Climate Change Resources specifically geared for high school age kids/high school teachers:
- A top-notch website from the EPA: A Student’s Guide to Global Climate Change. A truly terrific, interactive resource: http://www3.epa.gov/
climatechange/students/index. html
- Young Voices for the Planet: A link to eleven short stories of teenagers taking action and making a big difference in the struggle for climate justice – very inspirational material: www.YoungVoicesForThePlanet.
com
- The author of the above video series, Lynne Cherry, has a very informative and insightful piece in a New York Times blog that might be very helpful for teachers: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/24/on-the-allure-of-ostriches-and-new-paths-in-climate-communication/?_r=0
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iMatter Youth Youth Council: http://www.imatteryouth.org/
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A NASA website for kids that focuses on climate change. For high school kids and younger:
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A short video entitled Faith Against Fracking that includes an advocacy opportunity:
- A contest-wining short youtube video, created by children, on biodiversity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iThpkXWVeqE
- “To Teach,” a resource produced by USCCB Publishing for Catholic Educators. The Summer 2004 edition topic: Be Stewards of God’s Gifts
- From the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, A Facilitators’s Guide and Education Kit (Youth Ministry Version) for an educational event around the screening of the film Sun Come Up (film DVD not included).
- From the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change and the Center for Ministry Development, Friending Planet Earth: Helping Youth Understand Solidarity & Sustainability in Light of Cliamte Change.
“The Green Corner” – a regular column for parish bulletins to promote creation care.
St. Camillus Parish
Silver Spring, Md.
Contact: Fr. Jacek Orzechowksi, OFM
Download a sample PDF of the column in English and Spanish. For a list of excerpts from the Franciscan Climate Change Statement featured in the column, click here.
Also available for use is the text of a number of “Green Corner” articles, in both English and Spanish, that can be run in ministry bulletins or newsletters.
- 131 Years of Global Warming in 26 seconds
- Efficient heating and cooling
- Fossil Fuels
- A Green Revolution
- Respect for Life
Canadian Tar Sands/Pipeline Issue
The climate implications of the proposed Keystone XL oilsands pipeline by Nathan Lemphers (www.pembina.org) (Jan. 2013)
Download the PDF
A Reflection on the Keystone XL Pipeline by Dawn M. Nothwehr, OSF Ph.D. (Aug. 2011)
Contact: Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM
Download the PDF
Abstract for Nothwehr’s Reflection on the Keystone XL Pipeline by Russell M. Testa (Aug. 2011)
Contact: Russell Testa
Download the PDF
“Canada’s PR work for tar sands: dirty, crude and oily” The Guardian Article (August 14, 2011)
Contact: Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM
Tar Sands/Pipeline National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Fact sheet
Contact: Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM
Download the PDF
The Integrity of Creation & the Athabasca Oilsands: St. Paul Bishop Luc Bouchard’s pastoral letter on a major economic development in his diocese (Jan. 2009)
Contact: Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM
Download the PDF
Franciscan Campaign Against Bottled Water
St. Camillus Parish
Silver Spring, Md.
Contact: Fr. Jacek Orzechowksi, OFM
Christian Saints, Mystics and Theologians Speak on God’s Creation
St. Camillus Parish
Silver Spring, Md.
Contact: Fr. Jacek Orzechowksi, OFM
Download the PDF
Amazon Day
Resources for Earth Day 2014
From the Catholic Climate Covenant: CCC has put together a number of prayer and reflection resources on their website.
From the Franciscan family in Rome: Roman VI, a group of Franciscan animators in Rome, has put together a number of resources to mark the 35th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II naming St. Francis the Patron Saint of Ecology. You can view these resources, available in a number of different languages, on their Franciscans for Ecology website.
From the Catholic Health Association: The Catholic Health Association has posted a resource from the Clinton Franciscan Sisters. They use the home and the rooms of the home as a framework for a reflection on the Earth as Our Home.
