Environmental Issues

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Earth Day

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Each year on April 22, we observe the birthday of the modern environmental movement, which began in 1970. Earth Day celebrates its 52nd anniversary this year.

“In the decades leading up to the first Earth Day, Americans were consuming vast amounts of leaded gas through massive and inefficient automobiles. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of the consequences from either the law or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity...America remained largely oblivious to environmental concerns and how a polluted environment threatens human health.”

I remember the publication of Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring, in 1962, “which raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and the inextricable links between pollution and public health.”

Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin had already been concerned about environmental deterioration in the USA, when, in January 1969, a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California ravaged the area. Wanting to harness the energy of the student anti-war protests and direct them into consciousness about air and water pollution, the Senator came up with the idea of a teach-in on college campuses. April 22 was chosen as it occurred on a weekday between Spring Break and Final Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation.

Denis Hayes who did the initial organizing realized that all Americans could participate in this movement. As ever more organizations, faith groups and others joined in the various events across the country, the name was changed to Earth Day. National media coverage resulted in “20 million Americans... taking to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a legacy of serious human health impacts... By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of other first of their kind environmental laws... “

In 1990 “Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries...30 years on, Earth Day 2000 sent world leaders a loud and clear message: Citizens around the world wanted quick and decisive action on global warming and clean energy.”

But more challenges faced the environmental community in 2010, as climate change deniers and well-funded oil lobbyists, etc. continued their opposition. But Earth Day continued and EARTHDAY.ORG prevailed, making Earth Day a main proponent for global action for the environment.

Today, as the climate crisis grows and the fight for a clean environment is even more urgent, it is imperative we do our part to work for our planet and its people.

-Sister Patricia Cataldi, CPS/The Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood

(Adapted from www.earthday.org) 

Finding Sacred Spaces - Earth Day

Image: Unsplash/Pascal van de Vendel

When I was about 9 years old, I set out one morning on an adventure along the beach by my home on the West Coast. I loved nature and the outdoors. I walked about a mile or so along the beach, crossed a stream balancing on fallen logs, then clamoured up a large rock outcropping. But the forest at it’s top was beckoning to me. I wandered into its shepherding branches and was soon entranced by the stalwart beauty reaching to clearest skies. It was like I’d walked into a cathedral of wonder. There was a glimmer ahead through the branches and I followed it. Then the woods broke open into a little space where sunlight sparkled upon a grove of purest white little woodland Easter lilies. It was so breathtaking I knelt down to behold it. Joy filled my soul.

Then I thought how I would love to share this beauty and bring some of the Easter lilies home to my mother. So, I gathered a little bunch up and set off home. Down the rock outcropping, along the beach and over the stream and just a little further to home. I was running now because I was so excited.  I burst into the kitchen with my joyful bouquet. But my mother’s reaction wasn’t what I expected. She was very upset with my gift because these Easter lilies were protected by law. And further I was a Junior Naturalist so I should have known better than to pick them. She was right. The Easter lilies I picked wouldn’t bloom for another 7 years. I was deeply saddened.

But I argued, there were so many of them. It wouldn’t matter, but my mother was firm. She would not take the Easter lilies from me. Instead, she ordered me to return them to their woodland home. Plus, she said, I was trespassing. But I didn’t think that counted though because there wasn’t a fence!

So down to the beach along the shore and over the stream I reluctantly trudged. Up the big rock outcropping I clamoured and puffed and then into the woods. As I knelt by the little woodland grove with my wilting Easter lilies, I realized somehow, in my child’s mind, that I had violated their sacred space. I remember crying and saying how sorry I was. The woodland with the sunlit grove was sacred space, a holy moment that I had been gifted with. I felt and knew in my heart the Easter lilies acknowledging my sorrow.

Image: Unsplash/Noah Buscher

There were many other years in the spring when I would return to that woodland grove, for it had become a sacred space for me. And I was gifted then with the realization that we do not need to take and have everything of beauty, peace, and sacredness else we lose it forever. We need to treasure it and protect it. The memory of that sacred space remains forever with me and has guided me.

Where might your sacred space be?

-Sister Linda Gregg, csj

Earth Day 2022

In the scriptures, Jesus reminds us of the care of the Father for each of us, as well as, the birds and the flowers. (Matthew 6:26, Luke 12:27). We, in northern Canada, are so blessed with the beauty of creation.

Earth Day encompasses not only nature, but all aspects of our Mother Earth. Again, as we think and reflect on our life in the North, we are aware of how blessed we are to know and be in relationship with people from many countries of the world. We are indeed, interconnected and interrelated! And in times of hardship, sorrow, and sometimes utter disbelief, we turn, in unity to prayer.

In November 2018, I made a retreat called Boundless Compassion facilitated by Joyce Rupp. The setting was the beautiful Bowen Island, British Columbia. One of the days of the retreat was dedicated to Compassion for Creation. Joyce invited us to go for a walk and have a conversation with something in creation. In this conversation, we were encouraged to listen, more than speak. The following is what a tree stump shared with me.

November 28, 2018 Tree Stump tells me about herself:

This tree stump in my yard is a feeder for birds in winter and a garden in summer. Below, images from my surroundings.

“Well, at one time, I was one of the tall trees on the property. I could see far over the water. My branches would even touch my brothers and sisters. But there came a time that I needed to be cut down…and that is a story for another time. 

Did you know that the beautiful part of our life as trees, is that, although we lose our crowning glory of branches and foliage, we remain connected in and through our root system?

