We started the workshop with a prayer for Climate Justice followed by music showing the beauty of creation. The
participants grouped themselves and came up with the names Tree Huggers, Care
Bears, and Terra Firma. Most of the students
did not know Laudato Si but they care about the earth. With this event, the students became aware of the
urgency of the call to act on the crisis. They were especially alarmed by scientific study
on 2.8°C by the end of the century will lead to nearly 99% corals that will be
gone and about 44% mammals will lose their habitat. Too many people have the business as usual
(BAU) attitude, have no radical actions to solve the crisis.
Pax Christi’s Texas President Arthur Dawes invited the participants to go through the selected summarized points of the Laudato Si and to pick a word that touches them. The Laudato Si sparks were home, plunder, deterioration, open heartedness, hope, nature, bond, toxic, circular, throwaway, discarded, loved, necessary, etc. To read more on the Pax Christi’s summarized version of Laudato Si, please go to https://www.paxchristisa.org/.
We encouraged the students to check some of the nature-friendly opportunities in the area such as Headwaters volunteers, and tours with the Pax Christi, Sierra Club, etc.
In the light of the 40 days of Lent, we asked them to write down 40 climate actions that they are willing to take part in. The participants came up with the following list:
- Dismantle, reuse broken machines
- Reusable dishware/ containers/ utensils - Thrifting, Buy used clothes
- Electronic bills - Join an awareness group, educate
- Beach pick-up - Less laundry
- East less meat - Vegetarianism
- Farmer’s market - Decorate compost bins
- Reusable cameras - Carpool
- Turn off lights when not in use - Plant trees
- Get rid of invasive species - Use thermos for water
- LED Lights - Use less electricity
- Save water for plants - Use less phone
- Recycle batteries - Digital Work
- Buy biodegradable products - Pick up trash
- Digital Work - Donate clothes
The workshop was followed by an earth-friendly vegetarian pasta meal to enjoy the lovely evening while we continued light conversations on climate justice. We cleaned-up the reusable dishware, glasses, and utensils, a true testament to what we are advocating for.
We ended the event with prayer of gratitude for graciousness of everyone’s presence, participation, and the awareness that we are all connected, and in need of each other to achieve the goal of healing the earth.
Genesis 1:31 “God saw everything that he had
made, and indeed, it was very good.“