Transcript
Page 1: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor - CRS Universityuniversity.crs.org/sites/default/files/I am Climate...1 Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor A prayer vigil in solidarity with vulnerable

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Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor A prayer vigil in solidarity with vulnerable people affected by climate change MATERIALS• Audio-visualequipmentandinternetaccess• PowerPointPresentation• Basketstocollectletters• BibleopentoGenesis1:9-12• Copiesofthesolidarityvigilforleader,cantorandreaders• CopiesofletterstomembersofCongresspersonalizedforyourcommunity.(Seeoptionsbelowandlettersonpages7–8.)• Musicfor“CanticleoftheSun,”OCP,andsongsheetsforparticipants• Pensforparticipants• Table(onwhichtoplacesymbolicobjects)• Symbolicobjectstorepresenteachstory:

• Apitcher/basinofwater• Soil• Breadorothersymboloffood

• Videos:• CST101:CareforGod’sCreation• EthiopianWomenPrayforRainlCRS• Julio’sInterview• BehindtheScenes:LakePoopó|CRS• ClimateChangelItChangesEverything

PREPARATION• Setupthevigilspace:

• Placethetableinacentralspaceinthefrontofgatheringspaceandsymbolicobjectsintheback.• Placebaskets,copiesofletterstoCongressandpensatfrontofgatheringspace.• Testvideos.• PlaceaBibleandacopyofthesolidarityvigilatthepodiumorlectern.

• Preparecantortolead“CanticleoftheSun,”OCP.• Prepareoneleaderand6readers.Giveeachreadercopyofthissolidarityvigilwiththeirparthighlighted.• Inviteandpreparethreeparticipantstobringthesymbolicobjectsuptothetableattheappropriatetime.• PreparesomeonetocuethePowerPointpresentationandplaythevideos.• PreparetheletterstoyourmembersofCongress.Choosefromoneofthefollowingtwooptions:

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OPTION1:PARTICIPANTSIDENTIFYTHEIRMEMBERSOFCONGRESSDURINGTHEVIGIL.• Thisoptionispreferableifparticipantsrepresentmanydistricts(i.e.,auniversitysettingwherestudentsarefrom

differentstatesordifferentpartsofthestate).• Thisapproachrequiresparticipantstoaccesstheinternet.Youcaneithersetuplaptops/tabletsconnectedtoWi-Fior

relyonparticipantstousetheirsmartphones.• Ifyouchoosethisoption,makecopiesofeachletterasisfrompages7-8foreachparticipant.Eachpersonwillneed

threeletters:oneforeachoftheirtwosenatorsandonefortheirrepresentative.• Duringtheevent,youwillshowparticipantshowtoidentifytheirsenatorsandrepresentative,andhowtoaddressthe

letters.Theywillcompletetheletterswiththedateoftheeventandthenameofthecommunity(parish,school,etc.)thatishostingthesolidarityvigil,andotherinformation.

• Duringtheletter-writingsection,offertoshowparticipantshowtofindtheirmembersofCongressonlineatconfrontglobalpoverty.com/toolkit,usingthe“Findyourdistrict”buttonunderthesectionlabeled“MeetwithCongress.”AskthemtoentertheirZIPcodewhenprompted.Aftertheyenterit,thenamesoftheirtwosenatorsandrepresentativewillpopup.Theyshouldwritethefullnamesoftheirsenatorsandrepresentativeatthetopoftheirlettersonthelines,“TheHonorable___________”and“DearSenator(s)/Representative_________”

OPTION2:ORGANIZERSPREPARETHELETTERSWITHSENATORS’ANDREPRESENTATIVES’NAMESINADVANCE.• Thisoptionispreferableifthemajorityofparticipantsarefromthesamestateanddistrict.• Copyandpastethesampleletteronpages7-8intodocumentswithyourinstitution’sletterhead.Visit

confrontglobalpoverty.com/toolkitandclickonthe“FindYourDistrict”buttonunderthe“MeetWithCongress”section.EntertheZIPcodewhereyourinstitutionislocated.Thenamesofyourtwosenatorsandrepresentativewillpopup.

• Pre-addresstheletterstothesenatorsandrepresentativelisted.Addthedateoftheeventandthenameofthecommunity(parish,school,etc.)thatishostingthesolidarityvigil.