Now my role is quite different. Did you notice the tiny mushrooms growing on my side? I am somewhat of a nurse giving life. And ants come and burrow and carry off sawdust. I think the tinge of green lichen or moss gives a certain decorative beauty. I can still see the water and hear the birds and even now and then a seagull or black bird will rest on me. I am happy in my old age!”

Today I encourage you to have a conversation with Mother Earth. Remember to listen.

Creator of all living beings, we desire the restoration of the health of Mother Earth. As wise stewards of all that you have entrusted to us, we resolve to evaluate our lifestyle and patterns of consumption in order to make necessary changes. Provident God, we are partners with you. By the power of your Spirit, fill us with courage and conviction as we take responsible action to ensure the sustainability of our Earth. We pray in the name of Jesus who shows us the way. Amen.

(Adapted from “An Earth Day Prayer Service”)

Blessings, Sister Maggie Beaudette, CSJ

World Water Day - March 22, 2022

Seeing with new eyes

Image: Unsplash/Silvan Schuppisser

I turn on the tap and water flows. But where does it come from?

London, Ontario's water system and supply of clean water come from both Lake Huron and Lake Erie, through a network of treatment plants, reservoirs, and pumping stations made up of more than 1,620 kilometres of pipes.

Being a city gal, I am used to the fact that water from the Great Lakes moves through pipes to purification stations and then into my tap. I have childhood memories of visiting relatives at their summer cottage where my aunt pumped water from the well directly into her sink. That water comes from aquifers.

Aquifers are geological formations of rocks, sands and gravels that hold water. This water feeds springs, rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and also seeps into the ocean depending on the geographical area. The water accumulates from rain and snowfall.

This year for World Water Day, March 22, 2022, we are invited to celebrate and recognize the importance of groundwater (water from aquifers) – the invisible gift that supports drinking water, sanitations systems, farming, industry, and ecosystems.

People who draw drinking water from private wells do not currently have any enforceable safeguards. “Over 40 municipal drinking water systems throughout Ontario are not covered by the Clean Water Act.” See: https://watercanada.net/feature/ontario-drinking-water-safe

The data sheet for World Water Day 2022 states that almost all liquid freshwater in the world is groundwater, and it will play a critical role in adapting to climate change. Life will not be possible without groundwater.

So how do we protect groundwater?

Contribute to the voices opposing the provincial government’s permit to Blue Triton to continue to take 3.6 million liters of water daily from the Aberfoyle Plant, and 1.1 million liters of water per day from the Hillsbourgh location.

Read Wellington Water Watchers, World Water Day Statement: Wellington Water Watchers.

To avoid depletion requires policies on energy, land use and irrigation.

For a good news story, read what is developing among the Dairy Farmers of Canada: https://dairyfarmersofcanada.ca/en/who-we-are/our-commitments/sustainability/water.

World Water Day each year reminds us to cherish water as gift, as medicine,  as sacred, and to ensure that water is available for everyone without becoming a commodity.

2 billion people live without access to safe water. Let’s support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6 to achieve water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Raise a glass and look with new eyes!

World Water Day 2022

-Sister Loretta Manzara, csj

We are a Blue Community.

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Save Our Water

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June 8 is World Oceans Day, the United Nations day for celebrating the role of the oceans in our everyday life and inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources.

An outrageous event is happening in North America. Suddenly, in the United States, water is being sold and traded as a commodity for profit.  We should have seen this coming.  For years now, right under our own noses here in Canada, Nestlé, for example, has settled in places such as Wellington County.  They have pumped zillions of gallons of precious groundwater, bottled it in plastic, paid nothing for the water but only a pittance levy of $503.71 per million liters, and sold it back to Canadians and around the world at a shocking price.

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Quietly at first, but unable to tolerate what was happening to their precarious water, a group of concerned citizens in Wellington County gathered and began their work to stop Nestle’s water grab on their land.  Naming their new initiative, Save Our Water (SOW), the members who are all volunteers, thoroughly studied the water situation and enlisted Kelly Linton, the energetic Mayor of Centre Wellington.  Backed by municipal membership, the group became experts in groundwater supply and protecting it at all levels.  Since water taking is a provincial responsibility, their stewardship of local water reaches all the way to the provincial legislature where they have ready access to discussing the long-term negative impact of water extraction with politicians. (Join the Fight)

The Save Our Water initiative and the growing involvement of concerned citizens and water protectors is proving to have a successful impact.  Last month I had the privilege of being on a Zoom call of over 125 concerned citizens sponsored by Wellington Water Watchers for an update on the new moratorium on taking bottled water from Wellington County’s groundwater.

The Save Our Water volunteers, Mayor Linton and council of Centre Wellington as well as increasing numbers of concerned citizens have been the push behind Nestle’s recent withdrawal from Canada.  With one voice, they acclaim, “We are not a willing host for bottled water”.

There is still much for Save Our Water to do concerning the preservation of priceless water in Wellington County.  Vigilant oversight lies ahead as the area is projected to double in size by 2041 and the local Middlebrook well has been purchased for 4.3 billion by big companies, including some in the USA. 

Throughout the intervening years, Save Our Water will be there, studying, advocating, and influencing the rest of the world who come to them for advice as they are already doing.  Every local level in every municipality in North America needs a Save Our Water group to protect precious water and battle to ban water as a commodity. There is an urgent cry across nations: access to clean, potable water is a human right.

-Sister Jean Moylan, csj

The Sisters of St. Joseph are proud to be a BLUE COMMUNITY so that we can protect water as a shared commons, sacred gift, and human right.

 www.saveourwater.ca

 Learn about their current campaigns

TAKE ACTION!