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2024 World Earth Day: Show Appreciation & Stewardship for Planet Earth April 15th, 2024
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Bishop Michael Pfeifer, O.M.I.
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo
Pastoral Statement for World Earth Day
The 54th Earth Day anniversary will be celebrated on April 22nd, 2024, by millions of people in many countries to safeguard and fight for a brighter future for Planet Earth. World Earth Day always focuses attention on appreciation and stewardship for planet earth. In a particular way, EarthDay.ORG, the global organizer of Earth Day which grew out of the first Earth Day, has announced the global theme for Earth Day 2024; Planet Vs. Plastics.
(Image by Elena Pashynnaia, Pixabay)
The first Earth Day in 1970 mobilized millions of Americans from all walks of life to give birth to the modern environmental movement. On international Mother Earth Day, we reflect on humanity’s important relationship, not only among human beings, but with the whole natural world. The UN Secretary General has reminded us that from the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that grows our food- humanity’s health depends on the health of Mother Earth. He cautions us that sadly, many times, we seem hellbent on its destruction. Our actions are laying waste to forests, jungles, farmland, wetlands, oceans, coral reefs, rivers, seas, and lakes. Biodiversity is collapsing as one million species teeters on the brink of extinction. We must end these relentless and senseless wars on nature. We have the tools, the knowledge, and the solutions, but we must pick up the pace.
The annual celebration of Earth Day indeed calls us to pick up the pace of not only caring for our fellow human beings, but we must also care for the entire Earth and all creation. Our Creator gave us stewardship over the Earth, not to dominate it but to care, protect, and enrich it. As Pope Francis has said many times, Earth is our Common Home, the only home we have, the only one we will pass on to the next generations. This World Day leads us to have a new appreciation and respect for the beauty and goodness of the natural world that surrounds us, nothing more and nothing less, than God’s work of art, his own beautiful gallery. Through the beauty, variety, harmony, and truly wonder-filled marvels of creation, our Creator has something very important to say to us. Today all humanity should lift up prayers of thanksgiving to our loving God for the wonderful gift of Mother Earth, which provides us with the means we need to stay alive. And then, humbly pray that we will be better stewards to better care for this magnificent gift.
2023: World Water Day & World Earth Day are Linked & Flow Together March 22nd, 2023
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BISHOP MICHAEL PFEIFER, O.M.I.
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo
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We focus on World Water Day, March 22, 2023
First, we focus on World Water Day, whose theme for 2023 is Accelerating Change. What is World Water Day? World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance that started in 1993 focusing on the importance of Water, coordinated by UN-Water and led by one or more U-Water members and partners. This wonderful creation day celebrates Water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis.
A core focus of WWD is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030). In preparation for March 22nd, people and organizations hold earlier World Water Day events in accord with the theme Accelerating Change and participate in the global campaign launched in the preceding months by UN-Water and social media. On World Water Day itself, the UN World Water Development Report is released focusing on the same topics as the campaign and recommending policy direction to decision makers.
This WWD is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. Because water affects us all we need everyone to take action. You and your family, school, church, and community can make a difference by changing the way you use, consume and manage water in your lives.
Some action steps
> Save water: take shorter showers and don’t let the tap run when brushing teeth, preparing food, and doing dishes.
> Make it equal: share water gathering between men and women, girls, and boys.
> Flush safe: fixing leaking water and waste pipes, empty full septic tanks and report dumping of sludge.
> Stop polluting: don’t put food waste, oils, medicine and chemicals down the toilet or drains.
> Eat local: buy local seasonal foods and look for products made with less water.
> Be curious: find out where my water comes from and how it is shared and visit a treatment plant to see how our waste is managed.
> Protect nature: plant a tree or create a rain garden–use natural solutions to reduce the risk of flooding and store water.
> Build pressure: write to my elected representatives about budgets for improving water at home and abroad.
> Clean up: take part in cleanups at my local rivers, lakes, wetlands, or beaches.
(Taken from US Water, World Water Day 2023 Accelerating Change)
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