Home by Yan Arthus-Bertrand

It is appalling to know that 20% of the earth's population consumes 80% of its resources.

Does this not point to our selfishness and greed?

Yet, there are solutions and there are people who are making a difference in the way we live on this earth.

Change the way you live.

Where is it in the CCC?

For all or hard core Catholics out there, we may be very keen to find out where is 'Caring for Creation' stated in our CCC or Cathecism of the Catholic Church?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Respect for the integrity of creation

2415 The seventh commandment [thou shalt not steal] enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.

2416 Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.

2417 God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. 197 Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.

2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.


Clearly we are called to be gentle and respect towards nature yet at the same time, not be nature-worshippers. We can be aware of our consumerism, go out to parks and appreciate nature, treat all living creatures as brothers and sisters, but never place them in a position that is higher than the Creator Himself.

In 2418, it also states clearly the need not to over-spend our resources on animals but to also channel those resources to help people from their oppression or suffering. Unfortunately, this can be interpreted very differntly from people who choose to see an opportunity to exploit nature.

With this knowledge with you, how are you going to respond?

Happy Earth Day!

I'm currently helping the Society of Conservation Biology, Religion and Conservation Biology Working group. We are compiling a set of notes to inform conservation biologists and religious figures on the role of faith in conserving our natural world. While preparing my research, I stumbled upon a website called Catholic Climate Covenant. It really seems to me that the Church is taking its green issues seriously! Pretty amazing how far we have come... but we still have a long long way to go!



If you are thinking of what to do for Earth Day, why not start by taking the St Francis pledge!

These are the aims and purposes of the St Francis pledge:

The St. Francis Pledge is a promise and a commitment by Catholic individuals, families, parishes, organizations and institutions to live our faith by protecting God’s Creation and advocating on behalf of people in poverty who face the harshest impacts of global climate change. To join the Covenant, you commit to act on each of the five elements of the St. Francis Pledge.

I/We Pledge to:

* PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.
* LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change.
* ASSESS how we-as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations-contribute to climate change by our own energy use, consumption, waste, etc.
* ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change.
* ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.

CATHOLICS GO GREEN!

O, and if you happen to be on facebook, I invite you to join this group called Catholics Go Green! I will post information on the Church's teachings on ecology and the environment. :)

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On a personal side...

I was praying in the adoration room last night and I felt that God was cautioning me to not lose sight of what I am doing all this for. I fear I may be too caught up with my own personal agendas and take too much pride or seek popularity in what I do. That is definitely not what I want, and I seek God's graces to purify my intentions and lead me in this cause/ belief that I have. That all I do, may be for the glory of God.

:)

Climbing Mt. Kinabalu

Last week, a group of us from St Francis Xavier Church went on a Mt. Kinabalu climbing expedition in Sabah. Personally, I have scaled the mountain twice but only managed to reach the peak on the first try. I succumbed to altitude sickness on the second attempt and had to be content reaching the half-way point Sayat-Sayat. That was when I was 17 years old and was there with a group from the VJC Odac. I felt very disappointed and a little upset with myself, but I recalled looking at the mountain and telling myself that I will be back to conquer it again.




And conquer it I did.



Along the way, I did manage to see a wide variety of amazing mosses, plants, orchids, picther plants and also some animal life like birds, squirrels and a very quick tree shrew. Amazing! I was simply soaking up the beauty of creation all around me and even managed to capture the endemic Giant earthworm and Giant Leech of Mt Kinabalu on film!

I need to figure a way to use flicker so that all of you can access the pictures easily online. :)

Thank you Lord for the beauty of the mountain and for granting our team a safe and enjoyable trip to Mt. Kinabalu. I praise you for all creatures big and small that we have encountered and am awed by the wonder of your creation.

Inspirational!

After watching so many presentations showing forests disappear over time, watching forests emerge over time is a wonderful change.



What an inspiration!

of cute animals and francis the musical

My cell group decided to act out various scenes of St. Francis of Assisi last Sunday. It was riotous fun! :) I had the brief opportunity to speak before my community and talk a about Franciscan spirituality towards Caring for Creation. It was quite a pity that I did not read more and prepare my presentation well. I just had an information overload and did not know where exactly to begin! So I did a sketchy introduction to the concepts and principles behind environmental concerns in the Catholic Church.

The next time, I vow to do better.

Just like to share a picture of some uber-cute elephant seals from the National Geographic photo-of-the-day!



The next time I will try to upload the video of our skit! ;p hilarious!!

A lovely walk in the garden

The 'Care for Creation' book club went for a nice walk around the Singapore Botanic Gardens and got to discover a little more about the rainforest ecosystem within the Botanic Gardens.

We started at 8.30am at the Tanglin entrance of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and were enchanted by a Plantain Squirrel Callosciurus notatus.





After having some 'bao' brought by one of the Franciscan sisters, we made our way to the Rainforest Trail which was somewhere in the middle of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.



Along the way, we stopped by to admire anything which I could at least say
something about! ;p



Spotted a juvenile pigeon (I think!), resting on the branch of a Tembusu tree Fagrae fragans.



Learning more about Bird's Nest Ferns Asplenium nidus.



Initially I thought it was a flowering tree... but it was the Kapok tree Ceiba pentandra fruiting! We picked up little fluffs of white fibre with the seed attached within.



The Rainforest Trail! A little briefing beforehand and some pictures along the way...





The beautiful strangling fig tree.. We could hardly see the host tree from where we were standing. I spent a good 15 min sitting here absorbing in the quietness of the forests after the walk.





Could these be their figs?



A dipterocarp tree of the genus Shorea or meranti. Dipterocarp trees are characteristic of Southeast Asian forests and can grow up to 50 m in height! These majestic trees have very angular branching and a very straight trunk. Gorgeous!



After our time in the forest, we had a short time of prayer and reflection along Liana Road. I felt rather odd singing the 'Canticle of the Sun' in the forests, but after a while, I did enjoy the time of praise with my fellow sisters, giving thanks and praise to God for all that we have experienced through nature.

It was a good learning experience for me as well, on how to communicate to the public, how to conduct a tour outdoors (I guide in the museum so it's much easier when your animals don't move anymore...), how to talk to others and try my best in answering questions.

Thank you Lord for this lovely walk in your garden. :)