EARTH:

Earth Action, Reflection, Theology, and Hope

Make a Difference in 2024!

It’s almost the end of January. How many of us are still keeping our New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, or make some other personal change?

Perhaps what we need is motivation, and what better reason to make changes in our lives to help create a better Earth for our children and grandchildren?

Transforming our lives isn’t easy, which is why this issue is devoted to small steps you can take in 2024 that just might lead to lasting change. Read on for inspiration, then get to work on making this a year of hope.

Eric Diekhans
Editor

End Your Plastic Addiction!

At 139 kg per capita per year, Americans have the highest plastic consumption in the world and represent 19% of global plastics production and 21% of consumption. Plastic is everywhere, but that means there are many ways to reduce our addiction.

Plant a Native Garden!

A native garden provides food and shelter for wildlife and takes fewer resources to grow and maintain than non-native plantings. Plus, they’re a wonderful way to beautify your yard and your community.

Ride Instead of Drive!

The family automobile greatly increases our carbon footprint. It might not be practical to completely give up your car, but thanks to the boom in e-bikes, we have other, less environmentally damaging transportation options we can choose.

Read!

You can find many books on how to change your environmental lifestyle. Here, we offer a few places to start your journey from reading to action.

Connect with the Mystical!

Being present to the spiritual is essential in changing our relationship to the Earth. The new worshipping community JOY - Justice, Outreach and Yoga provides us with a model for how to get in touch with the divine.

Observe the Sabbath!

Developing a sabbath practice allows us to observe and reflect on God’s creation. It’s the perfect way to begin making changes in our lives as we connect with God and the wonders of God’s universe.