Unity's EarthCare Team - Leading the Way

Unity Churches International Earthcare Team began in the Northwest region, where it developed through grassroots efforts of Unity communities. The team encourages practical actions by Unity ministries such as energy efficiency, community gardens, trail maintenance, tree plantings, and stream cleanups.

Every year since 2004 the International Earthcare Team convenes at a conference to inspire a "green" consciousness. And last year it produced the Declaration for EarthCare. Here's a little snippet:

There is a standard for the practice of being human. We are called to be stewards of Earth. ...We declare our covenant with God to walk upon Earth for the greatest good of all creation.

I commend the Northwest region for initiating such an endeavor that addresses a crucial issue in today's world: a sustainable future for the Earth and its inhabitants. Unity churches have an enormous amount of resources (material and spiritual) to assist in the effort toward a hospitable future.

The Unity movement is full of caring, mindful people who are God-centered, want to see the Christ revealed in not only our personal and social lives but also in the ecological being of the Earth, and realize that this entails engaging in active environmental work. This means, firstly, raising consciousness about the problems in our current situation and informing people of what they can do to help through conferences, declarations, publications, festivals, etc. Expanding people's consciousness will, in turn, lead people's words and deeds in such a sustainable direction. Then it takes concretely doing the actions to benefit the environment in our families and communities.

Here are some practical steps that the EarthCare Team has suggested for helping to lessen environmental problems:

*Put up a “green board” in your center and update it weekly with tips, information about “green” events in your community, and how-to pamphlets from national organizations. *Conduct energy audits with your local power providers who may be able to suggest ways to make your center more energy efficient. *Set up compost bins near your center's kitchen. *Place recycling bins throughout your center. *Use native plants in landscaping and mulch to reduce water usage. *Have film “showings” at your center, and feature films such as An Inconvenient Truth or Kilowatt Ours. *Switch to fluorescent and LED lighting throughout your facility. *Place your lights on motion sensors where feasible. *Adopt a small public park to care for and honor. *Give congregants saplings to plant at home or at your center.

The Northwest region's International Earthcare Team is leading the way for the rest of the Unity movement to highten our consciousness of environmental issues and take practical steps toward future sustainability in any way we're able.

See the Earthcare Team's write-up on Unity.org.