• Printcopiesforparticipants.Eachparticipantwillreceivethreeletters:twofortheirsenatorsandonefortheirrepresentative.

• Yourletterswillhavethemostimpactiftheyarehanddeliveredtolocaloffices.CheckoutthesetipsonhowtosetupameetingwithyourmemberofCongress.And,afteryourvisit,letCatholicsConfrontGlobalPovertyknowyouhadameetingandhowitwent.

• Ifyoucan’thanddelivertheletterstomembers,it’sbesttomailthemtotheirlocalordistrictoffices.Ifyouaremailingletterstoseveralstatesand/ordistricts,besuretomailthelettersseparatelytoeachsenatorandrepresentative.Youcanfindsenators’addressesbyvisitingwww.senate.gov,andrepresentativesbyvisitingwww.house.gov.

• Ithelpstosendalongacopyofanypresscoverageofthesolidarityvigilalongwiththeletters.Also,besuretofollowupwitheachmemberofCongressyousentalettertosoyou’llknowwhethertheyreceivedit.NOTE:Themostupdatedversionofthe“IamClimateChange”letterforcollegeanduniversityaudiencescanbefoundatanytimehere.Thelettersincludedattheendofthisresourcearegeneralenoughthattheycanbesentatanytime,butbasedoncurrentevents,CRSmaycontinuetoupdatetheadvocacyletteronlinetomakeitevenmoretargetedandrelevant.Youcanuseeitherversion.Anadditionaloptionwouldbetohaveparticipantslogontotheonlineadvocacyletterandsigntheonlineversionratherthanprintingouthardcopiesforeachperson.Ifyouchoosetogointhatdirection,you’llneedtoadapttheinstructionsaccordingly.

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CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE1.WelcomeandopeningprayerLEADER:InthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolySpirit….Today,wegathertoprayinthanksgivingforthegoodnessofcreation.Wejoinourvoicesandsay,asSt.FrancisofAssisididinhisCanticleoftheSun,andPopeFrancisechoedinhisencyclicalontheenvironment:“Praisedbeyou,OLord,forthebeautyandgoodnessofthecreatedworld!”WethankGodforthegiftofcreationandshowourappreciationforthisgiftbycaringforit.Wealsojointogetherbecausewerealizethatattimeswehavenotdonethebestjobofstewardingthisgift.Andthisaffectsthedaytodaylivesofmanypeoplearoundtheworld.Thepoorestandmostvulnerablepersons,whorelydirectlyoncreationfortheirfoodandwork,feelthismost.Wejoininsolidaritytodaytoprayforthesepeople,learntheirstories,understandhowclimatechangeaffectsthem,andacttotogethertocreateabetterworld.

ScripturereadingREADERONE:AreadingfromthebookofGenesis:ThenGodsaid:Letthewaterundertheskybegatheredintoasinglebasin,sothatthedrylandmayappear.Andsoithappened:thewaterundertheskywasgatheredintoitsbasin,andthedrylandappeared.Godcalledthedryland“earth,”andthebasinofwaterhecalled“sea.”Godsawthatitwasgood.ThenGodsaid:Lettheearthbringforthvegetation:everykindofplantthatbearsseedandeverykindoffruittreeonearththatbearsfruitwithitsseedinit.Andsoithappened:theearthbroughtforthvegetation:everykindofplantthatbearsseedandeverykindoffruittreethatbearsfruitwithitsseedinit.Godsawthatitwasgood.(Genesis1:9-12)TheWordoftheLord.RESPONSE:ThanksbetoGod.

CryoftheEarth,CryofthePoor:ReflectionandRitualCUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE2.PLAYVIDEO:“CST101:CareforGod’sCreation”fromCRS’YouTubechannel.LEADER:CardinalTagle’swordsattheendofthevideoarepowerful.Hesaysthatcaringforcreationcallsforunityandreciprocalrelationshipbetweenpeopleandtheirenvironment.“Wereceivedtheearthasagarden,itwouldbeveryunfairifwepassontheearthasawilderness.”We—thepeopleinthisroom—shareacommonhomewithallofcreation,andalsowithalloftheotherpeopleinourhouse,onourblock,inourcity,inourcountry,andontheothersideoftheworld.Thecommonhomeisourplanet,whichwehavebeengivenbyGodasagift,andwhichreflectsGod’sowngoodness.Butwhenthathomeisdamaged,noteveryonefeelsitinthesameway.Althoughweallrelyontheearthforfoodandsustenance,manyinourglobalfamilyaremorevulnerabletochangestotheenvironmentandlesswellresourcedtoadapt.Andthisisevenmoreunfairbecausetheyaretypicallynothavingthebiggestimpactonthedegradationoftheenvironment.Wetendtobe.Forexample:

