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Augustinians Support
UN World Environment Day

June 5, 2008

Augustinians of the Midwest are encouraged to mark the United Nations' World Environment Day, June 5, 2008, in their communities and ministries. The Augustinians invite and encourage all who identify with Augustinian spirituality and traditions to do likewise.

Stewardship of God's Creation is one of the major themes of traditional Catholic Social Teaching. The Catholic Church teaches that the goods of the earth are gifts to everyone from God, and they are intended by God for the common good of everyone.

Stewardship finds its basis in the Book of Genesis in the Bible, which relates that God entrusted all creation to humans, who are to have dominion over it and care for it as stewards. (--See Gen 1: 28-32; Gen 2: 15)

The concept of Stewardship fits well with the Augustinian idea of communality of goods, one of the basic principles of St. Augustine's vision and spirituality of religious community life.

The Rule of St. Augustine says, "Call nothing your own, but let everything be yours in common. . . For so you read in the Acts of the Apostles that 'they had all things in common. . .'" (Acts 4:32,35) and ". . .whenever you show greater concern for the common good than for your own, you know that you are growing in charity."

The principle of Stewardship says that because the world is ours in common, all people have a responsibility to care for the Earth as stewards or trustees. We are more than just consumers and users of natural resources.

How we care for the common good of all through our respect for the environment is a measure of our stewardship, our charity toward others and our respect for the Creator.

World Environment Day, celebrated each June 5, is one of the ways in which the United Nations works to make the world's population aware of the environment and to encourage people and governments around the world to take actions that promote the common good by promoting a healthy environment.

2008 World Environment Day Theme

Kick the Habit - Towards a Low Carbon Economy is the theme of World Environment Day for 2008. This theme invites governments, industries, communities and individuals to focus on greenhouse gas emisisons and ways to reduce them. The Day highlights resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption, the U.N. Environment Program said.

“Our world is in the grip of a dangerous carbon habit,” U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said. “We know that climate change is happening, and we know that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that we emit are the cause. . . The cost will be borne by all. . . The message of World Environment Day 2008 is that we are all part of the solution. . . It is message we all must take to heart,” Ban said.

World Environment Day Prayer

       » World Environment Day Prayer Services
             Suggested Augustinian prayers from International Justice and Peace Secretariate, Rome

More World Environment Day Resources

      » Learn more about the World Environment Day (Opens new window)
             Information, resources and suggestions for this U. N. observance

      » Climate Change (Opens new window)
             A critical global challenge today

      » World Environment Message from U.N. Secretary General (Opens new window - .pdf file)
             Ban Ki-moon: Reduce your carbon footprint

      » Calculate Your Carbon Footprint (Opens new window)
             Learn how your lifestyle affects the environment

      » 12 Steps to Help You Kick the CO2 Habit (Opens new window)
             What you can do to reduce your carbon footprint

      » World Environment Day Alphabet (Opens new window)
             80 Ways to Celebrate World Environment Day

Other UN Days Reflect Christian Values

      » Augustinians Support International Days
             Seven U.N. Days reflect Catholic Christian values