Environmental

Stewardship

3.22.073.22.07

Why does awareness not result in immediate, radical changes?

Why can we listen to and even experience these things first hand and still go on with our lives as before?

We are wired to:

Respond to abrupt changes Pay attention to what is near at hand Be concerned with our fellow humanbeings

A Few Issues to Explore

Garbage Disposal

or Garbage Dispers

al?

Water Incorporated

Percent of all water on planet that is available to drink?

The wars of the next century will be fought over water- The World Bank, 1999

1%1%

Global consumption of water doubling every 20 yrsFresh water >.005% of water on EarthBy 2025, two-thirds of world population will be living with serious shortages or absolute water scarcity

Bolivian Army and water privatization protesters face off in Cochabamba. (Photo courtesy Nadir)

What to consider the next time you

have a cup of coffee …

What’s happened to Juan

Valdez ?

Is it Fair Trade Coffee?$1.26/lb versus less than 39¢ a pound

Environmental Impact:Sun or Shade Grown?

Where do our electronic gadgets end up when we’re done with them?

High Tech Trash20-50 million tons are generated each year.

80% of e-waste is sent to China.Workers receive $1.50 a day to break apart these items.

100,000,000 cell phones are “retired” every year. Most are thrown in the

garbage. A cell phone contains 500 to 1000 components. Many of these contain toxic

heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium and hazardous chemicals, such as brominated flame

retardants. Polluting PVC plastic is also frequently used. These metals are highly

toxic and can harm children and developing fetuses even at low levels. Cell phones are replaced on average every 18

months. Only 5% are recycled.

Wires are sorted by day and burned by night releasing dioxins and other cancer causing

materials. The families live right in the burn yards. Guiyu, China

Man sweeping toner out of printer cartridge. Toners are made of carbon black -- a class 2A carcinogen (IARC). The toner billows in his face all day long

without respiratory protection of any kind. Cartridges are later dumped by the river. Guiyu, China.

Computers and burning televisions - Lagos, Nigeria

The Earth is a communion of subjects, not a

collection of objects.

Thomas Berry

Our ethical traditions know how to deal with suicide,

homicide, and genocide; but these traditions collapse entirely when confronted

with biocide, the extinction of life systems, and geocide, the devastation of the Earth

itself.

The ecological community is not subordinate to the human

community. Nor is the ecological imperative

derivative from human ethics. Rather, our human ethics are derivative from the ecological imperative. The basic ethical norm is the well-being of the comprehensive community

and the attainmentof human well-being within

that community.

Reverence For Each PersonWe believe that each person is a manifestation of the sacredness of human life

CommunityWe demonstrate our connectedness to each other through inclusive and compassionate relationships

JusticeWe advocate for a society in which all can realize their full potential and achieve the common good

Commitment To Those Who Are Poor We give priority to those whom society ignores

StewardshipWe care for and strengthen the ministry and all resources entrusted to it

Reverence For All BeingsWe believe that all beings are a valuable manifestation of God’s creation

Earth Community We demonstrate our connectedness to each other and to the natural world by fostering compassionate and mutually

enhancing human- earth relationships

Eco-JusticeWe advocate for a jurisprudence that recognizes the right to life, to habitat, and to the flourishing of all earth’s creations

Commitment To The Endangered We address the needs of humans, other species and ecosystems that are at risk

StewardshipWe care for and strengthen the spiritual, human, and natural resources that are now dependent our care

What is our role – as care giver, as employer, as corporate citizen - in establishing a mutually enhancing

human-earth presence?