Human activity is trouble for climate, water, biodiversity, and other mammals.

The apparent complacency of many North Americans about what is happening to our common home, the earth should be shaken by scientific studies that indicate that human activity is driving mammal extinction.

Best friend of humans

This potential “great extinction” is connected to the big three concerns of the UN (2013) and Pope Francis (2015) of Climate Change, Water Shortages, and Biodiversity Loss. Kay Vandette, Earth.com staff writer, discusses how human activity is driving a mammal extinction crisis.

Researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Gothenburg conducted a study examining the rates of extermination currently underway.
By their calculations, unless conservation becomes a top priority, during the next five decades so many species will become extinct that it will take three to five million years for evolution to reach current biodiversity levels.
The results, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that evolution will not be able to keep up

The conclusion that Climate Change, Water Shortages, and Biodiversity Loss, will have growing Impacts on global business is contained in a UN Report that quotes UN Under Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

"The report speaks to the reality of climate change and natural resource scarcities and outlines how more creative decisions by the private sector with longer term horizons may assist in meeting these challenges. It makes the case that whether it be in water saving, or climate-proofing infrastructure, the world is going to look for solutions that in turn will drive corporate competitiveness, reputational risk and a transition to an inclusive green economy,' added Mr. Steiner.
The new report is based on UNEP's Global Environment Outlook (GEO-5); the UN's most comprehensive assessment of the state of the global environment. According to that report, human pressures on the global environment mean that several critical environmental thresholds are approaching, or have already been surpassed, beyond which abrupt changes to the life-support functions of the planet could occur.

The encyclical letter LAUDATO SI’ of Pope Francis on care for our common home notes our complacency at the conclusion of Chapter One “WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COMMON HOME” that focuses on three areas; (1) Pollution and Climate Change, (2) Water Shortages, and (3) Biodiversity Loss.

At the same time we can note the rise of a false or superficial ecology which bolsters complacency and a cheerful recklessness. As often occurs in periods of deep crisis which require bold decisions, we are tempted to think that what is happening is not entirely clear. Superficially, apart from a few obvious signs of pollution and deterioration, things do not look that serious, and the planet could continue as it is for some time. Such evasiveness serves as a licence to carrying on with our present lifestyles and models of production and consumption. This is the way human beings contrive to feed their self-destructive vices: trying not to see them, trying not to acknowledge them, delaying the important decisions and pretending that nothing will happen.

References

(2018, October 16). Human activity driving mammal extinction crisis • Earth.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018, from https://www.earth.com/news/human-activity-mammal-extinction/
(2013, June 21). Climate Change, Water Shortages, Biodiversity Loss, will have .... Retrieved October 20, 2018, from http://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/climate-change-water-shortages-biodiversity-loss-will-have-growing
(2015, May 24). Laudato si' (24 May 2015) - Vaticano. Retrieved October 20, 2018, from http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Christians substitute pussy willows for palms

The idea that Christians substitute pussy willows for palms during the annual Palm Sunday celebration arose during a recent discussion of the 2015 encyclical of Pope Francis “Laudato Si and the Care of our Common Home - the Earth. One of the participants in the discussion provided a list of references to some articles on the topic. Some of the contents of these articles are curated here. Jay Wexler asks if our Palm Sunday Palms are Bad for the Environment? Melissa Ramirez Cooper explains how Lutherans purchase 'eco-palms' for Palm Sunday. Hillary Watson urges urges her Mennonite parsonage to re-examine the theology of palms. Jean Hopfensperger of the Star Tribune in Minnesota reports on an 'Eco-Palm' project that sends nearly 1 million palms to 5,000 churches. The Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province Communications report that Catholic Relief Services also Sells Eco-Palms for Palm Sunday. Rev Ben Johnson describes how palms and pussy willows through global trade have enriched our Palm Sunday. Rev. Andriy Rabiy, explains blessing pussy willows as an Orthodox tradition. He states “Back home, the tradition is to bless the pussy willows.”
References

(2015, March 27). Blessing pussy willows an Orthodox tradition - Orthodox .... Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php?topic=64259.0
(2013, March 22). Are Your Palm Sunday Palms Bad for the Environment?. Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/03/palm_sunday_fronds_churches_should_buy_palms_from_environmentally_sustainable.html
(n.d.). Lutherans purchase 'eco-palms' for Palm Sunday - ELCA. Retrieved October 18, 2018, from https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7347
(2017, March 29). No more palms, please | Mennonite World Review. Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://mennoworld.org/2017/03/29/the-world-together/no-more-palms-please/
(2017, April 11). Minnesota 'Eco-Palm' project sends nearly 1 million palms to 5000 .... Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-eco-palm-project-sends-nearly-1-million-palms-to-5-000-churches/418718583/
(2007, February 14). Catholic Relief Services Sells Eco-Palms for Palm Sunday - Holy .... Retrieved October 18, 2018, from https://hnp.org/catholic-relief-services-sells-eco-palms-for-palm-sunday/
(2017, April 10). Palms and pussy willows: How global trade enriched your Palm .... Retrieved October 18, 2018, from http://blog.acton.org/archives/93059-palms-and-pussy-willows-how-global-trade-enriched-your-palm-sunday.html

Comments from a discussion on Situating Laudato Si

At a recent gathering of concerned people interested in Laudato Si, the 2015 encyclical of Pope Francis urging Care of our Common Home, the Earth, we commented on the video by Fr. Daniel P. Horan, OFM, entilled "Situating Laudato Si". The presentation situates the encyclical "Laudato Si" in the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching and Franciscan spirituality. The terms used in this description may be difficult language for people who are not familiar with Church history and terminology. Some who tend to a literal interpretation of Genesis 1.26 may find dissonance in the rejection of the Dominion Model in the presentation. The apprehension that Francis of Assisi teaching language of Sister and Mother in reference to the earth may invoke dismissal of the letter is countered by use of the language of Stewardship as used in Genesis 2. Patriarch Bartholomew is quoted in the presentation about the need for each of us to repent of the ways we have harmed the planet. Our individual actions need to be linked to efforts to bring the message of the need to change our ways as a society to the attention of politicians and business leaders. The apparent difficulty in communicating the message to leaders of society is evidenced by deep reluctance to change and results in frustration for the advocates of reform. A theme of the encyclical is a call for conversion and a new solidarity with people, nature and future generations. Solidarity with future generations had an important resonance in the discussion group. This problem facing the earth is not the concern of our politicians nor does it resonate with business. Perhaps stories of conversion may reduce the denial and fear of change and reluctance to face reality. One story about considering a change in the use palm branches in Christian Easter time liturgies may be a framework within which a visible change in local community policy points to the positive consequences of this action in the lives of the poor and the health of the planet.