Earth Day Banner
St. Camillus Parish
Silver Spring, Md.
Contact: Fr. Jacek Orzechowksi, OFM
Download the PDF of a sample banner, which includes both English and Spanish text
Earth Day Posters
St. Camillus Parish
Silver Spring, Md.
Contact: Fr. Jacek Orzechowksi, OFM
Download the PDFs of sample posters, which include English and Spanish versions
Earth Day
In 2009, the General Chapter of the Franciscan Order made a momentous decision to launch the Amazon Project. Its purpose was to reinforce the historic, Franciscan presence in the Amazon region. This was to be done in prophetic ways that would clearly demonstrate a Franciscan commitment to protect the rich biodiversity of the Amazon, and to care for the most vulnerable and diverse indigenous groups living there. The Amazon Project also called for the creation of a network of solidarity throughout the Franciscan Family, engaging its charism of caring for God’s creation in the critically important struggle to save the Amazon.
In 2012, the JPIC English Speaking Conference opted to celebrate Amazon Day on July 21, 2012. The date marked the 25th Anniversary of the martyrdom of Capuchin Bishop Alejandro Labaka and Capuchin Sister Inés Arango. Their beatification process began in 2010. Alejandro and Inés, both enamored of the Amazon and its native peoples, died trying to protect some of the last “uncontacted” people on Earth and their pristine rainforest.
Download an Amazon Day background piece – in English and Spanish.
Immigration
Elements Necessary for a Just Immigration Reform/USCCB CIR Principles (Jan. 2013)
USCCB Family Immigration Principles (Dec. 2012)
Justice for Immigrants (JFI) Campaign General Resources: JFI’s primary goals are “to educate the public, especially the Catholic community, including Catholic public officials, about Church teaching on migration and immigrants; to create political will for positive immigration reform; to enact legislative and administrative reforms based on the principles articulated by the bishops; and to organize Catholic networks to assist qualified immigrants obtain the benefits of the reforms.”
JFI’s “Countering the Myths”
Holy Name Province has worked with the USCCB’s Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) to compile the following resources to assist local ministries in providing support to our immigrant brothers and sisters.
Resources on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
ACLU’s “Know Your Rights” card (English) What to do if you’re stopped by police, immigration agents or the FBI
ACLU’s “Know Your Rights” card (Espanol) Qué debe hacer si la policía, agentes de inmigración o el FBI lo detienen
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detainee locator
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)
CLINIC’s Mission Statement reads: To enhance and expand delivery of legal services to indigent and low-income immigrants principally through diocesan immigration programs and to meet the immigration needs identified by the Catholic Church in the United States.
CLINIC Enforcement Response Plan: A plan to help communities prepare and plan for immigration enforcement actions
CLINIC’s State and Local Project: In 2007, CLINIC created a new project to support advocates working to address the growing number of anti-immigrant measures proposed and introduced at the state and local levels. After the collapse of comprehensive immigration reform in 2007, approximately 500 immigration related bills were introduced by state legislators. By 2008, the number of proposed immigration-related bills had tripled to 1,562. Nearly every state legislature had introduced a bill related to immigration. Through the project, CLINIC provides legal analysis, training, technical assistance, and support to advocates working to combat anti-immigrant legislation and ordinances, many of which are far reaching and penalize not only the undocumented, but their families, business owners, and others who interact with them.
Other Resources
Border Crossing/Immersion Experience
JFI’s Community Education Information on DACA for Clergy and Parish Staff
United We Dream and PICO’s Fact Sheet on President Obama’s New Dream Policy
USCCB’s Summary of th DHS Announcement of Deferred Action for DREAM Eligible Youth
Presentation from Information Session on Catholic Church’s Position on Immigration
Based on “Strangers No More” – Joint Pastoral Letter of Jan. 2003
St. Mary of the Angels Parish
Anderson, S.C.
Contact: Leo Marsden
Download the PDF