emergency declared by the government in three regions of Cajamarca.  We are however entering a new phase. Recently the Government and the Transnational Newmont announced the suspension for three years of the megaproject Conga.

The decision to suspend the project has come from social pressure that is the protests of the people of the area. But there is a lot of confusion and contradictions as to what this means. At the same time that they announce suspension of the projec,t they confirm building two huge reservoirs in the area. The construction of the reservoirs is going to destroy the natural sources of water that feed into the surrounding lakes.  Without these natural sources of water the lakes will dry out. Is it we ask a strategic plan on the part of both government and the transnational during these three years to regain the confidence of the people of Cajamarca and convince them of the merits of the project?

Cajamarca is not asking for suspension of the project but rather for a declaration of non viability of Project Conga. While the people continue their protests work continues on the reservoirs. From another point of view, the delay of two or three years will ensure the change in Regional government and other political authorities who now resist mining in natural sources of water. (cabecera de cuencas)

Cajamarca is tired of protests, state of emergency, and manipulation on the part of those in power. The whole issue has become very politizised and hence more confusing. The politicians look for their own good. Government has announced that they will be placing emphasis on development, initiating different projects to provide employment and especially to assure that all villages have access to water and light. Such projects are long overdue. The question now is what type of projects, plans does Cajamarca need for sustainable development and eradication of poverty?

News media has been very biased in their reports and the reality of the problem is not understood.  They see Project Conga as an investment that will answer the needs of the country. They say the resources belong to the country and not only to Cajamarca therefore Conga should be developed. They have little understanding of the effects on the environment and the water supply that feeds so many villages and as well the extent of contamination.

The church in Cajamarca has been divided in its response. Individual parishes and Deaneries have been very much a part of the struggle accompanying and supporting the people, denouncing injustices and violence and criminalization of community leaders. Unfortunately there is no unified stance on the part of the diocesan church and no real committed leadership. There is no clear vision of the implications of this project on the majority of the population of the poor farming communities that will be directly affected.

To resolve this situation is no easy task. It will require time and substantial changes in public policies that have to do with mining activities, care of the environment and mechanisms of citizen participation. Let us pray for wisdom and guidance for those involved in deciding the future of mining activities in Cajamarca.

Messages to: Marion Collins