CARE FOR CREATION ADVOCACY
JUSTICE, PEACE, AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION (JPIC)
Listed below are some Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Care for Creation advocacy initiatives we have promoted that are in addition to the ministries and events that already can be found on our main JPIC web page (i.e. our main JPIC Care for Creation web page, the Assisi Preserve and Community Garden, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), JPIC Earth Day Fair (w/ PDFs), JPIC Greener Lent, JPIC and The Season of Creation, etc.).
FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
Although our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Care for Creation Green Team highlights numerous important advocacy initiatives, we have particularly emphasized the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty during our Earth Day Fair, the Season of Creation, and our celebration of Saint Francis Week. We would like to invite you to learn about the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty by watching this one-minute video. Please consider adding your personal endorsement of this campaign by clicking on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty image link below.
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(Direct Link)
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PREVIOUS CARE FOR CREATION ADVOCACY
CLIMATE SOLUTIONSUrge your Senators to Pass Ambitious Climate Solutions. Please join Catholics across the country who are urging their senators to support $555 billion in climate solutions that lower national greenhouse gas emissions and help communities build resilience against the impacts of climate change.
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CONTACT YOUR SENATORS
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THE EARTH BILL
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The urgent need to protect and care for God's creation has never been more evident than in recent years, as we have witnessed the devastating consequences of neglect and abuse. We must take immediate action to change our ways and recognize the inherent value of God's planet and people.
The Earth Act to Stop Climate Pollution By 2030, also referred to as The Earth Bill, is slated to be introduced in this Congress. The bill aims to get us on track to mitigate the impacts of climate change by focusing on three main areas of importance: Electricity, Zero-Emission Vehicles, and Regenerative Agriculture Production. Click here and ask your representative to cosponsor this bill. |
ASK EPA TO SET STRONG SOOT POLLUTION STANDARDS
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it will update soot pollution standards. This is a critical step to protect our health and our climate from deadly air pollution, but the planned update fails to set the strong science-based soot pollution standards that would protect communities.
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Soot is a dangerous and deadly pollutant that is produced by power plants, tailpipes on cars and trucks, and other industrial sources. An updated standard for soot pollution could save thousands of lives. According to the American Lung Association, 63 million Americans experience unhealthy spikes in daily soot, or particle pollution, and more than 20 million Americans experience dangerous levels of soot pollution on a year-round basis. Soot pollution disproportionately affects low-wealth communities and communities of color.
As people of faith and conscience, our values call us to love our neighbors and to be good stewards of our Sacred Earth. The EPA has a moral opportunity right now to advance environmental justice, ensure that our neighbors have clean air to breathe and to protect those most vulnerable such as children, seniors, and people with chronic illnesses. |
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Submit a comment to the EPA urging a strong, science-based soot pollution standard that protects health and advances environmental justice.
DURHAM CREEK WEEK
MARCH 18-25
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Celebrated annually during the third week of March, Creek Week is a time to discover and clean up our local waterways. Since 2009, we have collected an estimated total of 190,637 pounds of litter with 4,117 volunteers during Durham Creek Week! This year, Creek Week will take place from March 18th to March 25th. Creek Week is one of Durham’s largest litter cleanup initiatives of the year, as well as a week-long celebration of Durham’s creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes. Learn more about Creek Week here!
Want to organize a cleanup for Creek Week? Register here! We can help you choose a location if you don't have one in mind yet. View other educational and recreational events or join a cleanup here. |
DON’T WASTE DURHAM
Don't Waste Durham has been working to enable the first Durham school to switch from disposable to reusable serveware in their lunchroom. They have been using an employee’s vehicle daily to transport hundreds of stainless-steel lunch trays and sporks to and from their wash facility. However, they will need a much larger vehicle to add 11 more schools in 2023! To volunteer in their efforts, help support them in purchasing a “biodiesel truck” and learn more about all the environmental benefits of this program, please click on the logo.
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DONT WASTE DURHAM PROGRAMS/DONATE
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WHAT IS COP15 AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
This month, from December 5-18, a United Nations Biodiversity Summit, known as COP 15, is being held in Montreal, Canada. The term biodiversity refers to plants, animals, fungi, and other microorganisms that we do not usually see with our naked eye. It is the variety of life on Earth, from the tiniest bacteria to the largest mammals and it is what provides our food, water, and air. Biodiversity loss ranks as one of the biggest threats facing humanity. At COP 15, government leaders and climate justice groups will consider a once-in-a-decade agreement that establishes goals for how the countries of the world should protect biodiversity and ecosystems (related to but separate from climate change, which was addressed last month in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt).
Pope Francis highlights biodiversity in his encyclical Laudato Si’. “Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species which we will never know, our children will never see, because they have been lost forever. The great majority become extinct for reasons related to human activity” (LS 33). To understand the importance of COP 15 and see a short video, No More Biodiversity Collapse, visit the Laudato Si’ Movement.
