We are in the third week of the Season of Creation which ends on October 4. Last week the theme was using less energy; this week the theme is “Eat for the Planet”.
Each day we make constant decisions which can impact our personal carbon footprints. Food is a significant part of our individual and collective footprints. In fact, Project Drawdown estimates that food, food waste, agriculture, and the use of land for agriculture contributes 24% — a quarter — of global carbon emissions. Food-based emissions are more than those due to transportation, industry or buildings! The good news is that with small changes in the foods we purchase and eat, we can make great strides in reducing our carbon footprints.
Season of Creation 2021 Calendar of Events at St John the Evangelist
The Saint Francis of Assisi ministry at St John’s is very excited to share with you our 2021 Season of Creation Calendar. All events are open to all. More details will be shared as they become available.
- Tue, Sept 21 at 7pm former King 5 weather forecaster Jeff Renner will be hosting a live virtual presentation for us entitled “Climate Change and Faith-Care for our Common Home”. Jeff is an Emmy-award winning science journalist and meteorologist and has participated in climate discussions at the White House, the Vatican, the Swiss High Altitude Observatory and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. In addition, Jeff humbly leads his Care for Creation team at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Sammamish. Read more info and RSVP at tinyurl.com/jeff-renner-soc
- Wed, Sept 22 at 7pm: Season of Creation Rosary at St John’s church.
- Fri, Oct 1 at 7pm: Stations of Creation at St John’s church.
- Sun, Oct 3 at Noon: Blessing of the Animals at St John’s school yard. Led by Father Crispin.
Not all food contributes equally to climate change. The raising of animals for food exacts a huge climate footprint on our world. According to the EAT-Lancet report written by a team of 37 leading scientists and published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal in 2019, “A diet rich in plant-based foods and with fewer animal source foods confers both improved health and environmental benefits.” The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also suggests the substitution of animal products (i.e., meat, dairy, and eggs) with plant-based food as an important way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
But changing your diet is hard, so I suggest starting with a small step. Many people have adopted Meatless Mondays. You can find lots of ideas, encouragement, and recipes at tinyurl.com/no-meat-mon. If you are already going meatless on Mondays (or another day of the week), consider adding a second day to double your impact. If you are a vegetarian already, how about reducing your consumption of dairy and eggs?
As you adapt your diet to focus more on plants and less on animals, I recommend going slowly; give your body, your palate, your biome, and your mind time to adapt to the change. A good resource is the Vegan Starter Kit from the Physican’s Committee for Responsible Medicine at tinyurl.com/pcrm-starter-kit. Remember, any step you take, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction.
Want to do something quick & easy for our planet? Sign one or all of these petitions before the end of Season of Creation (Oct 4, 2021):
- thecatholicpetition.org – the Healthy Planet, Healthy People petition
- tinyurl.com/lsia-petition from Catholic Climate Covenant
- https://www.prayandact4climate.org/action/petition from Christian Aid’s global prayer and action chain for climate justice
Working together, we can help take care of our common home.
Paul Litwin
Saint Francis of Assisi at St John the Evangelist 