Ecological Integrity
 Earth
and all its inhabitants are amazing manifestations of God's
creativity. The human community now has a deeper appreciation for
the interconnectedness of all of life. At the same time, we also
realize Earth's fragility and the need to restore and protect Earth's
ecological integrity. As Elizabeth Johnson, CSJ writes:
"...the present moment is marked by a strange paradox: the more
we gaze in wonder at Earth, the more we realize that human actions are
ravaging and deleting the natural world."
The capacity of our planet to sustain life is being exhausted by
the pressures of humankind and the market economy. Species are
disappearing at an alarming rate. The air, water and soil are being
fouled by industrial waste and the overuse of chemicals. To restore and
sustain Earth, we must immediately reduce the impact of
humankind on the life systems of our planet. This requires that
we "adopt patterns of production, consumption and reproduction
that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights and
community well-being." (Earth Charter #7)
Our work to promote ecological integrity takes many different
forms, such as:
- providing resources for prayer, reflection and study on the
relationship between faith, spirituality and an ecologically
sustainable lifestyle;
- educating ourselves and others on the specific causes of environmental
deterioration, particularly over- consumption of
resources in the U.S. and the Global North;
- promoting life-style changes that are respectful of all
life on Earth and;
- engaging in advocacy in support U.S. legislation and international
treaties/protocols promoting environmental protection and
sustainability.
For more information on Ecological Integrity, follow these links:
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