Spring 2007, Volume 50, Number 1

Every Day is Earth Day

Earth Day will be celebrated Sunday, April 22, 2007.

The purpose of Earth Day is to increase awareness, responsibility and action toward a clean, healthy future for all living things using events, campaigns and networking as catalysts. On the following pages are some of the ways the Sisters of the Presentation and their co-workers are caring for Earth.

Green Vision Education Award: Dubuque's Resurrection School Deemed 'Green'
Contributed by Archdiocese of Dubuque The Witness

On January 29, Resurrection Elementary School became the first parochial school to receive the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency’s Green Vision Education Award. During “Catholic Schools Week,” members of the Du­buque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) presented the school with the Green Vision flag to hang outside the school, and a banner to display inside the building.

The Green Vision program is a cooperative effort supported by the DMASWA, the City of Dubuque, the Dubuque County Conservation Board and Down to Earth Solutions. Initiated by the community last spring, the program recognizes schools for their ef­forts in sustainable natural resource management and pollution prevention in the school and community environment. Classroom practices, buildings and grounds maintenance and curriculum are all evaluated and suggestions are then made by the Green Vision Team toward advancing environmental stewardship.

First-grade teacher Barb Davis and fourth-grade teacher Phyllis Czarnecki initiated the program at Resurrection, a PreK-5th school with an enrollment of just over 300, with the help of principal Dave Gross and custodian John Stierman.

The teachers said their students were excited about the program and eagerly jumped in to spread the word and get the other classes involved. Each grade appointed two monitors to oversee and encourage their classmates to step up the recycling of trash while also keeping an eye out for other ways to conserve and improve the environment.

“One of the first ideas put into place was to get rid of the plastic eating utensils from the cafeteria and go back to using silverware. We initially got rid of the silverware to save energy using the dishwasher, but soon found that with all the plastic that got thrown away, it made more sense to use metal utensils,” explains Barb.

“Recycling bins were then placed in every room, along with plenty of posters reminding everyone to use them,” said Phyllis.

Sister Donna Demmer’s fifth-grade classroom has been focusing on recycling paper. “I encourage my students to use the recycling bins in the room and to use both sides of a piece of paper. Our classroom received the award for having the least amount of waste in our wastepaper basket. For one week the amount of waste was only 12 ounces.” Sister Donna adds, “When we wash the desks we use towels instead of paper towels. We also have hand sanitizer in our classroom that does not require the use of water.”

Each day students from each classroom deliver trash and recyclables to a central point where John Stierman then weighs and calculates the bundles. “The ratio between throwaways and recyclables used to be even,” began John. “But since we started this program, the trash has gone down 75 per cent and the number of recyclables has increased 300 per cent. We like to remind the kids that a four-foot stack of newspapers saves one whole tree,” he adds.

“In order for the school to retain its ‘green’ status it must maintain the efforts achieved. It’s not just a one-time thing, but an ongoing effort,” Barb stresses.

Barb’s and Phyllis’ students call on the other classrooms regularly to remind them of the importance of maintaining the efforts so far achieved and to offer suggestions about further efforts, such as pulling the blinds at night, turning off computers and changing to low-energy light bulbs.

“Resurrection students and staff have made great strides in finding ways to re­duce the amount of waste they create, and to implement energy-saving practices in their school,” comments Bev Wagner, education and communication coordinator for DMASWA. “We are excited about their accomplishments and hope it inspires other schools to get involved,” she adds.

Dubuque public schools Marshall Elementary and George Washington Middle School both re­­ceived the award last year, but Resurrection is the first Holy Family System school to be recognized.

“I am very proud of the students, teachers and staff at Resurrection for their dedication to the efforts required in being recognized as a Green Vision School,” said Dave Gross. “We like to emphasize not only the importance of preserving our environment for fu­ture generations,” he stresses, “but also that it is a part of our Christian mission to be good stewards of all God’s creations.”

First photo: Resurrection students pose with a 4’-high stack of recyclable newspapers to demonstrate how many it takes to save one tree. Second photo: Sister Donna Demmer and her fifth-grade students are proud of their recycling award.

Prairiewoods Celebrates Earth Day, Every Day

Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha, IA, daily celebrates the international event of Earth Day. Sister Ann Jackson, coordinator of retreats and spiritual services, enjoys the challenges of its mission, “to provide a sacred space for people to experience their relationship with God, self, others and Earth.” Staff challenges all to “embody a lifestyle that cares for Earth and celebrates the human spirit.”