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CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE3.READERTWO:Eachyear,driversintheU.S.release3.3trillionpoundsofcarbondioxideintotheatmosphere.Yourcaralonereleasesaround24poundsofcarbondioxideforeverygallonofgasyouuse.Thiscontributestoglobalwarming1.CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE4.READERTWO:Eachyear,throwingawayjunkmailproduces51millionmetrictonsofgreenhousegases.100milliontreesaredestroyedtoproduce100billionpiecesofjunkmailannually.About848piecesofjunkmailgetdeliveredtoeveryhouseholdintheU.S.Whentheygettrashed,51millionmetrictonsofgreenhousegasesarecreated.That’smoreairpollutionthaneverycarregisteredinNewYorkCityandLosAngelescombined.2CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE5.READERTWO:Eachyear,Americansuseabout30millionplasticbags,andittakesabout12millionbarrelsofoiltomakethem.Thatleadstocarbondioxidebuild-upinouratmosphere.Butitdoesn’tstopthere.Plasticbagsoftenendupinourlandfillsorinouroceanscausinganecosystemdisruption.LEADER:Buthowmanyofusexperiencetheeffectsofclimatechangeinourdailylives?Thingsmightnotseemmuchdifferenttousthantheydidtenyearsago,butthepoorestpeopleontheplanetarefeelingthechange.EventhoseintheU.S.whohavebeenaffectedbynaturaldisasters,drought-likeconditionsandchangingtemperaturescanstilllargelyadapt,staysafeandprotecttheirfamiliesfromtheworst.Thisisnottherealityacrosstheglobe.Maywerememberthatweareallpartofonecommonhome,andthattheenergyweconsumeeachday—inwayswemaynotevenbeawareof—directlyimpactspeoplewhodependontheenvironmentfortheirfoodandwork.[PAUSE]LEADER:Wewillnowtakepartinaprayerfulritualtohelpremindusthatweallsharethesameresourcesandliveinonecommonhome.READERTHREE:Water.WaterisabeautifulgiftfromGod.Ourseas,lakesandwaterfallsaresomeofGod’smostgorgeouscreation.Waterisalsolife.Mostofususewaterwithoutthinkingtodrink,cook,clean,bathe,brushourteeth,flushthetoiletandwaterourplants.Everypersonaroundtheworldneedsaccesstocleanwateronadailybasistolive,butnoteveryonehassucheasyaccesstoit.Severedroughtinsomepartsoftheworld,forexample,makesitextremelydifficultformanypeopletofindwater.CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE6.PLAYVIDEO:“EthiopianWomenPrayforRainlCRS”fromCRS’YouTubechannel.

