Join us to mark Earth Overshoot Day 2019
What is Earth Overshoot Day?
Earth Overshoot Day is the day when humanity’s demands for ecological resources (including fish, forests, fresh water, etc) exceed what the Earth can renew in a year. This year it will fall on Monday 29 July.
Collectively, we are over-consuming and over-exploiting our resources. Our unreasonable demands on the Earth are driven by our attitudes and disconnect towards the Earth, our common home.
Why do we need to change our attitudes and behaviour?
Last October the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that we have just 12 years to avoid catastrophic climate. In May, another United Nations report suggested we are heading towards the extinction of one million species.
Climate change and biodiversity loss are just some of many tragic warning signs of our broken relationship with God’s Creation – we are losing sight of our interrelationship with all living things.
These are all signs that the Earth’s ecosystems, on which our lives depend, and which we are a part, are under enormous strain; they are damaged and on the verge of irreversible harm or some instances collapse.
And, Australians are some of the biggest contributors to this problem. If everyone behaved like us, humanity would consume the equivalent of 5.2 Earths a year!
Why is it important to mark Earth Overshoot Day?
As Christians, we want to mark this event to raise it in the public consciousness and create a call for transformation in both our attitudes and behaviour. Ultimately, we want to renew the Earth and save our common home, as both Pope Francis and Rowan Williams have said, we need an “ecological conversion”.
We must transform the way in which we are relating to the earth and the ways we are living. In how we govern, conduct business, the way we consume, and in our communities.
There is hope. Together we can transform our own lives and the communities around us. In doing this with integrity, can call on others to also, including our leaders, in all walks of life.
What can I do to help on Earth Overshoot Day?
• Toll your Church bells or light a candle from 11.48am, for the 12 minutes until midday, marking the 12 years that the IPCC has foreshadowed as a critical tipping point.
• Pray for people to see the ecological crises in our midst and for “ecological conversion” of our brothers and sisters.
• Tell others in your church and online communities about this day, and why you are marking it.
• Act as people of faith by making a commitment to Live the Change: livingthechange.net
• Organise your own Earth Overshoot Day event and share your event on Facebook with the help of these liturgical and social media resources: bit.ly/OvershootAus
CATHEDRALS INVOLVED in BELL RINGING AND LITURGIES:
St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane, QLD
St Boniface Cathedral, Bunbury WA
St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart, TAS
St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide, SA
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Wangaratta, VIC
St Paul’s Cathedral, Bendigo, VIC
Cathedral Church of Christ the King, Grafton, NSW
SUPPORTERS:
Common Grace
Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
Uniting Church of Australia, Queensland Synod
Social Responsibilities Committee, Anglican Church Southern Queensland
CHURCHES TAKING PART:
St Andrews Church, Indooroopilly
St Mary’s Church, Kangaroo Point
Holy Trinity, Fortitude Valley
Anglican Parish, Ballina
…
… and you?
Even if you can’t organise or attend a liturgy, take a moment at midday, or anytime Monday to light a candle, and say one of the prayers.
Facebook page www.facebook.com/OvershootDayAus
Resources: http://bit.ly/OvershootAus
If you have any questions or would like more information / assistance, or to let us know about what you will be doing please email us at contact@doingjustice.org.au
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