One year, Prairiewoods’ staff and friends developed a shelter belt: rows of cedar, white pine, fruit trees and shrubbery, along the north edge of the property. This area serves as a pollution barrier and habitat for many species of wildlife. Yet, the commitment doesn’t stop there!

“Our philosophy of reverence for all life on Earth, challenges the staff to weigh the environmental impact of each decision they make,” said Sister Ann. “Using native flowers and grasses as landscape features, avoiding the use of insecticides and herbicides when possible, and restoring plots of native prairie, require collaboration, communication, research and commitment.”

Prairiewoods has a system of trails that guests can use to educate themselves and enjoy contemplative spaces and connections with the healing powers of nature. These trails lead to mediation areas, an outdoor labyrinth, a Cosmic Walk and undisturbed woodlots.

The Earth Day vision takes a practical turn when people invest themselves daily in conscious choices and practices that promote a healthy biodiversity on the planet.

“We extend our prayers and gratitude to each person who has helped us to ‘be green’ by living simply; promoting peace by working for justice; living the Beatitudes; giving up violent behavior; working for forgiveness and healing; and loving and caring for Earth,” states Sister Ann.

Photo: Sister Ann Jackson helps plant a tree on the grounds of Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha, IA.

 

Tools for Global Warming Awareness and Policy Change
by Beth Kress, PBVM

“Very few people disagree that global warming is an important issue,” stated Mark Kresowik, of Sierra Club Midwest Clean Energy Campaign, to the “Raise Your Voice” audience on the Iowa Communications Network on January 27.

“It’s what to do about global warming where the differences lie,” declared Mark who was one of several speakers for “Raise Your Voice” workshop sponsored by the Iowa Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign (IICEC) and Iowa Interfaith Power & Light (IIP&L).

Tim Kautza, workshop moderator, invited the largely faith-based audience located at six sites on the Iowa Communications Network to consider the religious and moral imperative of global warming and its impact on creation and the poor and vulnerable. Tim, who is science and environmental education specialist of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, coordinates the Iowa Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign and Iowa Interfaith Power & Light.

Workshop presenters gave a “how to” program of effective public awareness raising and communication with legislators about policy making regarding global warming.

“The public is your audience,” stated Iowa Environmental Council Communications Director, Lynn Laws, who led the 40 participants through “how to” of working with the media.

“The press is your medium,” stated Lynn, as she demonstrated how to write letters to the editor and op-eds that will get printed and how to feel comfortable being interviewed by radio and TV while getting your important message across.

“We can’t rely on individual actions alone like changing light bulbs, good as those actions may be. We need policy changes,” stated Mark as he urged participants to give their energies to systemic change and offered the collective audience in Algona, Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City and Keokuk, information on how to determine the best ways to communicate their concerns to their state and national legislators.

“Work your legislators, both state and federal,” he said as he encouraged participants to make visits to Iowa legislators in Des Moines or to contact state legislators at home. “Find out when federal legislators have their in-district work weeks. The greatest way to influence legislators is to meet them in person.”

Mark also emphasized the value of attending League of Women Voters’ forums. Maintaining communication with legislators and asking good questions are key in the process, he stated.

Participants were encouraged to carry these messages to their own congregations or faith-based groups.

“God has called us to care for creation and because people most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and future generations depend on us to act,” said Tim as he urged participants to share what they learned from the workshop.

For more about global warming and what people of faith can do about it, contact Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, http://www.ncrlc.com/IIPandL-webpage.html or Iowa Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign, http://www.ncrlc.com/IICEC.html. For specific ideas on guidelines and ground rules for writing a letter to the editor, tips for writing op-ed pieces and preparing for electronic media interviews, Laws’s presentation is available on the Iowa Environmental Council’s website at http://www.iaenvironment.org.

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Even beyond the parameters of this workshop, Tim Kautza offers the following principles and recommendations that are fundamental and must be considered during policy discussions to help move our state, our nation, and the world toward this more sustainable energy future while mitigating global warming and reducing the impacts on poor and vulnerable people and God’s sacred creation.

