THE ENVIRONMENTAL SABBATH: CREATION OF A NEW DAY Imagine an infant nursing at his mother's breast. His mother grows weak. But the infant continues suckling, allowing her no rest, until she is dead. Then the infant must die, too. Humankind is such an infant. Blessed with abundance, with a mother (the earth) of inestimable beauty and goodness, humankind has become a taker. A careless taker. An exploiter. Because of our greed, we are poisoning the air with noxious gases, fouling the water with toxic wastes, stripmining the seas, denuding the forests. Everyday, we are responsible for the extinction of another living species. Every year, we burn 100,000 square kilometres of primary tropical rain forest. Because of our wanton disregard of nature's bounties we seem unable to grasp the consequences of our actions: depletion of natural resources; the 'Greenhouse Effect; deadly ruptures in our atmosphere's ozone layer; unsafe air and water; flooding; desertification; and the simple yet profoundly tragic loss of a bird's song, a flower's scent, a tree's majesty. STOP! We at the United Nations Environment Programme are sending out a call tothe spiritual leaders of this earth to help STOP the sacrilege. Help us reach the centre of change: the human heart. Lead your congregations in a day of prayer, reflection, reverence and commitment to action. The Environmental Sabbath. On this day, we restore the Earth. We must remember that we are not God's only child. If we are indeed the steward of divine purpose, we must act on earth as angels of mercy, not angels of destruction. We must consecrate the great accumulated wisdom of Science -- so often the servant of greed -- to the service of Life. We must find within ourselves the spiritual centre which is observant, gentle, patient and desirous of harmony. We must say, do and be everything possible to realize the goal of the Environmental Sabbath: an ecological society, one in which people live responsibly and co-operatively within and with the rest of Creation. We cannot let our mother die. We must love and replenish her. There is much to be done. It can and should begin in the shrines of the spirit, in the mosques, temples and churches of the world. Help us create a new future. Help us create a new day. The Environmental Sabbath. ON THIS DAY WE RESTORE THE EARTH! ACTION WE CALL FOR YOU TO: Make the Environmental Sabbath a special day for your congregation. To help you to organize the day, we have included in this package, prayers from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam, as well, as from the Native American tradition, the Society of Friends, and the Baha'i faith. We have also included useful quotes, suggestions for rituals, appropriate music and music sources, and an extensive bibliography. There are two ways to ensure that the Environmental Sabbath has lasting impact. One is to act by creating the Sabbath itself. The other is to encourage action which goes beyond the Sabbath, into every area and every day of your congregation's lives. Included in this Environmental Sabbath folio is a personal action guide. If you would like additional copies for your congregation, please contact us. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CELEBRATION THE SERMON Describe the crisis. Use scientific data. Highlight the urgency of the situation. Speak of the essential earth-human relationship. What is it? What is our responsibility. Tell your congregation that this is a special day; a day on which we make our commitment to restore Earth. Point to various sources of inspiration: to scripture; to wisdom and spirituality; and to the Earth itself. Show how they are all important, and tied together. Draw from the holy words of your religion. (Excerpts follow on the pages marked THE ASSISI DECLARATIONS and WORDS.) Mention some initiatives at the global and local levels, (Assisi, North American Conference on Christianity and Ecology, etc.), to show that the work is going forward, globally and regionally. Direct your congregation toward action: not only in church, but in the home, at school, in the political process. Be specific, mentioning local issues if possible. THE SERVICE See the attached PRAYERS and MUSIC. Incorporate them or others like them into your service. Decorate your sanctuary with photographs of the Earth as seen from outer space, and with other Earth images. Invite guest speakers or 'representatives' from other species, i.e. plants and animals. GO FURTHER In regular services, insert a portion that focuses on reverence and care for the Earth. Organize an interfaith ceremony. Organize an Environmental Sabbath concert or festival, clean up day(s), or tree-planting retreats. Follow up with an environmental study group; a community environment-watch; collaborations with local environmental groups. Write letters to the national and regional leaders of your faith, encouraging them to take action. ENCOURAGE YOUR CONGREGATION TO ACT A day is only one day unless it affects change in our everyday lives. To this end, please urge your congregation to take the following steps: Follow environmental stories in newspapers, magazines and on TV. Plant trees. This is essential to combatting the high level of CO2 built up inthe atmosphere. Fight pollution wherever and whenever you find it. Write to your elected representatives. Join your local environmental group. Enjoy nature and be kind to living things. Recycle cans, bottles and paper whenever possible. Try not to waste. Cut down on energy consumption. Refer to the enclosed Personal Action Guide for the Earth. Individuals can make a difference. Please encourage your congregation to re- examine their lifestyles: Are they wasteful? Excessive? Thoughtless? If theEarth is to survive, temperance, balance and compassion will be necessary components of the good life.