The main Atlantic current is called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, (AMOC), and is referred to as the global conveyor belt. AMOC brings warmth to various parts of the globe and also carries nutrients necessary to sustain ocean life. Read more about the the crisis in our oceans and how raise your awareness about the challenges.
Putting a Face onto Global Suffering
We are all saddened as we witness the Hamas- Israeli conflict, knowing that it is the tip of the iceberg in terms of the suffering taking place the world over. In this December 2023 Federation newsletter, Sr. Janet Speth writes about Putting a Face onto Global Suffering.
Tree Roots and Our Lives
This article from the Federation’s fall newsletter entitled Tree Roots and Our Lives shares some precious memories of nature and reminds us of the timeless moments when trees grace our lives.
“Dying and Rising” An Ecological Reflection for Holy Week
As we enter the sacred mysteries of Holy Week we are conscious of a traditional call to conversion. For many, the Paschal Mystery is all about human redemption. Yet also impinging on our consciousness is the call to ecological conversion expressed urgently by Pope Francis and numerous other religious leaders. What is this ecological conversion? Read more…
Accounting for One’s Hope
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15). We might find ourselves at times somewhat hesitant to answer this soul- searching question posed in 1 Peter 3:15. Yet, being ready to give an accounting for one’s hope has the power to ground us. Furthermore, I trust it has the potential to be life-giving for others. Read more…
Ever-expanding Horizons: The Wondrous Gift of the James Webb Telescope
A new telescope – the James Webb space Telescope has arrived and is delivering absolutely stunning pictures of the cosmos. Do you remember when the book, “The Hand of God: Thoughts and Images Reflecting the Spirit of the Universe,” 1. first came into your hands? Read more…
Making Notes on Sugarcane - Another way to get your copy
Recently, I have been doing some work away from home and only brought my laptop, thinking what a great opportunity to make do without paper. Then I found how much I needed paper! It was a lesson in reverencing and appreciating more deeply the gift of paper. Read more…
A Little Wiser and Less Likely to Be Fooled
I was leafing through my recent copy of Good Housekeeping, when an article contributed by its editors caught my attention. My eye was first attracted to a graphic of a clothing tag. After reading the article, I realized that the words on the tag, “100% Bamboozled”, had provided a clever, concise, and creative summary of the article’s content.
Heeding Nature's Warning
Choosing Alternative Threads: The Clothing Industry and Climate Change
The Gift of Creation
Crisis, Invitation and Opportunity: Re-Imagining Our Relationship With Nature
This is not the “Green Window” I had anticipated writing. The topic has changed! Indeed, we might say everything has changed in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. We struggle with the tragedy in the world, prayerfully accompany those directly impacted by the effects of the virus, try to keep ourselves and others safe and reflect on creative ways to be in mission and ministry in the heat of almost unimaginable crisis. In all of this, perhaps we are also experiencing an urgent call to change; essentially to change by re-imagining our relationship with nature. It is this relationship that now matters as never before. Why does it matter?
Green Window - Radical Unity and Communion
Parliament of World Religions: Reflection on Climate Change
The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the Neighbourhood
Creativity, Mysticism and Laudato Si'
Glow to Him Wood And Tree: An Ecological Reflection for Advent
When Green Becomes Blue
Through the Federation, we CSJs have become the 29th Blue Community in the world, joining with many others whose goals are: to have water and sanitation recognized as human rights, to phase out and then ban the sale of bottled water at municipal events and public facilities, and to promote publicly financed, owned and operated water and waste water services.
Background Setting for Conversations that Matter
Nancy Wales, CSK on behalf of the Federation Ecology Committee
As we know, the various regional hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission have concluded and the Royal Commission has released its final report. This comprehensive report offered its potentially impactful and transformative recommendations as 94 Calls to Acton. The Calls to Acton provided “a general handbook on how to achieve reconciliation within Canada.” Lenard Monkman, CBC NEWS
No doubt, our exposure to Survivors’ stories opens our minds and softens our hearts to the unimaginable and horrendous experience of many of the Residential School attendees. How-ever, coming to grips with the ongoing events of our shared Canadian history will require much more than just learning about the legacy of residential schools.
Owning our past calls us to create a shared future, which is “a multi-faceted process that restores lands, economic self-sufficiency, and political jurisdiction to First Nations and develops a respectful and just relationship between First Nations and Canada.” Centre for First Nations Governance
It is apparent that the task ahead is monumental both in size and significance. However, it’s important to keep in mind the words of Lao Tzu, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
An Important Step: Face to Face Conversations
Reflecting on what reconciliation means to me, and us, collectively, it seemed important to have a conversation with 2, local respected elders. Sister Margo and I met Dan and Mary Lou Smoke while working on a local T and R initiative.
