Thoughts from our first meeting (June 09) and other ideas

Here are a few thoughts from our June meeting (OK, better late than never!)

If you remember, we did a very non-scientific survey, rating our parishes on 11 possible kinds of “green action.” Let’s just say it makes a good baseline for doing more. On a scale of 0-5, the highest areas were commitment to recycling, and encouraging families and individuals to “reduce, reuse, recycle” (2.1). Including creation and creation-care in worship rated 2.0, working on buildings, energy issues, landscaping and grounds rated 1.9.

Further down were the following: fostering awareness of the religious/spiritual mandate for earth care; education about ecology/climate change, etc.; use of USCCB materials and the St. Francis Pledge; involvement in advocacy for the earth; fostering simpler life-styles; encouraging nature experiences. I have added to my list: use of the arts and media to foster appreciation and protection of our natural world.

Successes include: use of real cups (or at least starch-based disposables); considering carbon footprint in building; replacing incandescent with CFL’s; community gardens; recycling bins; working toward using wind/solar energy; highway clean-up.

Next steps were mostly around getting organized with a green team, education, fostering awareness. Also: recycling, community garden and wind power.

How can the Diocesan Green Team help? Concise ideas to educate – “nutshells” with impact; joint purchasing (energy alternatives, starch-based disposables, light bulbs, grocery bags, etc.; sharing ideas and resources.

Soooo - What are you doing? Plans, successes, dreams, questions, resources to share??? Just e-mail Whitney (zoubek@diocese-kcsj.org) – she knows how to do the posts. Let’s start sharing!!!