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Partner Organizations
Care for creation team 2024 plan
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Summary of Discussion and Recommendations
- The weekly Care for Creation Tips of the Week appear to be an effective way to keep the community informed and focused on environmental issues.
- Broaden the focus of these announcements to include mini-education points; actions to take with links; inspirational thoughts; successes creating real change; links to short videos, webinars, etc.
- Drop “Tips”, Rename and create new logo
- We’ve done a good job in raising consciousness about environmental issues throughout the Community.
- Keep emphasizing how important each of us doing whatever we can is to resolving the enormity of this problem.
- Keep focus on climate problems as a social justice issue
- Emphasize importance of prayer, sending positive energy. Offer prayer for the environment at liturgy frequently
- Do Community blessings for those attending rallies, advocacy days
- Incorporate spirituality of creation in annual retreats since retreat is during Season of Creation
- Education remains an important mission in order to increase awareness of the critical times we are in and support personal and community action
- Invite whole Community to read Laudate Deum (or summary/video) where Pope Francis repeatedly emphasizes the need for changes now before it is too late. Invite Ted Keating to present a lecture/discussion on this follow-up to Laudate Si.
- Regularly invite Community to attend webinars, local meetings or lectures, view movies on the environment
- Educate more about importance of moving toward a plant-based diet, reducing food waste, composting
- Use one of Agape Sundays to offer only healthy, plant-based, whole foods and have discussion on reducing food waste.
- Regularly send out recipes for vegetarian/vegan entrees that are easy and delicious
- Place focus on all ways to save energy and move away from fossil fuels
- Give information on electrifying everything and using alternative sources of power whenever possible and funds available from the Inflation Reduction Act to help with costs
- Advocate for electric vehicles and massive increase in charging stations
- Provide information on how to divest personal funds from companies that produce and heavily utilize fossil fuels
- Utilize Nova Care for Creation Website pages more
- Keep adding info and updating website pages
- Call Community’s attention to the information that’s there more.
- Place emphasis on Getting out the Vote this year
- Get members to participate in the Environmental Voters Project targeting citizens who are environmentally conscious but not voting
- Support all Get Out the Vote efforts.
- Encourage Community members to take advocacy actions at the Federal, State and Local levels
- Publish petitions, email campaigns, phone calling for particular bills or environmental needs. Keep community apprised of Virginia bills during the legislative session.
- Teach Community members how to sign up for and use the Climate Action Now app on their cell phones to send frequent messages to representatives, leaders, corporations, etc. www.climateactionnow.com
- Encourage all community members to join Virginia Chapter of Elders Climate Action – www.eldersclimateaction.org/Virginia; and continue partnering work with Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, Interfaith Power and Light, Friends Committee on National Legislation and Catholic Climate Covenant.