Prayer guide for the care of creation July 2009

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God . . . We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8. 18,19,22 & 23)

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21. 1-2)

. Wednesday 1st July

1 “The best friend of earth Brazilian government has and of man is the tree. $2.65 billion in shares in When we use the tree global beef and leather respectfully and processors who profit from economically, we have one the cheap supply of cattle of the greatest resources on reared on areas of illegally- earth.” (Frank Lloyd Wright) destroyed forest.

Yet 20% of global CO2 emissions come from Friday 3rd July tropical deforestation, while A new Greenpeace report the total tropical forest area called “Slaughtering the continues to shrink by 5% Amazon” finds that the UK per decade. The Amazon imports 40% of its forests alone store 80-120 processed beef (prepared, billion tonnes of carbon. If cooked or tinned) from released, they would emit Brazil, mainly via three 50 times the annual companies, Bertin, JBS and emissions of the USA. Marfrig. Sales of ready meals represent 7% of all Thursday 2nd July main meals in the UK. It is The cattle sector is the key imperative that we stop driver of deforestation in the trading with or funding Brazilian Amazon. According companies implicated in to government figures, forest destruction. The cattle are responsible for report names names. about 80% of all www.greenpeace.org/intern deforestation. In recent ational/press/reports/slaught years one hectare of ering-the-amazon Amazon rainforest has been lost to cattle ranchers every Saturday 4th July 18 seconds. Yet the

2 2 million tonnes a year of and then to take whatever soy beans are imported into action seems necessary to the UK, mainly for feeding to protect your precious earth, pigs and poultry. In Brazil, for which your Son gave his Paraguay and Argentina, life. tropical forests are being cut down on a massive scale to Monday 6th July make way for soy plantations. The meat and Paul Macartney has dairy industry produces launched a Meat Free more climate-changing Mondays initiative to emissions than every plane, highlight the impact of meat car and lorry on the planet – production on climate 18% of the total. FoE’s Food change. £700 million of Chain Campaign aims to taxpayers’ money is spent promote alternatives to soy- yearly propping up intensive based animal feed such as meat and dairy production field beans and other in England, the killer link in legumes. For more details, a hidden chain that go to: connects the food on our www.fixthefoodchain.com plates with climate change and rainforest destruction. FoE comments: “Cutting Sunday 5th July down on meat delivers a Heavenly Father, have double win for the health of mercy on us in our people and the planet. The perplexity as we confront Government must urgently the challenges of climate support planet-friendly change. Help us to look at farming by shifting subsidies our consumer choices in the to help farmers produce light of your biblical truth, to home-grown animal feeds determine where we stand, and alternative breeds.”

3 remained at subsistence Tuesday 7th July level and never developed intensive agricultural Soybean production in Brazil production. “The has displaced 11 agricultural dependence it (dumping) workers for every one who creates by destabilising finds employment in the indigenous agriculture is the industry. In Argentina the main reason why the area of soybean plantations proportion of hungry people increased by 126% in a in Africa is now so high. But decade at the expense of it will only take a few dairy, wheat, maize and fruit growing seasons for the production, while 60,000 rurally-intact subsistence farmers went out of food production systems in business. So the country Africa to fill the gap created now has to import more by the cessation of food food leading to increased dumping.” food prices and more hunger. Thursday 9th July Wednesday 8th July The shortage of allotments in Britain has encouraged Tewolde Egziabher, Director many initiatives to link of Ethiopia’s Environmental gardeners with garden- Protection Authority and co- owners. The Adopt-a-Garden founder of the Institute for project on the Isle of Wight Sustainable development, links owners who are old or believes that subsidised sick with gardeners willing food dumped on African to cultivate their gardens, markets by Europe and keeping an eye on the America is the reason why health of the owners and Africa’s agriculture has reporting any problems.

