Creation Care Ministry
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One man's trash is another man's treasure
The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place. Making a new product emits greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and requires a lot of materials and energy — raw materials must be extracted from the earth, and the product must be fabricated then transported to wherever it will be sold. As a result, reduction and reuse are the most effective ways you can save natural resources, protect the environment and save money!
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Ideas on How to Reduce and Reuse
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- Think Green Before You Shop. Reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions by thinking green when you shop.
- Reduce your food waste by shopping smart, buying what you need, composting food scraps, and donating unused food to food banks or shelters. More ways to reduce your impact.
- Reuse or repurpose items such as old clothing, cloth grocery bags, and containers to prevent waste.
- Buy used items to reduce waste as well as the emissions created by producing new materials or disposing of them in landfills. Donate unused clothing, electronics and building materials to make sure others can reuse them too!
- Buy products made with recycled content. Check labels to see if a product or its packaging is made from recycled materials.
- Know before you throw. Know what items your local recycling program collects and encourage your household to recycle right and recycle more.
- Think Green Before You Shop. Reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions by thinking green when you shop.
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- Learn about what else you can do at home, at school, at work and in your community!
- Maintain and repair products, like clothing, tires and appliances, so that they won't have to be thrown out and replaced as frequently.
- Borrow, rent or share items that are used infrequently, like party decorations, tools or furniture.
Learn more:
From the EPA: Reduce, Reuse, RecycLE
From the NIH: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Learn about what else you can do at home, at school, at work and in your community!
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Prayer
- Forgive us God of all creation for not being awestruck at the complexity and the beauty of the earth and its ecosystems.
- Forgive us for failing to recognize the connectedness of all living things.
- Forgive us for our lack of reverence for the water, the air and the food that the earth provides.
- Forgive us for our waste and exploitation of your precious gifts.
- Forgive us for our addition to material consumption.
- Forgive us for falling into the wase of disposable things.
- Forgive us for not recognizing that in taking more than we need, someone will go without.
- Forgive us for being comfortable in our habits and refusing to try new ways.
- Forgive us for rejecting even small sacrifices for the good of all.
- Forgive us for choosing "I" insteadm of "we".
The climate crisis is a global problem that requires collective action. What choices do you make that contribute to the current crisis? How can your individual choices have an impact? How can you influence others to think collectively?
"Thousands have lived without love, not one without water."
"To be concerned is to be human. To act is to care."
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Contact Us
Jeanne O'Connor
[email protected]
Quinn Nugent
[email protected]
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The Letter: Laudato Si’ Film
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