10 Things to do to conserve and restore creation!

(adapted from website)

1. WORSHIP and give thanks to our Creator and Redeemer in Holy Mass! This is the single most important action that you can take to help restore Creation! Our experience of worship makes us more aware of God in all Creation. Out of worship comes a Christian response to rule Creation rightly -- humbly, justly, enthusiastically, and with holiness and wisdom. Christian worship is a response of thanksgiving. The liturgy leads us to offer thanks and praise to God for the gifts of Creation and Redemption. Participating regularly in this liturgy will gradually teach us to live constantly in a sense of profound gratitude. With this viewpoint, we are more likely to care for Creation as God's gift. In addition, worship fosters conversion, the gradual giving of our whole life to God, which is necessary for us to become good stewards of the Earth. Just as Saint Francis praised God for every being and for all of Creation, a parish community can do the same every week in its liturgy and celebrations.

The Importance of the Eucharist

Pope John Paul II has said, "When I think of the Eucharist, and look at my life as a priest, as a Bishop and as the Successor of Peter, I naturally recall the many times and places in which I was able to celebrate it... I have been able to celebrate Holy Mass in chapels built along mountain paths, on lakeshores and seacoasts; I have celebrated it on altars built in stadiums and in city squares... This varied scenario of celebrations of the Eucharist has given me a powerful experience of its universal and, so to speak, cosmic character. Yes, cosmic! Because even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world. It unites heaven and earth. It embraces and permeates all creation. The Son of God became man in order to restore all creation, in one supreme act of praise, to the One who made it from nothing. He, the Eternal High Priest who by the blood of his Cross entered the eternal sanctuary, thus gives back to the Creator and Father all creation redeemed. He does so through the priestly ministry of the Church, to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity. Truly this is the mysterium fidei which is accomplished in the Eucharist: the world which came forth from the hands of God the Creator now returns to him redeemed by Christ" (Encyclical Letter "Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 2003).

For Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology, the Eucharist became the deepest source of support for his desire for cosmic peace and reconciliation. Just two years before he died, St. Francis said: "I beseech all of you, by whatever charity I can, that you show reverence and all honor to the most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, because (in Him) all things, whether on earth or in heaven have been pacified and reconciled with Almighty God".

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "the Eucharist, the sacrament of our salvation accomplished by Christ on the cross, is also a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for the work of creation. In the Eucharistic sacrifice the whole of creation loved by God is presented to the Father through the death and the Resurrection of Christ. Through Christ the Church can offer the sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for all that God has made good, beautiful, and just in creation and in humanity" (no. 1359).

2. CONTEMPLATE the wonders of God's creation in the woods, by the sea, in a park, on a mountain, on a farm, or in a garden. Many people can sense the presence of the Lord in the midst of nature. "Faced with the glory of the Trinity in creation, we must contemplate, sing, and rediscover awe," said Pope John Paul II.

To be aware of God in nature should also lead us to praise the Lord in worship at Mass. And our experience in Mass should make us more aware of God in nature. The relationship between experiencing God in nature and in worship is truly of mutual benefit!

3. CELEBRATE with special creation-oriented liturgies or prayer services (St. Francis Day, Rogation Days, Earth Day, etc.) According to the U.S. Bishops, "We urge celebrants and liturgy committees to incorporate themes into prayer and worship that emphasize our responsibility to protect all of God's creation and to organize prayerful celebrations of creation on feast days honoring St. Francis and St. Isidore."

4. CAREFULLY USE the resources of the Earth by conducting environmental or energy audits of your grounds, recycling, composting, organic gardening, etc.
STUDY to know more of creation and its needs. Join at least one scientific or conservation organization and take the time to read their magazine and other publications. Attend public meetings in which information about creation, specifically the neighborhood creation, is presented and discussed. Pick up and use a nature field guide, such as a field guide to birds or wildflowers.

5. EDUCATE your congregation or parish school by sponsoring or participating in Catholic theology/spirituality and environment classes/workshops, environmental study groups, lecture series, special curriculum, video or library resources, etc.