4 Hugh Fearnley- carbon sequestration. Whittingstall’s Landshare Another on September 30th scheme aims to put people on “Policy, Actions and all over the UK in touch with Economics” explores how gardeners looking for space. Britain can invest in the So far over 20,000 people necessary transition, on a have registered an interest similar scale to bank bail- through the internet. The outs, so stimulating the scheme does not however economy through increased reach people without jobs and creating a tangible internet access. For more dividend of energy saved details go to: www.footprint- and generated. To reserve a trust.co.uk/adoptgarden.htm place, contact Deborah Sale l on [email protected] or www.landshare.net Saturday 11th July Friday 10th July Today a mass rally by a The Centre for Alternative wide coalition of schools, Technology (CAT) is hosting churches, community and a series of seminars aimed environmental groups will at creating a blueprint for a march through Doncaster to sustainable future. One on St. George’s Minster for a September 9th on “Land short service followed by a Use and Agriculture” Q & A session with Ed explores land-use scenarios Miliband, the Secretary of necessary to decarbonise State for Energy & Climate Britain including reducing Change. Mark Dowd from non-CO2 emissions, the UK’s Operation Noah said: “The potential for biomass and Copenhagen summit is exciting possibilities for arguably the most critical gathering that has ever

5 taken place. The evidence Monday 13th July that climate change is The Isle of Wight is set to accelerating is there for all become the world’s first to see. This crisis needs to eco-island by 2020. The unite many groups in Island Strategic Partnership society and make our (ISP), following surveys of leaders aware that we the whole community, demand action, not just consulted with architect Sir words.” For more Terry Farrell and information about becoming Southampton University. A involved, contact: new gasification plant [email protected] converts municipal waste or ring 0207 324 4769 or into electricity to power 07968 131639. 2,000 homes. Three new renewable energy systems Sunday 12th July have been installed in Father God, you are calling community buildings. A fund us today to play our full part has been set up to help in the care of your creation homeowners insulate their and to manage carefully the houses. A One Million Bloom land that you have given us scheme is improving public to tend. We pray for wisdom spaces with drought-tolerant as we choose between and exotic plants. The alternative uses for the land. Council has approved the Guide our policy-makers, building of 800 homes at planners and farmers, and Level 4 of the Code for help us all to understand Sustainable Homes, that we hold land, not in complete with solar panels perpetuity, but in trust for and rainwater harvesting generations to come. systems – one of the biggest eco-developments in Britain.

6 Dame Ellen MacArthur, the saving money in energy record-holding solo bills. circumnavigator of the Website:www.cutyourcarbon globe, said: “The Isle of .org.uk Wight is a fantastic location for harvesting energy but, more importantly, it’s about Wednesday 15th July the people of the Island UK architects RMJM have being proud to live on the unveiled the ‘MiLoft’ – a Island and wanting to make housing model that requires a difference.” no heating. Using Website: www.eco- Mechanical Ventilation Heat island.org.uk Recovery with a high level of air tightness, as well as warmth generated by body Tuesday 14th July heat and electrical The people of Brickendon in appliances, a constant Hertfordshire have won indoor temperature can be £6,924 from the East of maintained. Rainwater England Development collected on the roof is Agency’s Cut the Carbon redistributed for flushing. scheme for recording the The open plan design largest reduction in their encourages social electricity consumption after interaction, with communal 50 ‘eco-eye’ electricity staircases designed like monitors were issued to its garden terraces and rooftop ‘Watt Watchers’ club. The ‘aloftments’. The plots monitors are expected to reduce surface water run- result in a 15% reduction in off, lessen carbon emissions electricity consumption, so and encourage residents to cutting CO2 emissions and