In our visit with them, in their home, Sister Margo and I felt their hospitality and enjoyed Kana’talako Indian Cookies and lemonade. I came away from our time together knowing a little more of their personal journey of discovering their cultural roots with its rich ceremonies and traditional wisdom.
Dan is encouraged that following the process of the Royal Commission and the release of its Calls to Acton there has been an evident surge in interest among Canadians to become more familiar with the history, diversity, and richness of First Nations peoples.
It is significant to him that Western University’s Senate, among other bodies, decided to include the naming of traditional territorial lands on which the group gathers for events. I came away realizing the importance of this simple act as a way to include, recognize, and honour our Indigenous Peoples.
However, Dan laments that 100+ natve communites remain without access to clean drinking water.
Furthermore, in neighbouring Delaware, ON plans are underway to build a new waste water treatment plant which raises concerns for him about the future water quality from the Thames River. This is the source of drinking water for London’s 3 neighbouring reserves, Thames First Nation, Oneida Nation, and Munsee-Delaware Nation.
Does this water crisis of which Dan spoke not raise our group conscience for the need for us to contact our local government representatives to apply public pressure to initiate concrete steps to rectify the intolerable situation faced by boil water communities? Our founding charism of unity and reconciliation urges us to assume our personal responsibility in bringing about the necessary healing of the rupture in relationships between individuals of First Nations or Settlers heritage.
Face to face conversations with our First Nations sisters and brothers offer us opportunities to see our mutual history and shared future from new perspectives.
Dan and Mary Lou encouraged us to visit nearby reserves assuring us that we would be most welcomed. Many communities have gift shops and restaurants where we could begin our conversations. Let us embrace Dan and Mary Lou’s invitation and continue to walk toward reconciliation and right relationships.
“Concern for Our Fine Feathered Friends: To Bee or Not to Be”
Kathleen O’Keefe CSJ on behalf of the Ecology Committee
“Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures, are dependent on one another” (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, #42).
As E.O. Wilson puts it, humans have “an innate affinity with nature.” We are to interact with the natural world with a profound sense of wonder and awe, along with deep appreciation to our Creator God. In creation, there is “an order and a dynamism that human beings have no right to ignore” (L.S., #221). “We cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention to the consequences of such interference in other areas …” (L.S., #130-131).
In my research, I learned that there is a need to be able to assess the state of the environment and to use sensitive indicators to do so. Both birds and bees act as “the canary in the coal mine” in terrestrial ecosystems. Bird and bee monitoring have become essential parts of our adaptation to our changing global circumstances.
“The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all” (L.S., #23).
On the David Suzuki Foundation website, I read that living beings, including birds and bees, “are moving, adapting and in some cases dying as a direct or indirect result of environmental shifts associated with our changing climate — disrupting intricate interactions among species with profound implications for the natural systems on which humans depend.”
The Nature Canada website stated that “climate change can alter distribution, abundance, behavior and genetic composition of birds” and, can affect the “timing of events like migration or breeding.” Habitat loss and alien invasive species make matters worse for birds. Extinction risks increase as a mismatch of birds and their environment takes place.
“How many songbirds would there be without the berries that result from pollination by bees?” Laurence Packer’s book, “Keeping the Bees” sheds light on this important topic. Climate change is affecting pollination by disrupting the synchronized timing at which bees pollinate. Flowers are blooming earlier in the growing season due to rising temperatures, before many bees have a chance at pollinating the plants. Thus, when bees finally begin pollination there is limited nectar available and competition for these valuable resources becomes more intense.
A report from Health Canada reveals that the bee population is in real danger due to the use of “new highly toxic systemic pesticides in agriculture.” We need bees for their role in pollinating many food crops on which we depend. David Suzuki declares, “bees are responsible for about one third of our food supply, and the consequences of not taking action to protect them are frightening.”
Pope Francis challenges each person alive today with these words: “Leaving an inhabitable planet to future generations is first and foremost up to us” (L.S., #160). He urges us to become a part of the “bold cultural revolution.”
Suggested Resource:
“On care for our common home: A dialogue guide for Laudato Si’’ Written by Janet Sommerville and William F. Ryan SJ with Anne O’Brien GSIC and Anne-Marie Jackson. Ottawa: St. Joseph Communications, 2016.
