Picture courtesy of
earthministry.org
By the Waters is one of the two-part Caring for Creation program from Earth Ministries. It is meant to show how human activity significantly affects the amount of water and the quality of water available to other humans across the world. It is also meant to show how to better appreciate water as a life-giving gift from God. To read more on By the Waters, click here.
Picture courtesy of
earthministry.org
Earth Ministry has a two-part Caring for All Creation program that encourages individuals and communities to live with God’s creation. These two modules contain resources and worship aids that address specific environmental issues. At the Table and By the Waters were created to help change behaviors in these places in order to protect and restore the gift of God’s beloved creation. To read more about these two resources, click here.
Picture courtesy of elca.org
In 2015, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Word Hunger held Walk for Water which was a youth-led fundraiser challenge to raise 500,000 dollars for water projects around the world. They exceeded their goal and raised one million dollars to support water related projects. Their website offers facts and tool kits to help others start their own walk for water; click here to learn more.
Picture courtesy of worldwatervalues.org
On Wednesday, 22 March – World Water Day 2017 – Pope Francis will begin a global conversation in efforts to shift how the world values and understands water. WATERSHED will be launched on World Water Day as the first in a series of programs and activities planned for the next five years. WATERSHED will consist of four main events: a global social media conversation among the public that encourages them to share compelling stories about water values by using #MyWaterStory, a public participation in a live broadcast of the events and activities, an expert workshop that brings together different perspectives and objectives concerning water issues, and a virtual reality experience inside “The Miracle Molecule” which is a model of an H2O molecule that brings water risks to life. To learn more about this event, click here.
Picture courtesy of npr.org
The Whanganui River in New Zealand has been granted the legal rights of a human as of Wednesday March 15, 2017. The Maori tribe, who call the river Te Awa Tupua, have been fighting for its protection since 1873. The case is one of New Zealand’s oldest in history with more than 140 years of legal struggles. The 90 mile Whanganui River will now be represented by two legal guardians, one from the Maori tribe and one from the government. According to NPR, the New Zealand government stated that they recognized the deep spiritual connection between the tribe and its ancestral river and their view of the river as an invisible and living whole. To read NPR’s full article and a video clip of the tribe’s reaction to the court’s decision, click here.
Picture courtesy of ecostewardsprogram.com
The Eco-Stewards Program is a grassroots community that shapes young adult leaders through place-based experiences that connect faith and the environment. They are looking for young adults with an interest in faith and the environment to join and explore this year’s theme of Water is Life: Journeying Towards Justice on the James River. The program is held in Richmond, Virginia, from June 5 -10. Applications are due by March 15, and the cost which includes means, housing, and transportation is $375. If you are interested, click here to visit their website and learn more.
Pope Francis has released a statement on the issue of developing land that is spiritually significant to native people. There have been many incidents in recent years where land was taken from natives in order to further economic development of a country at the cost of the rights of native people in regards to practicing their religion. Although it was never officially stated, this statement was in regards to the approved completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which will interfere with sacred land of different Native American tribes. To read the full article, follow either this link or this link.
Photo Credit: http://www.americanow.com/story/religion/2017/02/15/pope-appears-back-native-tribes-dapl-conflict
Photo Credit: http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2016/11/church-and-dakota-pipeline-protests
The Standing Rock situation, although a difficult and problematic time, had its own silver lining. Because of this issue and the publicity it received, many religious groups have put their difference aside to support the native people whose land is at risk. This has had an impact on healing the divide that has existed between native tribes and western organized religions. To read the full article, click here.
What: Congregation Tifereth Israel 2017 Scholar-in-Residence Weekend. Congregation Tefereth Israel will be sharing Judaism and Environmentalism/Sustainability this weekend. You can register below and check out the details on their flyer here.
Where: 1354 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
When: February 3rd, 5:30pm – 9:30pm & February 4th, 9:30am – 9:30pm
Photo Credit: http://catholicleader.com.au/news/we-have-to-move-now-islanders-watch-as-their-home-disappears-in-the-sea
Many people living on four small islands in the Pacific Ocean are being forced to evacuate their homes. This is due solely to rising sea levels. Their homes and beaches are being washed away and their sources of freshwater are being contaminated. This unfortunate circumstance is the exact kind of problem that Pope Francis warned people about. To read more about this issue, the Pope’s advice, and the solutions, check out the full article here.
