“Earth is mother of all that is natural, of all that is human,” noted Hildegard of Bingen. “The blowing wind, the mild, moist air, the exquisite greening of trees and grasses – in their beginning, in their ending, they give God their praise,” declared the 12th century mystic. On April 22nd, the United Nations invites us to celebrate International Mother Earth Day. More can be found at www.earthday.org (international) and www.earthday.ca (Canada).
The Earth Charter is a declaration of core principles to ensure a just, sustainable and peaceful global society. Its inclusive, ethical vision seeks to inspire in all peoples a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for creation. See www.earthcharter.org For resources on environmental justice, go to: www.silk.net/RelEd/environment.htm
A new website is available to explore the visionary initiatives of Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, directors of the Forum on Religion and Ecology. The site focuses on the forum, as well as the Journey of the Universe project and Earth Charter: www.emergingearthcommunity.org
- Inexpensive, biodegradable plastic food containers are now available. (Plastic is polluting and plastic recycling is energy intensive.) The Farberware Company, for example, offers biodegradable containers made in U.S.A. and sold in shops such as Bargain Store. To raise awareness and increase availability, we might also ask other store managers to carry such products. Glass food storage is always an option.
- Laundry detergent sheets (unscented preferred) are also available and effective. Working in cold water and all machine types, they eliminate the need for detergent packaged in large plastic bottles or boxes. The Dizolve brand is manufactured for and distributed by Prelam Enterprises Ltd. based in Moncton, N.B.
- Recycle bins for ink cartridges, small batteries and electronics may be found in such outlets as Staples, Superstore and Future Shop.
- Good news: Statistics Canada indicates Ethical Consumption is on the rise in Canada. We can make a difference by practicing ethical consumption. When and where possible, we can choose produce and products that are healthy, local, environmentally friendly and/or certified fair trade. (Carl Duivenvoorden, Green Consultant based in New Brunswick: www.changeyourcorner.com)
With the current federal election campaign underway, the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a guide inviting Catholics to vote with discernment. Go to www.cccb.ca and click on “Federal Election 2011 Guide.”
Citizens for Public Justice invites us to view the federal election campaign through the lens of public justice. The faith-based organization focuses on four key election issues: poverty and inequality; immigrants and refugees; the environment and taxation. CPJ also highlights Aboriginal concerns; Afghanistan; Arctic sovereignty; criminal justice and electoral reform. As we prepare to vote May 2nd, CPJ invites us to visit their website often for updates: www.cpj.ca
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Share Lent Campaign ~ The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace and Canada’s Catholic bishops invite us to give generously to the Share Lent collection. Solidarity Sunday is April 10th. Lenten and ongoing donations help generate justice among partners in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Share Lent materials also raise awareness in Canada. See www.devp.org or check with your parish or social justice co-ordinator.
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April 4th marks Refugee Rights Day in Canada (http://ccrweb.ca). This year, the United Nations also invites us to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention. The key legal document defined who is a refugee. It also outlined refugees’ rights and the legal obligations of governments and states toward refugees. www.unhcr.org
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April 4th also marks the UN International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action to raise awareness about landmines and make progress toward their eradication.
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World Health Day ~ April 7th ~ 2011 Theme: Antimicrobial resistance: No action today, no cure tomorrow. The UN World Health Organization is launching a worldwide campaign to stem the global spread of resistance to urgently needed medicines. www.who.int
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Global Day of Action on Military Spending ~ April 12th ~ The international commission of religious for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC) calls us to join millions of others in observing this day (http://demilitarize.org). The date was chosen to coincide with the release of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s annual report on military spending (www.sipri.org). The JPIC commission notes that in 2010, $1.53 trillion dollars were spent on the military worldwide. Meanwhile, “the World Food Summit estimates that $30 billion a year could eradicate world hunger. That’s what our world spends on the military in a single week” (http://vd.pcn.net/en). Canadian research on military spending is available from Project Ploughshares, the ecumenical peace centre of the Canadian Council of Churches: www.ploughshares.ca We are invited to pray; learn more about military spending and partner with others to act for peace with justice.
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