UNIT 8
To Care For The Earth
Lesson Aim:
•	To show that we cannot use the resources of the planet, as well as its other inhabitants, however we please          
•	To critically examine the outdated mindset that humans are at the centre of the universe and everything exists to feed, clothe, house, entertain and please them. 
•	To foster a taking of responsibility for our mistakes, by making peace with the rest of the world, and a coming to understand and embrace our place in the natural order of things. 

“In the words of Thomas Merton, we have “awakened from the dream of separateness”. 
One of the great treasures the astronauts brought back from the moon was the image of our blue-green, living Earth as seen through the window of their spacecraft: the image. Without global unity or oneness, our experience on Earth will continue to be one of divisions of nations, of gender, of class, of race, of haves and have-nots. When we awaken from this illusion of separateness we become architects of a truly new world order. We celebrate our oneness with Earth, as we take up the challenge to think of the cosmos while acting both globally and locally”. 
    
Critical Awareness Task:
Text from Church teaching:   
 	“Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assist or St. Philip Neri treated animals.
God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and in his leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals, if it remains within reasonable limits, is a morally acceptable practice since it contributes to caring for or saving human lives. It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly.”		
Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2416-2418a

Discuss the following views from the text:
“Animals are God’s creatures”.
“Medical and scientific experimentation on animals, if it remains within reasonable limits, is a morally acceptable practice”.
“It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly”.

Gospel story:
Matthew: 6, 24-34.    Do Not Be Anxious
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”.

Discuss about the simple life lived by Jesus. He taught us how to use and enjoy creation without abusing and exploiting it.
Let us begin to take the first steps by practising Repair, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse. Letting clothes and carpets grow old and wear out; repairing them as “a stitch in time…” If the item is not really necessary then refuse to buy or have it. Reuse what you already have. We’re imprisoned by our wants, and we’re clogging up the earth so why not reduce? Recycle what you no longer need. Living this way is truly simple, and not that hard to do, once you get the routine of it.

Life narrative:

Living lightly
A lifestyle of enough helps us and helps our planet. One of the simplest actions each of us can do is simply to use less water – especially hot water.  When washing objects or ourselves do we need to run the taps at full force. Much of the food we consume comes  from far-off parts of the world. We in Ireland have come to see other continents as our orchards and farms, the places where our fruit and much of our food and drink is produced. It has been calculated that the shipping of these goods from distant lands adds significantly to global warming. What about returning to relying more on local food, drink, and other products? To begin a very practical initiative would be to grow some of our own vegetables, as many families did in the past. 

Tasks:
•	Find out about nature reserves. Perhaps you could arrange a trip to such a reserve for the members of your class.
•	Find out about organisations that defend the rights of animals like the S.P.C.A. 
•	Find out more about biodiversity and species extinction.

Prayer/Meditation: 

Pledge of Nonviolence
Making peace must start with me.  I commit myself as best I can to become a nonviolent and peaceable person.
To Respect Myself and Others
To respect myself and other people and
to keep from saying or doing mean things to others.
To Communicate Better
To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways
to talk and act when I'm angry, and to work
at solving problems peacefully.
To Listen
To listen carefully to others, especially
those who disagree with me,
and to care about others' feelings and
not always demand to have my own way.
To Forgive
To say I'm sorry and mean it
when I have hurt another person,
to forgive others when they have hurt me,
and to keep from holding grudges.
To Respect Nature
To treat the environment and all living things,
including my pets, with respect and care.
To Play Creatively
To play in fun ways and not mean ways,
and to keep from using toys,
watching TV programs and playing games
that make violence look exciting or funny.
To Be Courageous
To challenge violence in all its forms whenever I see it,
whether at home, at school or in the community, and
to stand with others who are treated unfairly.

"Eliminating violence, one person at a time, starting with me."

Other Resources:
The Creation Story
7 Days and 7 Gifts