Sustainability: creating new beginnings for the beginner

Sustainability: creating new beginnings for the beginner    By Karen Digby on behalf of the Sustainability Team at St. Francis... for the FORUM on January 27th, 2013.

           Over the past few months, you may have been noticing more and more information about sustainability in our parish bulletin.  What exactly is sustainability, you may ask, and what does it have to do with me?  Well, quite a lot actually.  In fact it is relevant to everyone living and breathing on this earth today, as it will be for generations to come.  The concept of sustainability was first developed in 1987, by the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations.  Basically the concept is defined as being able to meet people's needs for various resources, in the present time, in an efficient, effective, yet responsible manner, that will still allow them to meet the same needs of their children (our children) in the future.  This means reducing or even eliminating certain things such as water pollution and waste, food wastage, carbon emissions into our air, overuse of electricity and gas.  It also means learning to save, reuse and recycle things such as plastic, clothing, even things we consider to be garbage!  All of this so that future generations will be able to survive and live in harmony with the earth and their environment, as people have been used to doing in the past.

         You may think," I don't know how to start doing this."  "What difference can I make, if I do?" The Sustainability Team here at St. Francis, wants to help show you the way.  Our articles here in the parish bulletin will suggest different ideas for you to try out at home, at work, at school, anywhere during the week.  Learn more and you will want to join our Sustainability Team!  What better a way to become a steward of the resources God has given to you.  What better a way to make a difference in the lives your family, friends, community. 

               The future of our world and that of our children's is our responsibility to God and self.  As is written in Leviticus 25: 23-24, "The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land."

            For more information or to join our Sustainability Team, call Scott (734-821-2121), or visit:  stfrancisa2.com/sustainability

 

·    marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/greenwash-brigade/define-sustainability-please

·    christianteens.about.com/od/understandingyourbible/qt/ScriptureEnvironment.htm