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Why Should I Care?Not sure what the big deal is about energy? Don't know what this has to do with faith? Well, check it out! Where Does My Energy Come From?Electricity generation can be a major source of pollutants and greenhouse gases, especially if it comes from non-renewable sources. For instance, much of the electricity we use is generated by coal-burning power plants. Both the mining and burning of coal can have devastating impacts on creation. Coal mining often involves the removal of entire mountaintops! When coal is burned, it releases carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas, contributing to global warming. Sulfur dioxide contributes to acid rain and smog, as well as causing respiratory problems. Nitrogen oxides contribute to ground-level ozone and acid rain. Mercury can cause permanent neurological damage especially if fish contaminated with mercury are eaten by pregnant women.In the metro Atlanta area, about 70% of our electricity is generated by coal-burning power plants. We can help avoid the creation-damaging effects of these plants by using less electricity. If you'd like to find out how the electricity you use is generated, check out the Environmental Protection Agency's Power Profiler. It will tell you what sources your electricity comes from and what types of environmental impacts generating that electricity has. Why Should The Faith Community Care?All major religions have some ethic of creation care, but it is hardly ever talked about. We are so self-focused that we forget we have a responsibility to care for the rest of the world as well. But caring for creation is a wonderful way to show love for the Creator. What's more, we help our fellow human beings as well as the rest of creation when we are more responsible about the way we use and conserve resources. This is an issue of love and justice. Pollution hurts God's people and God's creation both now and in the years to come. Global warming and climate change will continue to affect the earth for generations. We are called to love our neighbors. If we follow that commandment, we won't dirty our neighbor's air and water. We can help make the world healthier and safer for ourselves, others, and generations yet to come. If your faith community is ready to get involved in creation care, please check out our suggestions for taking action as well as our resources for incroporating these issues into worship services.
P.O. Box 5866 · Atlanta, GA 31107
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Here are some more resources to help you learn more about the environmental issues involved and the ways that faith communities are working to become more responsible stewards of God's creation. For descriptions of these resources, check out Learn More. These files are pdf files which require a reader to open. If you are unable to open them, download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Study GuidesArticles |
