2021 is the 25th anniversary of National Recycling Week and takes place between 8th – 14th November. This annual event was established in Australia by Planet Ark in 1996, to help homes, businesses and communities learn about, and get involved in recycling. Columban Missionaries and staff at the Columban Mission Centre in Essendon are committed to recycling right, by separating clean glass, plastics, papers and cardboard into separate streams for collection. Following local council recycling guidelines is an important step to ensuring successful processing of materials and the production of repurposed goods. These seemingly small individual actions contribute towards the ongoing development of circular economies that value creations gifts, rather than see them as mere resources to be used for the production of goods which are later disposed of. Making intentional choices to buy back recycled items also helps with this process, which benefit people and all creation.
Columban Fr Sean McDonagh, in his 2018 article ‘Plastics in the Oceans’ reported on research carried out by marine scientists in Ireland. Fr Sean stated: “what they found did not make pleasant reading. The scientists were quite amazed to find that more than 73 percent of the fish contained plastic. Naturally it should be seen as a global call to protect our oceans from pollution before it is too late.”
In the spirit of National Recycling Week, daily commitments could include using environmentally friendly products, composting and recycling, and thinking about our purchases and where they ultimately end up. Getting more inspired by joining with others is a positive way of staying connected with confronting issues, learning more, inspiring hope and making a communal difference to our urgent waste problems.
Micro-plastics are small fragments that originate from larger plastic items, fibres from clothing and personal care products that are harmful to fish and the whole food chain. Plastics contain toxic substances impacting the health and wellbeing of all creation. Many communities worldwide depend on resources from the ocean for staple food and incomes. Plastics are also harmful to fish, birds and other animals who get entangled and choked by them. This awareness of the suffering of all creation is at the centre of our Christian call to mission. Passionist priest and eco-theologian Thomas Berry stated in his collection of essays in the ‘Dream of the Earth’, “the sea and air and sky and sunlight and all the living forms of Earth establish a single planetary system. A primary allegiance to this larger community is needed…for humans to fulfill their functional role within this life community.”
The Columban Centre for Advocacy and Outreach, in Washington DC, states: “the God of creation is calling each of us to reconnect with the natural world and re-examine how our lifestyles affect its wellbeing.” The ‘Columban Creation Covenant’ is an easy guide to help us do just that, by considering how we can reconnect with God’s creation and live more simply and sustainably. The ‘Columban Creation Covenant’ (see below) is made up of four parts; prayer and spirituality, continuing education, daily commitments for a greener lifestyle and advocating for creation.
In the spirit of National Recycling Week, daily commitments could include using environmentally friendly products, composting and recycling, and thinking about our purchases and where they ultimately end up. Getting more inspired by joining with others is a positive way of staying connected with confronting issues, learning more, inspiring hope and making a communal difference to our urgent waste problems.
Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM, Peace, Ecology and Justice Team member, Columban Mission Centre, Essendon.
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