WHAT IF ALL HUMANITY & ALL LIVING CREATURES & EARTH ITSELF WERE CONSIDERED SACRED?
Most of the world’s faith communities believe that humans and all living things were created by God. They also, to greater or lesser degree, believe that our planet is also sacred because of its ability to keep us alive. Building on these shared beliefs, the International Network called GreenFaith is holding a day of awareness and action this Thursday, March 11, 2921. They are calling their action “Sacred People-Sacred Earth”. Your Trinity Environmental Stewards Team will be ringing Trinity’s bell and praying for this vision of scaredness at noon on our front yard. We will be joining people around the world who are participating in small actions while building a network of faith groups willing to put into practice these beliefs. Other downtown churches have been invited to participate.
The vision of GreenFaith is to build a “renewed world” that truly embodies these concepts of sacredness into everyday life. As our collective eyes have been opened to the injustices and inequalities suffered by communities that are poor, disenfranchised and/or of color, we must admit that their sacredness has been ignored. Furthermore, the health of the very planet that bring us all food, clothing and shelter has also not been treated as being sacred. A renewed vision of sacredness, however, will help us overcome these problems and bring forth solutions that will address these wrongs. To this end, GreenFaith International will be presenting a list of ten demands to the Climate Summit in November of 2021 (COP # 26). These are their demands, geared to bring about their vision:
1.100% renewable energy for all. 2. Financial actions are aligned with compassionate values. 3. Health care and access to job opportunities are available to everyone. 4. Respect and dignity for all, especially for indigenous peoples. 5. Welcoming and respecting the plight of climate migrants. 6. Net zero emissions by the year 2030. 7. An end to long time practices that are resulting in the destruction of the earth, (/the same earth that sustains us). 8. Elimination of immoral and unjust financial practices. 9. Fair and just contributions from wealthy nations to combating these problems. 10. Bold and innovative leadership from communities of faith that will lead the world to this vision of the sacredness of humanity—of all living things—and the sacredness of the Earth that supports us all.
EARTH STEWARD ACTION: Please join us on March 11 on Trinity’s lawn for bell ringing and prayers. If that is not possible, please pray for the ongoing work of your Trinity Environmental Stewardship Team and watch for our Letter to the editor about GreenFaith.
SOURCES: https://greenfaith.org/all-you-need-to-know-about-sacred-people-sacred-earth