7 grow their own food. send trained volunteers Website: www.rmjm.com round to conduct a free survey of your house and make recommendations. Thursday 16th July Ecos Renew, based in The new medical centre at Somerset, also offer a report Great Ormond Street on potential improvements, Hospital will generate 100% provide a design service and of its own green energy and manage any installation supply 20% to other parts of work that needs to be done. the site. The building will Websites: include a sedum roof to trap www.ecotrust.org.uk rainwater, a super glass frontage to maximise and www.h-e-s.org natural daylight and LED detectors to help cut energy consumption. Designed by Saturday 18th July Llewelyn Davies Yeang, the building will save more than Ashley Primary School is a 20,000 tonnes of carbon joint 1st prizewinner of the emissions a year. Website: Ashden Awards for schools. www.ich.ucl.ac.uk Since its headteacher returned from an Antarctic trip, the school has installed Friday 17th July a biomass boiler, solar More than 25% of UK carbon heating, a PV array and emissions come from the energy-efficient lighting as existing housing stock. well as setting targets for Household Energy Services, energy consumption in the based in Shropshire, the school and home and finalists in the ‘Big Green integrating energy learning Challenge’ competition, into every subject including

8 art and maths. Website: said : “These projections will www.ashdenawards.org/UK_ allow us to ensure a resilient schools infrastructure to cope – whether it’s design of school buildings or protection of Sunday 19th July new power plants, Still the busy-ness of our maintaining the supply of minds and hands, dear Lord, drinking water, adjusting that in the silence of prayer ways of farming for drier we may receive your word summers or understanding and, in the day’s busy how our homes and round, dispense your light businesses must adapt.” and your love to all whom we may encounter. Tuesday 21st July Roz Savage, who in 2005 Monday 20th July rowed solo across the New figures from the Met Atlantic, has become a office project an increase of Climate Change 0 3.9 C. in the South West by Ambassador and plans to 2080 – well over the so- walk from London to 0 called ‘safe’ level of a 2 Copenhagen in the 6 weeks increase. Rainfall in the following a global day of summer will drop by 13% by action on October 24th 2040 and increase in the outside Big Ben. Challenging winter by 24% by 2080, her supporters around the dramatically increasing the world to “Pull Together” risk of drought and flooding. with 10,000 steps to match Sea levels at Lands End are the 1,000 oar strokes a day expected to rise by up to 40 she will make on her cm. by 2080. Hilary Benn, forthcoming Trans-Pacific the Environment Secretary, voyage, she will arrive in

9 Copenhagen in time to of emissions. It is cheating deliver to the conference Britons out of the new jobs delegates a petition to and industries which symbolise a joint investing in green commitment from all technologies would bring. walkers to take immediate, Gordon Brown must push for aggressive action to reduce rich countries to deliver on global CO2 levels. For more their responsibility to cut info. go to their own emissions first and www.environmentalideas.bl fast and to pay their fair ogspot.com share of global costs to fight climate change.” Wednesday 22nd July The UK Government is Thursday 23rd July actively promoting the From today until the 26th the increased use of carbon Resurgence Summer Camp offsetting at the climate 4 miles from Worcester is talks in Copenhagen, being hosted by Green and including a plan to buy up Away, the European eco- forests – a plan which, friendly tented conference according to FoE, will not centre. The site will be a stop deforestation and will showcase for low-impact cause social harm to people technologies, including that rely on them “Carbon electricity from the wind and offsetting is doing nothing to sun, solar and wood-burning combat climate change, is showers, meeting spaces putting the livelihoods of made of coppiced hazel and millions of people at risk and recycled canvas, art and is entrenching inequality craft activities and between rich and composting toilets. The fee developing countries’ levels of £65 a night or £165 for