1Source:U.S.EnergyInformationAdministration

2Source:TakePart.com

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PARTICIPANTBRINGSABASIN/PITCHEROFWATERANDSETSITONTHECENTEROFTHETABLE.READERTHREE:[READSASPARTICIPANTSETSBASINONTABLE.]OLord,waterislife.WejoinwiththewomenofEthiopiatoprayforrain,andthatallpeoplewillhaveaccesstocleanwater.Whenweusewaterthisweek,helpustobemindfulofourusage,andhowimportantwateristoallpeoplewholiveinourcommonhome.READERFOUR:Soil.Soilisessentialforthefoodwegrow.Inmanyplacesaroundtheworld,landisbeingdestroyedinthehuntforresources,likeoil,coalandpreciousmetals.Inmanyofthesecountries,theminersinvolvedinthelaborareverypoor,and,outofnecessityanddesperation,aretakingpartindestroyingthelandthattheyneedtoliveon.Itisalsodangerouswork.Inthisvideo,wehearJulioCusirichiPalacios,fromPeru,sharewhatthismeansforindigenouspeople.CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE7.PLAYVIDEO:“Julio’sInterview.”PARTICIPANTBRINGSUPSOILANDSETSITNEXTTOTHEWATERONTHETABLE.READERFOUR:[READSASPARTIPANTPLACESSOILONTABLE.]OLord,youcreatedtheearth,yettherewasnoonetotillthegrounduntilyoucreatedhumanbeingsinyourownimage.Maywerememberthatfromthebeginningoftimewehavebeenendowedwiththegreatgiftofcaringfortheland.Letusremembertobeconsciousaboutbuyingproductsthatweremadeinawaythatrespectstheearthandthosewhoselivesdependoniteveryday.CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE8.READERFIVE:Food.Whenweeat,wedosofornourishment,enjoyment,andasaritualtobuildcommunitywithourfriendsandfamily.Eatingisalsoaspiritualact.IntheLord’sPrayer,weareusedtoprayingfor“ourdailybread.”Yet,howoftendowestoptoreflectbeforeamealorsnackaboutwheretheingredientsin“ourdailybread”comefrom?Ourfoodcomesfromthelaborofthehands,feetandbodiesofothers,laborthatisoftenbackbreaking,underpaid,andunderappreciated.Inthisvideo,weseehowtheeffectsofclimatechangehavedramaticallyalteredacommunity’sabilitytoaccessfoodandlivelihood.PLAYVIDEO:“BehindtheScenes:LakePoopó|CRS”fromCRS’YouTubechannelREADERFIVE:[READSASPARTICIPANTPLACESBREADOROTHERSYMBOLOFFOODONTABLE.]Wepraythatwewillbemindfulofourconsumption,especiallyoureatinganddrinking,aswerememberourconnectednessandtheeffectsouractionsintheUShaveonothers.Wealsopraythat“ourdailybread”andthe“dailybread”ofourbrothersandsistersaroundtheworldisseenasagiftfromGodratherthansomethingtobeexploited.Giveusthecouragetorecognizethateverythingweconsumecomesfromsomewhereandaffectssomebody,andgiveusthedeterminationtoactaccordingly.

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LetterwritingLEADER:Thesesymbolsofthenaturalresourcesofourplanetremindusthatweareallconnected.Nomatterwhoweareorwherewelive,weneedwater,soil,andour“dailybread”cultivatedfromtheearth.Onewaywecanshowsolidaritywithourmostvulnerablebrothersandsistersisbyaskingourlegislatorstoaddresstheeffectsofclimatechange.Inhisencyclicalontheenvironment,LaudatoSi’,PopeFrancisremindsusthatthedeteriorationoftheenvironmentaffectsthemostvulnerablepeopleontheplanetandsaystheissueis“insufficientlyrepresentedonglobalagendas”(no.48).WehavethepowertospeakupandaskourmembersofCongresstoaddressclimatechangebyfundingpoverty-focusedinternationalassistance,andparticularlytheGreenClimateFund.CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE9.PLAYVIDEO:“ClimateChangelItChangesEverything”fromCRS’YouTubechannel.LEADER:Inamoment,Iwilldistributethreeletterstoeachperson:oneforeachofyourtwosenatorsandoneforyourrepresentative.Wemakeadifferencewhenweliftupourvoicestogether,butit’salsoimportantthatyoupersonalizeyourmessagetoyourmembersofCongress.Iinviteyoutotakeafewmomentstoedittheletterbyaddingyourname,afewlinesaboutwhythisissueisimportanttoyou,andyoursignatureandhomemailingaddress.Pleasealsofillintheblanksaboutthisevent,notingthenameofourinstitutionandyourrolehere(e.g.,student,parishioner,etc.).Afteryousigntheletter,placeitinoneofthebasketsatthefrontofthegatheringspace.DISTRUBUTELETTERSANDPENS.[IFYOUAREASKINGPARTICIPANTSTOFINDTHEIRMEMBERSOFCONGRESS:Directthemtousetheirsmartphonesorlaptops/tabletstoaccesstheconfrontglobalpoverty.com/toolkitandaskthemtoclickonthe“Find”buttontoentertheirZIPcodeandidentifytheirsenatorsandrepresentative.CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE10.IFYOUWILLHANDDELIVERLETTERS:Pleaseadapttheseinstructionsasneededifasmallgroupwillhanddelivertheletterstolocalcongressionaloffices.]CUEPOWERPOINTSLIDE11.ClosingprayerREADERSIX:Asweclose,weofferthisprayerfromPopeFrancis’encyclical,LaudatoSi’:All-powerfulGod,Youarepresentinthewholeuniverseandinthesmallestofyourcreatures.Youembracewithyourtendernessallthatexists.Pouroutuponusthepowerofyourlove,thatwemayprotectlifeandbeauty.Filluswithpeace,thatwemayliveasbrothersandsisters,harmingnoone.OGodofthepoor,helpustorescuetheabandonedandforgottenofthisearth,sopreciousinyoureyes.Bringhealingtoourlives,thatwemayprotecttheworldandnotpreyonit,