Pope Francis highlights biodiversity in his encyclical Laudato Si’. “Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species which we will never know, our children will never see, because they have been lost forever. The great majority become extinct for reasons related to human activity” (LS 33). To understand the importance of COP 15 and see a short video, No More Biodiversity Collapse, visit the Laudato Si’ Movement.
SOLAR PANELS – CONNECTED!
You may recall viewing our video expressing our shared joy and gratitude as a parish and school community for all the efforts of those who made the installation of our solar panels at Immaculate Conception possible!
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On Friday, December 9, the solar lease panels located on the roof of our school were connected to the electrical grid. From now on, we will harness the power of the sun to produce clean, renewable energy and reduce our dependence on conventional energy, which is obtained from burning fossil fuels. We are incredibly grateful to the members of our JPIC Care for Creation team and all those in our parish whose steadfast engagement in this initiative, hard work, and persistence has led us to this moment.
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RESPONDING TO POPE FRANCIS'S CALL: BUILDING A NEW ECONOMY ROOTED IN CARE FOR CREATION
If you missed our JPIC invitation to join a panel discussion focused on building a new economy rooted in care for creation, the panelists presented about the “Economy of Francesco”, “a global gathering of young people determined to make the economy fair, sustainable, and inclusive.” The Vatican describes the Economy of Francesco as “a different economy, one that helps people live and does not kill, that includes and does not exclude, that humanizes rather than dehumanizes, that takes care of creation and does not plunder it.” It featured Catholic entrepreneurs, activists, and movement leaders who are answering Pope Francis' call to build a new, moral economy -- one that centers on the vulnerable and most marginalized and cares for creation. Panelists shared their takeaways from the recent Economy of Francesco Conference in Assisi and discussed how they are putting Laudato Si' principles into practice. Includes reflections and discernment on pathways for future action.
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PRESENTERS:
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Learn More: Direct Link to Webpage and Video Recording
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CONFRONTING ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM
For parishioners who were unable to participate in the 4-part Confronting Environmental Racism webinar series our JPIC has been highlighting this fall sponsored by the Franciscan Action Network, the Franciscan Federation, and the Franciscan Friars (OFM) US-6 JPIC Working Group, all of the recordings can be found through the image link below. The centerpiece of the series consists of three short documentaries produced by Hip Hop Caucus called “Big Oil’s Last Lifeline.”
Confronting Environmental Racism Video Recordings
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At three of the four gatherings, viewers watched one 20-minute-long documentary and heard from a speaker in one of the “sacrifice zones” in the U.S. – Houston, Louisiana, and West Virginia – while at the fourth participants discussed advocacy options with experienced activists. The testimony of affected people and local activists from these so-called “sacrifice zones” in Texas, Louisiana, and West Virginia helped us to understand the devastating and disproportionate health impacts of petrochemical industries on Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-wealth communities.
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DISMANTLING ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM
If you also missed this additional follow-up JPIC faith formation opportunity we offered to further compliment the series noted above, please click on the image link I have provided below to find the video recording.
Dismantling Environmental Racism Video Recording
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One of Franciscan Action Network’s Board Members, Sr. Damien Marie Savino, F.S.E., Ph.D., gave a talk on Dismantling Environmental Racism. Sr. Damien Marie serves as Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI. In this “Gallagher Talk,” Sr. Damien Marie shows scientific proof of environmental racism, using examples from the state of Michigan. She discusses the principle of integral ecology from Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ and offers practical suggestions for what can be done at the local level, rooted in the Catholic Social Teaching principle of subsidiarity.
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CELEBRATE SEASON OF CREATION WITH BIRDING AT BRUMLEY NORTH
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This is a free event organized by Triangle Land Conservancy, but pre-registration is required. Please click here to register.
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A CARBON PLAN FOR THE PEOPLE WEBINAR
Wednesday, September 28, 1-2:30 pm & 7-8:30 pm
Interested in staying up to date on North Carolina's biggest climate change decisions? Join North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light for a comprehensive discussion on what the carbon plan entails, what has happened so far, and what we can do moving forward. Attend our first session, our second session, or both.
ROSA MARIA RUIZ – DEFENDING THE AMAZON
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was fortunate to host a remarkable defender of the Amazon, Rosa Maria Ruiz. Rosa Maria is a prominent environmentalist, conservationist, and defender of her home – the Amazon region of Bolivia. She has worked for 50 years in collaboration.
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She has worked for 50 years in collaboration with the Franciscan friars and the indigenous tribes on several social justice and care-for creative projects. Rosa Maria has played a key role in the establishment of Madid National Park – one of the world’s most biodiverse areas. On Monday morning, September 26, parishioners Sue and Kevin Concannon graciously hosted an IC gathering for church members wishing to welcome Rosa Maria to our community and learn more about her work. In the future, you will have additional opportunities to support her work. A special thanks to Sue and Kevin. We appreciate all who attended.