6. ENGAGE in youth activities like special liturgies, prayer services, wilderness experiences, ecological restoration, litter or environmental cleanups, etc.

7. PROMOTE or sponsor public policy activities such as letter writing campaigns, interfaith events, meetings with government representatives, community events, etc.

8. DIRECT advocacy towards health issues, biodiversity conservation, toxic waste clean-up, misuse of pesticides, land and water conservation, lead poisoning, sustainable development, authentic development, alternative energy sources, ecological restoration, etc.

9. EXAMINE your environmental responsibility in terms of issues particular to your community whether you are urban, rural or suburban.

10. CULTIVATE outdoor activities, such as hiking, walking, camping, biking, boating, gardening, canoeing, kayaking, photography, hunting, fishing, swimming, mountain climbing, birding, and botanizing. Take yourself and your family out of your house, automobile, shopping mall, and theme park and into the living world.

Keeping the faith in conservation

There is a great deal about the environment these days and people are starting to sit up and figure out how all these big issues like global warming, climate change, greenhouse gases, depletion of resources, how all these issues have any link to themselves.

Living in an urbanised setting like Singapore makes it even more difficult to understand the importance of preserving nature as we urbanites have lost all direct dependence on nature itself, less the occasional walk in the park. The students I teach as a teaching assistant in the university often do not comprehend the need to study basic biology and ecology but honestly, I don't blame them. Subjects on biotechnology and biomedical research have taken centre stage for their economical promises and pharmaceutical rewards. The study of ecology has been reduced to the 'last chapter in my biology book which teacher says not important to study'. It's just an all-too-familiar pragmatic approach we take in Singapore. Sad but true.

My interest in Biology came when I was very young and I guess all the David Attenborough documentaries really made me want to study nature and protect the environment. It is difficult to explain to someone what I am doing as people always ask, 'So what are you going to do next time?' , to which I have no answer and which leads to subsequent questioning of what the hell am I doing and whether all this is really worth while. All I can say is that I have a little voice in me that tells me to be counter cultural and do what you can to bring a little environmental awareness into the lives of others. Many many have little empathy to the causes for the environment. People are dying from hunger, wars are breaking out, diseases are taking over and you want to talk about saving a tree? It is true, immediate problems are all around us but conservation of natural habitats have many many long term benefits which can be quantified in terms of cash. Ecosystem services like nutrient recycling, watershed properties, pollination of cash crops actually provide billions of dollars to agricultural systems and benefit local communities in the area. Moreover, preservation of these natural habitats is crucial as there is no guarantee that these forests can ever be the same as before!

Alright fine, nature is important (as if the papers don't remind us about that everyday!)...
But what about this religion and environment thinggy?

Well, firstly, let me quote my environmental law professor who said,"I believe that the earth will only be saved by human ethics." I sincerely agree because in many ways, it is hard to see the immediate economical value of a forest compared to a factory. We conserve because we want to pass this earth to future generations and what a sad heritage it will be if trees were reduced to a quarter of their magnificent size or if charismatic mammals are forever lost from the face of the earth.
Personally, that's where religion plays an important role as there are many parallels between conservation and religion which I will elaborate on in later posts. Religion is a code of ethics where behaviour, attitudes, mindsets and character are developed and directed towards a greater common good for all. In a way, if we could only work together with religions to bring a little environmental awareness into the hearts and minds of others, what a great change that would make in the world!

Just to clarify, I am not hoping to make faith revolve around conservation. As a Catholic, I sincerely do wish that the focus of my faith is to grow closer to God and spread the love of Jesus to the people around me. However, I do hope that people of faith can see a light in the direction of being stewards and custodians of this magnificent creation that we have been created amongst and to not see ourselves as dominians and wanton destructors of the environment for personal gain. In the end, all things are related and the consequences of our destructive actions on the environment will come back to impact us, much like the consequences of our sin which affects the community we live in and in turn harms us by separating us from God and man.



Image from http://conservation.catholic.org/background.htm

**side note**
wow.. I am not normally an activist.. I guess I have to get used to this side of me! ;p