The Future Has ArrivedThe Future Has Arrived

Facing the Reality of Climate ChangeFacing the Reality of Climate Change

Part 3Part 3

Part 3:Part 3:What Must I Do?What Must I Do?

Science and technology are and technology are what we can do;what we can do;

Morality is what we agree we is what we agree we should or should not do.”should or should not do.”

Me Mum’s SickMe Mum’s Sick

Me Mum's sick .Me Mum's sick .pptppt

Re-VisionRe-Vision

There’s plenty more There’s plenty more where that came from”where that came from”

More OilMore Oil More ForestsMore Forests More LandMore Land More HousesMore Houses More WaterMore Water More ElectricityMore Electricity More FoodMore Food More…everything!!More…everything!!

““Live simply and make do”Live simply and make do” We have no right to ravage the We have no right to ravage the

earth and deny future earth and deny future generations what we enjoy.generations what we enjoy.

Life on earth is changing Life on earth is changing irrevocably and so must ours.irrevocably and so must ours.

Science cannot “save” us from Science cannot “save” us from our rampant consumerism.our rampant consumerism.

Global extinction is happening- a Global extinction is happening- a sterile earth.sterile earth.

There is no “going back” to old There is no “going back” to old wasteful wayswasteful ways

Humans are a plague on the Humans are a plague on the earth.earth.

Economies based on “growth” Economies based on “growth” are no longer sustainableare no longer sustainable

The “global economy” is toxic to The “global economy” is toxic to life on earth.life on earth.

Complete a Personal “Eco-Ethic”Complete a Personal “Eco-Ethic”

What are my beliefs about what it is to live a worthwhile life?What are my beliefs about what it is to live a worthwhile life? What are my beliefs about my responsibilities towards the rest of What are my beliefs about my responsibilities towards the rest of

creation?creation? What do I understand about my place in creation? What do I understand about my place in creation? What “footprint” do I want to leave behind?What “footprint” do I want to leave behind?

Will I have taken more than I gave?Will I have taken more than I gave? Will it be neutral?Will it be neutral? Will the earth be better off because of my being alive?Will the earth be better off because of my being alive?

When am I a consumer; a steward; a co-creator an eco-criminal?When am I a consumer; a steward; a co-creator an eco-criminal? A Personal Eco-A Personal Eco-Ethic.docEthic.doc

Take ActionTake Action

At a Personal levelAt a Personal levelAt local School levelAt local School level

At a wider community levelAt a wider community levelAudit 2006 Audit 2006 Revised.pptRevised.ppt

Personal Action 1: Personal Action 1: Develop your Eco- SpiritualityDevelop your Eco- Spirituality

Identify your values and church teaching and equate them with Identify your values and church teaching and equate them with a sustainable lifestyle a sustainable lifestyle Catholic Catholic EarthcareEarthcare Australia Australia Resources.htmResources.htm

Re-connect with the earth: Re-connect with the earth: Plant, grow, revegetate, regeneratePlant, grow, revegetate, regenerate Watch nature videos- e.g. Watch nature videos- e.g. Planet Earth; Anima Mundi; An Inconvenient Planet Earth; Anima Mundi; An Inconvenient

TruthTruth Pray with and for the earthPray with and for the earth

Vision a new, changed future for you and the world Vision a new, changed future for you and the world and begin and begin to live itto live it

A “Carbon Neutral” lifestyle Resource useResource use Consumption patternsConsumption patterns LifestyleLifestyle Understanding of “happiness”Understanding of “happiness” Move from “Stewardship” to Eco-centred ethicsMove from “Stewardship” to Eco-centred ethics

  Personal LifestylePersonal Lifestyle   ““We all moan and groan about the loss of the quality of life through the destruction of our Ecology, We all moan and groan about the loss of the quality of life through the destruction of our Ecology,

and yet each one of us, in our own little comfortable ways, contributes daily to that destruction. It’s time now and yet each one of us, in our own little comfortable ways, contributes daily to that destruction. It’s time now to awaken in each one of us the respect and attention our beloved mother deserves.”to awaken in each one of us the respect and attention our beloved mother deserves.”

