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Augustinians Support
UN World Environment Day, June 5, 2011

Augustinians of the Midwest are encouraged to mark the United Nations' World Environment Day, June 5, 2011, 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.

2011 World Environment Day Theme

Forests: Nature at Your Service is the theme of World Environment Day for 2011.

Forests perform many essential services. For example:

• Forests absorb carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen that we breathe.

• Forests help to provide clean drinking water.

• Forests release rain water slowly, thus reducing devastating floods.

• Forests prevent the erosion of fertile soil.

• Forests produce materials which are used to provide housing.

• Forests are the source of the fuel upon which many people depend for warmth and cooking.

• Forests, home to more than half of Earth’s species of animals, plants and insects, protect biodiversity.

• Forests are beautiful places where one’s spirit can find inspiration and nourishment.

• Forests and forest products provide employment to millions of persons world-wide.

In spite of all these priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits, global deforestation is destroying the very forests that we need to live and to breathe. Every year, 32 million acres of forest -- equal to the size of Portugal -- are destroyed, according to U. N. Environment Program (U. N. E. P.) figures.

“People who depend on forests for their livelihoods are struggling to survive. Many precious species face extinction. Biodiversity is being obliterated. What’s more, economists around the world have proven that by not integrating the values of forests into their budgets, countries and businesses are paying a high price. One that ultimately impoverishes us all as harm to our forest life-support system continues each and every single day,” the U. N. Environment Program (Opens new window) Web site said.

U. N. E. P. believes that this trend is not irreversible. “It’s not too late to transform life as we know it into a greener future where forests are at the heart of our sustainable development and green economies,” the Web site stated.

The theme of World Environment Day 2011 invites governments, industries, communities, churches, schools and individuals to come to a better appreciation of the essential contributions of Earth's forests to human well-being and to focus on steps that the public and private sectors can take to improve their stewardship of the world’s forests for the common good of all.

World Environment Day Prayer

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

More World Environment Day Resources

• From the U.N.

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

        » United Nations Environment Program (Opens new window)
               Encouraging partnership in caring for the environment

        » 2011: International Year of Forests (Opens new window)
               Branching Out for a Green Economy: Theme

        » Celebrating Forests for People (Opens new window)
               More information about International Year of Forests

        » Protecting Biodiversity, Protecting Forests (Opens new window)
               Still more information about International Year of Forests - from U.N.E.S.C.O.

        » World Environment Day A to Z (Opens new window)
               Simple steps to easily green your daily routine

        » W.E.D. Pack (Opens new window)
               Quick guide to celebrating World Environment Day (W.E.D.)

• From Other Sources

        » Project 350 (Opens new window)
               Uniting the World: Global Warming. Global Action. Global Future.

        » Earth Charter U.S. (Opens new window)
               A secular initiative that implements Catholic Christian principles

        » Catholic Climate Covenant (Opens new window)
               Care for Creation, Care for the Poor: Take the St. Francis Pledge

        » If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation (Opens new window)
               Message of Pope Benedict XVI for World Day of Peace 2010

Other UN Days Reflect Christian Values

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