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DUKE UNIVERSITY CLIMATE COMMITMENT
Duke is hosting a series of events from Sept 20-30 announcing Duke’s Climate commitment, an effort to unite the university's education, research, operations, and public service missions to engage our entire community in the pursuit of climate change solutions. More information about the event can be found here - https://2022.climate.duke.edu/, including how to register for the large public event on Sept 29 in Page Auditorium, as well as a symposium on Climate and Environmental Justice on Sept 30. We encourage all parishioners to join them for these public events.
JPIC CARE FOR CREATION AND IMMACULATA
SEASON OF CREATION NATURE WALK
“SHEMÁ: BIODIVERSITY, FRANCISCANS, AND THE SEASON OF CREATION:” FOR A PRESENT THAT HAS A FUTURE
Saturday, September 03, 9 am
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If you missed the virtual seminar entitled, “Shemá: Biodiversity, Franciscans, and the Season of Creation” For a Present That Has a Future hosted by the General Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor in Rome, the recorded session can be found below. Our pastor, Father Jacek, a member of the JPIC Animation of the Franciscan Order, was a part of this event.
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FAITH AND BIODIVERSITY
“PLACES AND VOICES OF AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL:
REFLECTIONS OF FAITH ON 30X30”
YOU'RE INVITED!
Join us Friday, June 10 for the latest discussion in our new series from the Half-Earth Project®
“Places and Voices of America the Beautiful: Reflections of Faith on 30x30,” is the latest in a new discussion series from the Half-Earth Project. In a special episode moderated by Paula J. Ehrlich, CEO & President of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, and Co-Founder of the Half-Earth Project, we will honor the birthday of the late E.O. Wilson with an exploration of the voices of conservationists engaging from their faith, and indigenous knowledge and native wisdom, informing ecological restoration and species protection in the US.
Join us Friday, June 10 for the latest discussion in our new series from the Half-Earth Project®
“Places and Voices of America the Beautiful: Reflections of Faith on 30x30,” is the latest in a new discussion series from the Half-Earth Project. In a special episode moderated by Paula J. Ehrlich, CEO & President of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, and Co-Founder of the Half-Earth Project, we will honor the birthday of the late E.O. Wilson with an exploration of the voices of conservationists engaging from their faith, and indigenous knowledge and native wisdom, informing ecological restoration and species protection in the US.
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Join us for a 1-hour chat at noon, moderated by Paula J. Ehrlich with:
The discussions are free and open to the public with registration.
View the discussion on June 10, noon EDT on Zoom. Register for the Zoom panel. |
DURHAM WALKS FOR OUR PLANET
JOIN OUR FRIARS' CALL FOR ACTION
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As the world’s leaders meet at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, here in Durham, we are bringing people together to express local support for decisive and urgent action on climate issues.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 4, from 4 pm to 5 pm. It will begin at Immaculate Conception Church, 810 W. Chapel Hill St. in Durham (on the lawn next to the statue of Mary, facing Chapel Hill Street). It will conclude at St. Joseph Episcopal Church, 1902 W. Main St. Durham NC, 27705 (behind Whole Foods). At 4 pm, we will show a short, live-video message from Glasgow from Br. Angelito Cortez, OFM. Originally from the Philippines, he now serves as a co-director of the Franciscan JPIC Office in Rome. Franciscan International has an NGO status at the UN, and Br. Cortez will be in Scotland as an advocate for the poor, marginalized and the earth. |
We will also hear a short message from Brian Murray, Interim Director at the Nicholas Institute & Duke University Energy Initiative.
Before starting the walk toward Duke’s East campus, we will hear from a few children and youth speaking about why they participate in the Durham Walks for our Planet.
Before starting the walk toward Duke’s East campus, we will hear from a few children and youth speaking about why they participate in the Durham Walks for our Planet.
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Please bring posters, banners, and/or small, self-made wind turbines. We are making a special effort to reach out to families with children, and to the youth, inviting them to join us.
We’ll be sending a press release and so anticipate having a robust presence of the local press. It’s a great opportunity to lift up the moral and ethical call for climate justice. Since we are still dealing with the pandemic, as we march, we are asking people to keep a safe-distance and wear facemasks. We will conclude in prayer at the side of St. Joseph Episcopal Church, located at 1902 W. Main St. Durham (right behind the Whole Foods). |
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And here are a few links on the topic of climate justice:
© 2022. All rights reserved.
If you have questions regarding our various JPIC ministries, please contact me directly.
Kennith M. Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - 901-A West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - chihak@icdurham.org
If you have questions regarding our various JPIC ministries, please contact me directly.
Kennith M. Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - 901-A West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - chihak@icdurham.org