Ed Asner (Actor)Ed Asner (Actor)

GreenNet for kidsGreenNet for kids

www.gn.apc.org/kids/energy.thmlwww.gn.apc.org/kids/energy.thml

ENN QuizENN Quiz

www. enn.com/quiz/www. enn.com/quiz/

Best Foot ForwardBest Foot Forward

www.bestfootforward.com/www.bestfootforward.com/

WWF Fun and GamesWWF Fun and Games

www.worldwidelife.org/fun/index.cfmwww.worldwidelife.org/fun/index.cfm

Europa EnvironmentEuropa Environment

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/environment/index_en.htmhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/environment/index_en.htm

Appendix10

Personal Action 2: Personal Action 2: Change, Without Waiting for OthersChange, Without Waiting for Others

Begin to make personal changes based on your values.Begin to make personal changes based on your values. Take to heart the challenge to live simply that others may simply live.Take to heart the challenge to live simply that others may simply live. Make choices to create and live in the sort of world you dream aboutMake choices to create and live in the sort of world you dream about Audit every aspect of your life for eco-justiceAudit every aspect of your life for eco-justice Be prepared to pay extra for ecologically responsible livingBe prepared to pay extra for ecologically responsible living Be a “compassionate consumer”Be a “compassionate consumer” Impose limitations on your resource use: home, travel, food, professionImpose limitations on your resource use: home, travel, food, profession Ignore fashion trends and home renovationsIgnore fashion trends and home renovations Critique consumerism at every level; home, work, society, worldCritique consumerism at every level; home, work, society, world Be a friend of the earthBe a friend of the earth Voluntarily conserve and preserve for the futureVoluntarily conserve and preserve for the future Respect your grandchildren’s rightsRespect your grandchildren’s rights Slow down: walk, slow food not fast food; slow lane not fast laneSlow down: walk, slow food not fast food; slow lane not fast lane Become self- sustaining: water, power, foodBecome self- sustaining: water, power, food

Personal Action 3: Personal Action 3: Educate YourselfEducate Yourself

Distinguish between “spin”, propaganda and fact:Distinguish between “spin”, propaganda and fact: Seek out programs which intelligently explore the issue and Seek out programs which intelligently explore the issue and

highlight role models. (Radio, TV, Cable)highlight role models. (Radio, TV, Cable) Read newslatters articles and books e.g SustainaBulletinRead newslatters articles and books e.g SustainaBulletin Read letters to the editor- e.g. on water- to know you are not aloneRead letters to the editor- e.g. on water- to know you are not alone Check out Websites e.g. Check out Websites e.g. Richard Rohr Resource Richard Rohr Resource page.htmpage.htm Attend conferences, meetings Attend conferences, meetings Denis_Edwards_climate_change.docDenis_Edwards_climate_change.doc

; Melbourne, Perth Climate Change Conferences; Melbourne, Perth Climate Change Conferences

Personal Action 4: Personal Action 4: Educate OthersEducate Others

Educate your students- connect it to learningEducate your students- connect it to learning Educate the families of your students- via info sent home, but Educate the families of your students- via info sent home, but

also by choices you offer students and requests you make of also by choices you offer students and requests you make of parents. parents.

Educate your familyEducate your family Educate your friends and associatesEducate your friends and associates Model life choices and changes Model life choices and changes Explain to the community why certain choices are made- e.g. Explain to the community why certain choices are made- e.g.

passive air conditioning in classrooms; green spacespassive air conditioning in classrooms; green spaces Google images of creation into prayer/ reflection experiences.Google images of creation into prayer/ reflection experiences.

Personal Action 4: Personal Action 4: Get PoliticalGet Political

Write/email letters to companies which are Write/email letters to companies which are revealed as eco-criminals.e.g. revealed as eco-criminals.e.g. Eating the Eating the Amazon.docAmazon.doc

Let your local member know that you are an Let your local member know that you are an eco-activist and are watching his/her responses eco-activist and are watching his/her responses to the issues.to the issues.

Join environmental groups.Join environmental groups. Donate money to environmental groups.Donate money to environmental groups. Highlight environmental heroesHighlight environmental heroes . .

Environmental Heroes - Environmental Success Environmental Heroes - Environmental Success Stories.htmStories.htm; ; Heroes for the Planet Heroes Heroes for the Planet Heroes Galleries.htmGalleries.htm; ; Environment Victoria - Environment Heroes Environment Victoria - Environment Heroes Crowned.htmCrowned.htm

School Community Action 1School Community Action 1

Audit your resource use- at classroom, office and Audit your resource use- at classroom, office and whole school level (whole school level (Audit 2006 Revised.pptAudit 2006 Revised.ppt))

Recycle as much as you can and favour sellers who Recycle as much as you can and favour sellers who will refill, recycle and accept returns.will refill, recycle and accept returns.