Justice: Strive for justice and acknowledge that global warming’s societal impact already falls, and will continue to fall, most heavily on the people around the world who are least able to mitigate the impacts—poor and vulnerable populations in the U.S. and in developing countries. As a leading industrialized nation that has disproportionately contributed to greenhouse gas emissions, it is incumbent upon us to rectify this injustice.

Stewardship: Heed the call to be faithful stewards and caretakers of God’s creation by limiting the future impacts of global warming on God’s Earth. Already, global warming has damaged the precious balance of God’s creation, including increasing the number of threatened species, causing long-term drought, and melting Arctic ice.

Sustainability: Ensure that efforts to curb global warming prevent further environmental and societal tragedies. As people of faith we are guided by the value of sustainability. Sustainability requires that we enable biological and social systems that nurture and support life not be depleted or poisoned.

Sufficiency: In a world of finite resources, for all to have enough requires that those among us who have more than enough will need to address our patterns of acquisition and consumption. We can not achieve significant reductions in global warming emissions unless we make changes in our lifestyles and particularly in our energy consumption.

Save Energy by Switching Your Inefficient Incandescent Light Bulbs!

• Save Money on Electricity Bills
• Use Less Energy
• Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
• Help Stop Global Warming

 

Churches' Center for Land and People
by Joy Peterson, PBVM

In July of 1990, along with 18 other religious groups of northeast Iowa, southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois, the Presentation sisters became sponsors of the Churches’ Center for Land and People (CCLP). This ecumenical organization gathers churches, groups and individuals to strengthen rural life by fostering a shared commitment to rural concerns. Knowing that the effects of the rural crisis of the 1980’s continued to disrupt families, contribute to isolationism, financial stress and a sense of despair, CCLP has provided multi-level forums. Topics included were spiritual-ethical decision making in creating the new rural community, the Christian challenge of hope, and church presence in times of change.

For the past several years, Sister Bernard Mauss has been the Presentation representative to CCLP. Her zeal for family farms, for the education of farm apprentices in sustainable agricultural practices, and food security for all have made her a committed participant in CCLP’s mission. Whether it is engaging her community sisters or her family and friends in the dreams of CCLP, Sister Bernard’s energy for economic justice for rural America is contagious.

Another of CCLP’s project that Sister loves to advertise is the Winter Harvest of Hope Farmers’ Market. “Family farmers bring their homegrown and hand-made products to a parish hall where the public can buy directly from them. The products include items such as meat, eggs, goat milk soap, sorghum; comforters filled with lamb’s wool, and knitted mittens. These markets help families during a season when their income can be lagging,” states Sister Bernard.

Farmers who bring items to the market also mark up their prices 10 per cent for the day and then donate the proceeds to the Harvest of Hope fund. The fund has been established to help farm families with emergency funding for health, home heating or electrical cutoffs. So far, the markets have been held primarily in cities in eastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin. But with the continued struggles of so many farm families, efforts are being made to expand the location of the markets.

In 2002, the Presentation community endorsed the Earth Charter, a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful future. By endorsing the document, the sisters and associates signify their commitment to cooperate with others in working toward equitable human development and shared responsibility for the well being of the human family. One of the ways Sister Bernard and the rest of the community connect the Earth Charter endorsement to action at the local level is through participation in CCLP. Earth stewardship, community and justice are linked to the spiritual roots of both organizations. Thus the adage, “Think globally and act locally,” is put into action.

 

Raising Awareness in Saving the Earth

The fourth-graders in Sister Marjorie Loughren’s class at St. Pascal Baylon School in St. Paul, MN, have stepped up their awareness of saving the earth. They already recycle every chance they get and now they are using their math, computer, science and social studies knowledge to solve problems. During February, the students studied the Northeast Region of the United States. They learned about the region’s states, capitals, environment, history and economy.

Each student was asked to choose one state and it’s capital, pretending their family planned to drive there. Then in computer class they researched to find out how many miles that capital is from the Twins Cities. After learning about gas emissions and gas mileage in science, the students used multiplication and division to figure out how much gas it would take for their family car to get to their chosen capital. Since Sister Marjorie will be driving a hybrid car after Easter, the students were then asked to compare the needed gas for a hybrid car and a standard car. Already knowing that driving a hybrid car would use much less gas and help keep the environment cleaner, the students were still amazed at the huge difference in the amount of gas. They will continue to learn more as Sister Marjorie becomes accustomed to her new hybrid car.