10 the whole period is payable new bio-fuel power plants in by cheque to The the capital by 2012. Resurgence Trust at Ford House, Hartland, Bideford, Saturday 25th July Devon EX39 6EE. For more information ring 0870 460 “Jatropha – the wonder 1198 or email Green & crop?” is the name of a new Away. Website: FoE report from Swaziland which investigates claims www.greenandaway.org that jatropha can provide biofuels which do not compete with food crops and can grow almost anywhere. According to the Friday 24th July report, some farmers The Mayor of London has growing jatropha for D1 Oils launched the London Waste find that the crop needs to Fuel Alliance in a move to regular watering. Other convert the 3 million tonnes farmers have turned land of food waste that London recently used for growing produces annually into food into jatropha useful energy. “If we production. FoE says: It is collected all this food waste shameful that this so-called and either composted it or wonder crop is replacing used it for the generation of food production in a country clean power, we would save where two-thirds of the 500,000 tonnes of CO2 population depend on food emissions annually. That is aid. The EU must assess the the domestic output of damage being done by 100,000 homes.” He hopes jatropha as part of its to deliver five exemplary biofuels review next year – and D1 Oils should stop

11 producing it until they have some trawling fisheries in assessed its social and the south west. North Sea environmental impact.” roundfish trawlers have seen a 90% reduction in accidental cod catches using Sunday 26th July the ‘Eliminator trawl’, Help us, dear Lord, so to designed from observing deal with the things that we that cod swim down and possess that they may escape through larger holes never possess us. May we in the nets. WWF has use all that you have given launched a Smart Gear us in your service and to the competition to find glory of your kingdom. innovative fishing gear to Amen. reduce the number of marine animals and Monday 27th July seabirds caught as by-catch. The film “The End of the Website: Line” has highlighted the www.panda.org/smartgear threat to fisheries posed by the discard of unwanted Tuesday 28th July fish. The South-West beam According to a report from trawl fishery discarded 68 New Philanthropy Capital million fish between 2002 entitled “Green and 2005. North Sea philanthropy”, global fish roundfish trawlers discarded consumption has doubled up to 10.5 million in just two since 1973, and one quarter years. The WWF Smart Gear of marine fish stocks are guide supported by M & S over-harvested, with 70% of shows that using selective marine fish species in gear has led to a 60% danger of collapse by 2048. reduction in by-catch in

12 The report highlights the www.Ashdenawards.org/UK_ work of the Marine schools Stewardship Council, an international charity which Thursday 30th July promotes a voluntary standard for certifying A report from Oxfam fisheries. Over 450 seafood entitled The Right to Survive products are now available says that by 2015 the with the MSC eco-label number of people affected across 26 countries. 63 of by climatic crises is likely to these are available in the rise by 54%, not including UK. people hit by other disasters such as wars, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and Wednesday 29th July this rise threatens to Carbon-saving is an overwhelm the important and enjoyable humanitarian aid system part of life for pupils at unless there is fundamental Ashden Award-winning reform. Aid should be given Currie Community High swiftly and impartially after School near Edinburgh. a disaster, according to the Pupils track energy use at level of need. In 2004 an school and, over ten years, average of £820 was spent have helped the school to for each victim of the Asian save around 70 tonnes of tsunami, while only about CO2 a year. Last year an £15 per victim was spent on 11kW wind turbine was the humanitarian disaster in installed to supply electricity Chad. National plus a 30 kW solar thermal governments, with the array to heat the swimming international community, pool. need to invest more in reducing the risk of

13 disasters. “While there has other countries. Several been a steady increase in Transition communities now climate-related events, it is issue local currencies, poverty and political though there is no blueprint indifference that make a for success. As the storm out of a disaster.” Transition website puts it: “Transition is a social Friday 31st July experiment on a massive scale. What we are A key feature of the convinced of is this: if we Transition movement is its wait for governments, it’ll be emphasis on resilient too little, too late. If we act communities. Basic to this is as individuals, it will be too the development of local little. If we act as food production, local communities, it might just energy sources, transport be enough, just in time.” and sustainable housing. The current economic www.transitiontowns.org instability is driven by the and idea of continuous growth, www.transitionculture.org which uses up the Earth’s finite resources and is caused by the monetary policy of lending with interest, which makes growth necessary to recover Sources: CIWEM Business debt. Community banks Briefing could provide loans to savers without interest, as Clean Slate (CAT) practised in a number of Positive News successful banking schemes Resurgence in Sweden, Switzerland and

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