thatwemaysowbeauty,notpollutionanddestruction.Touchtheheartsofthosewholookonlyforgainattheexpenseofthepoorandtheearth.Teachustodiscovertheworthofeachthing,tobefilledwithaweandcontemplation,torecognizethatweareprofoundlyunitedwitheverycreatureaswejourneytowardsyourinfinitelight.Wethankyouforbeingwithuseachday.Encourageus,wepray,inourstruggleforjustice,loveandpeace.Amen

ClosingsongCANTORLEADS:“CanticleoftheSun,”OCP.

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TheHonorable____________________________UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativesAddress:__________________________________________________________________________________________DearRepresentative________________________________,Mynameis________________________________,andIamdeeplyconcernedthatmanypoorfarmersaroundtheworldareseeinglongerdroughts,erraticrainfall,greaterflooding,andmoredamagetotheircropsfrompestsanddisease,attributedtoclimatechange.Suchconditionsaresignificantlyimpactingsmallscalefarmers'abilitytoprovidefoodfortheirfamiliesandprovidefortheirlivelihoods.Asa___________________at___________________,Iamlearningaboutthisissueandhowtohelpourbrothersandsistersinneed.On____/____/____wehostedaprayervigilformembersofourcommunitytopray,learnaboutandadvocatetohelppeoplefacingclimatechangeandhunger.Icareaboutthisissuebecause_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Itismydeepconvictionthatwehaveamoralobligationtoactinthefaceofthissituation.Therearemanywaystohelppoorfarmersadapttothechangingclimate,butmorefundingisneededtosupportsuchefforts.PopeFrancishasaskedthatcountriesliketheUnitedStates,whichhaveagreatbounty,provide"thefinancialresourcesandtechnicalassistanceneededtohelp[poorcountries]dealwithclimatechangeandpromotesustainabledevelopment."Thisiswhysupportingrobustfundingforthepoverty-focusedinternationalassistanceprograms,particularlytheGreenClimateFund,isessential,andit’simportanttome,asyourconstituent,thatyoutakesuchaction.Thankyouforhearingmyconcerns.Sincerely,________________________________Homeaddress:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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TheHonorable____________________________UnitedStatesSenateAddress:__________________________________________________________________________________________DearSenator________________________________,Mynameis________________________________,andIamdeeplyconcernedthatmanypoorfarmersaroundtheworldareseeinglongerdroughts,erraticrainfall,greaterflooding,andmoredamagetotheircropsfrompestsanddisease,attributedtoclimatechange.Suchconditionsaresignificantlyimpactingsmallscalefarmers'abilitytoprovidefoodfortheirfamiliesandprovidefortheirlivelihoods.Asa___________________at___________________,Iamlearningaboutthisissueandhowtohelpourbrothersandsistersinneed.On____/____/____wehostedaprayervigilformembersofourcommunitytopray,learnaboutandadvocatetohelppeoplefacingclimatechangeandhunger.Icareaboutthisissuebecause_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Itismydeepconvictionthatwehaveamoralobligationtoactinthefaceofthissituation.Therearemanywaystohelppoorfarmersadapttothechangingclimate,butmorefundingisneededtosupportsuchefforts.PopeFrancishasaskedthatcountriesliketheUnitedStates,whichhaveagreatbounty,provide"thefinancialresourcesandtechnicalassistanceneededtohelp[poorcountries]dealwithclimatechangeandpromotesustainabledevelopment."Thisiswhysupportingrobustfundingforthepoverty-focusedinternationalassistanceprograms,particularlytheGreenClimateFund,isessential,andit’simportanttome,asyourconstituent,thatyoutakesuchaction.Thankyouforhearingmyconcerns.Sincerely,________________________________Homeaddress:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________


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