EarthBeat Weekly: Devotions, pledges and other climate commitments for the new year

Devotions, pledges and other climate commitments for the new year Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change January 5, 2024 (Dreamstime/Bernardo Ramonfaur) Welcome back from a week off from the EarthBeat Weekly newsletter. While we enjoyed some much-appreciated rest, the news didn't stop. So make sure you check out all of the stories from the past few weeks of faith and climate news. At EarthBeat, we kicked off the new year on Jan. 1 with the first of four creation-themed devotions we'll be sharing from Cuban-American writer Kat Armas' book Sacred Belonging: A 40-Day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture (Brazos Press). The remaining three will be published on Jan. 8, Jan. 15 and Jan. 22. (Sign-up here to receive them in your inbox.) Read more: Devotions on creation from Kat Armas: 'Sacred Belonging' If you're looking for a climate action-oriented new year's resolution, don't miss the OSV News column from Effie Caldarola. She points to the Catholic Climate Covenant's "Laudate Deum Action Pledge" as a great option. You can even customize it before signing so that you are only committing to those things that feel realistic or important to you right now. Read more: Make a resolution for the climate, for the sanctity of life In a new EarthBeat "Viewpoints" column, Marquette University professors Heidi Bostic and Stephen Pluháček write "although lifestyle changes and new ethical guidelines may be necessary, neither will be sufficient to address the [contemporary social and ecological] challenges facing us. For that, we need a more radical and profound change of our humanity," which they explain can be found through our celebration of the Eucharist. Read more: Toward a new heaven, earth and humanity through the Eucharist Are you making any climate commitments for the new year? Let me know at sclary@ncronline.org and I'll consider featuring your efforts in a "Small Earth Story" at EarthBeat!     What else is new on EarthBeat: Nevada tribe says coalitions, not lawsuits, will protect sacred sites as US advances energy agenda by Scott Sonner, The Associated Press Rather than pursue its claims in court that the federal government failed to engage in meaningful consultation regarding the lithium mine at Thacker Pass, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony will focus on organizing a broad coalition to build public support for sacred places. Training farmers in Belize, Panama and Honduras to lead sustainable change by Bill Laramee Sustainable Harvest International equips low-income farmers with alternatives to sustain the land for generations and build strong communities. It is faith in action for Bill Laramee. An oil drill site stood in an LA neighborhood. Now a park may rise in its place. by Bob Smietana, Religion News Service Richard Parks and his neighbors faced down a major oil company to shutter a nearly 60-year-old drill site in the middle of the neighborhood. Now they hope to build a community park and affordable housing in its place. Sisters' education of ethnic group supports ongoing work to protect land rights by Stephan Uttom Rozario The schools and work of Our Lady of the Missions sisters have educated many members of the Khasi ethnic group in Bangladesh. Several are now established in society and work to protect the land rights of their community. Nairobi Archdiocese launches a dairy factory to boost food security by Fredrick Nzwili, OSV News Caritas Dairy was inspired by Pope Francis' call for a more inclusive and sustainable food system, which supports farmers in producing and improving their capacities and resilience, said Archbishop Philip Subira Anyolo of Nairobi. A volcano in Hawaii is sacred to spiritual practitioners and treasured by astronomers by Deepa Bharath, Audrey McAvoy, The Associated Press Mauna Kea is a dormant 14,000-foot volcano. In Native Hawaiian lore, it is the first-born son of the sky father and earth mother. The mountain's dry atmosphere and limited light pollution make for a perfect location to study the skies — one of just a handful on the planet. Experts weigh harmful impacts of green transition by Alecia Westmorland  A webinar hosted by the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission addressed troubling consequences of the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, especially in regard to mining efforts. Pope Francis, 'Laudate Deum,' Catholic sisters: EarthBeat's top stories of 2023 by Stephanie Clary It has been another busy year for faith and climate journalism, with Pope Francis himself gracing the headlines of six of EarthBeat's 10 most-read news stories.   What's happening in other climate news: Less beef, more leftovers: 21 food sustainability resolutions for 2024 —Whitney Bauck for The Guardian Many on Gulf Coast say time is running out for EPA to act on toxic air —Anna Phillips, Amudalat Ajasa and Timothy Puko for The Washington Post A Plant Proposed in Youngstown, Ohio, Would Have Turned Tons of Tires Into Synthetic Gas. Local Officials Said Not So Fast —James Bruggers for Inside Climate News The golden age of public transit was electric — and its future will be too —Julia-Simone Rutgers for The Narwhal The link between climate change and a spate of rare disease outbreaks in 2023 —Zoya Teirstein for Grist What climate scientists are predicting for the globe in 2024 —Scott Dance for The Washington Post   Final Beat: The Catholic liturgical season of Christmas isn't over until we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord on Jan. 8, so some Catholics leave their holiday decorations up until then if they're able. As you plan to take down and dispose of your Christmas tree, you can consider greener options than dumping it on the curb for the garbage truck to pick up on trash day.  Revisit this "Burning Question" from NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe for ideas: What to do with your Christmas tree after the holidays? Happy New Year, and thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr Twitter/X: @scherp01     Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? Place an Ad in NCR's Online Classified Section for Only $75 per Month!   Advertisement