Reduce excess packaging and tell sellers you will Reduce excess packaging and tell sellers you will favour them if they do so.favour them if they do so.

Remove all plastic packaging from your life!Remove all plastic packaging from your life! Buy locally, from local producers if possibleBuy locally, from local producers if possible Reject resource-wasting “boutique” items such as Reject resource-wasting “boutique” items such as

bottled water. bottled water. Did You Know Bottled Water.docDid You Know Bottled Water.doc

School Community Action 2School Community Action 2

Re-connect your community to the earth- gardens, Re-connect your community to the earth- gardens, orchards, tanks, recycled water, composting, worm farms.orchards, tanks, recycled water, composting, worm farms.

Aim to become an energy and water self-reliant communityAim to become an energy and water self-reliant community Encourage/reward walking rather than use of vehicles.Encourage/reward walking rather than use of vehicles.

(Make life hard for car users by relocating car parks, (Make life hard for car users by relocating car parks, favouring greenspace over asphalt)favouring greenspace over asphalt)

Install tanks and pioneer responsible water and power use. Install tanks and pioneer responsible water and power use. Investigate alternative energy sources. (Solar, wind)Investigate alternative energy sources. (Solar, wind)

School Community Action 3School Community Action 3

PioneerPioneer E.g. A school Ecological Vision Statement/OfficerE.g. A school Ecological Vision Statement/Officer

Promote Promote E.g. Declare school a nature reserve, car-free zones; E.g. Declare school a nature reserve, car-free zones;

wildlife corridor etc.wildlife corridor etc. PublicisePublicise

E.g. Significant ecological achievers and innovationsE.g. Significant ecological achievers and innovations ProduceProduce

E.g. aim to give back more than you take of the earth’s E.g. aim to give back more than you take of the earth’s resources.resources.

Wider Community Action 1Wider Community Action 1

Liaise with other local schools to influence suppliers Liaise with other local schools to influence suppliers in terms of reduction of waste and throw-away in terms of reduction of waste and throw-away productsproducts

Write to all suppliers informing them of your Write to all suppliers informing them of your ecological vision and ask them to inform you of their ecological vision and ask them to inform you of their ecological responsibility actions so you can make a ecological responsibility actions so you can make a choice about who will be school-favoured suppliers.choice about who will be school-favoured suppliers.

Create a list of “favoured” companies based on Create a list of “favoured” companies based on replies and inform your local community of results.replies and inform your local community of results.

Wider Community Action 2Wider Community Action 2

Commit the school to local land rehabilitation Commit the school to local land rehabilitation schemes, and seek co-operation of other schemes, and seek co-operation of other schools in these projects.schools in these projects.

Become the conscience of the district: agitate, Become the conscience of the district: agitate, inform, challenge.inform, challenge.

Offer assistance- e.g. space, share resources Offer assistance- e.g. space, share resources and offer help with distribution and publicity and offer help with distribution and publicity to community action groups committed to to community action groups committed to conservation.conservation.

Wider Community Action 3: Wider Community Action 3: Participate in the ConversationParticipate in the Conversation

Respond, as a school to surveys- e.g. Qld Govt Respond, as a school to surveys- e.g. Qld Govt Survey on Climate Change Survey on Climate Change www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/climatechangewww.thepremier.qld.gov.au/climatechange

Make statements in local community papers Make statements in local community papers about climate change issuesabout climate change issues

Keep the issue before Church, government, Keep the issue before Church, government, industry.industry.

What is the Earth a ball in space? A little paradise? A planet of melting ice and inner fires?  Under my hand

Its surface crumbles Crushed under foot Its myriad flowers

Forests lie trembling Under my sword The ocean darkens Weeping black tears

Death of sweet rivers Death-giving rain Silent and secret Invisible pain

  A gift from heaven this little world

Each bird a jewel Each tree a mother

  What is the Earth?

A fragile heart Tender my touch To save its life - and mine

Virginia McKenna – Actress and Founder of Zoo-check