Praying for the Whole Creation at the
World Environment Day
May 2009
World Environment Day
World Environment Day (WED), designated by the United
Nations (UN)General Assembly in 1972, is one of the
principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates
worldwide awareness of the environment, enhances
political attention and calls for action. The
occasion’s agenda is to:
- give
a human face to environmental issues;
- empower
people to become active agents of sustainable and
equitable development;
- promote
an understanding that communities are pivotal to
changing attitudes towards environmental issues;
and
- advocate
partnership which will ensure all nations and
peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
Observed
yearly on 5 June, the WED 2009 will be held in Mexico
with the theme of “Your Planet Needs You-UNite to
Combat Climate Change”. Mexico is also a
leading partner in Billion Tree Campaign, a major
worldwide tree planting campaign launched by the Unit
Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 2007.
Climate change as a major global crisis is not
something new to us, but its disproportionate impacts on
the poor and our human behavior that induces the
deterioration of our planet should be solemnly reminded
and reflected upon.
Integrity of Creation, Justice and Peace
To raise the concern and awareness for the
environment, the Commission for Justice, Peace and
Integrity of Creation USG/USIG (the Commission of JPIC,
USG/USIG) has prepared a prayer for the World Environment Day
2009.
The members of the Commission of JPIC, USG/USIG dream
that all consecrated religious will join in prayer with
brothers and sisters, friends and collaborators for the
environment. In the world with a dominative
structure, the Commission strives to promote a greater
awareness, clearer analysis and more effective action in
the area of justice and peace. (For more details of the
Commission of JPIC, USG/USIG, please refer to http://www.jpic.it/comm-notes.html
) It is realized that the commitment to integrity of
creation is the core of the work of reinforces justice
and peace. Human beings, as a part of the creation
of God, are interrelated to the other facets of the
creation. According to “The Earth Community:
In Christ through the integrity of Creation towards
Justice and Peace for All”,
We must re-discover the value and sacredness of
the created world as a revelation of the divine where
each human person sees himself or herself as an integral
and significant part of that creation, interconnected and
interdependent, respecting the intrinsic nature of every
creature and striving to build koinonia – an earth
community – not just between humans, but inclusive
of every creature.
On the way to justice and peace, we pursue the
harmonious, right and mutual life-giving relationship
with all of creation.
For the coming WED, ACPP invites you to adapt the prayer
developed by the Commission of JPIC, USG/USIG and to
reflect both personally and communally in order to raise
the awareness of the environment by renewing the attitude
and practice in daily life. If you are going to
organize any events, for example worship and bible study,
about the environmental and ecological issues, please
register and advertise it in this address:
http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/content/register.asp
Resources for Further Studies
www.unep.org/wed
Official websites of the WED 2009. The information of
WED in the past years is also included.
http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/
Versions with 11 languages of the prayer for the WED
http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/EN_creation
The booklet prepared by the Commission of Integrity
of Creation and Justice and Peace, including fact files,
theological reflections and action suggestion about
environmental issues.
www.unep.org
Official website of United Nations Environment
Program
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/programmes/public-witness-addressing-power-affirming-peace/poverty-wealth-and-ecology.html
“Poverty, wealth and ecology: impact of economic
globalization”: an introduction to the project
encouraging churches to explore and advocate for
alternatives to economic globalization, and to create new
synergies between different standpoints on poverty,
wealth, and ecology
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/climate/default.aspx
The archive of various studies and researches about
environmental and ecological issues.
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