A Life-Giving Ecology for All

Introducing Building a New Culture: Central Themes in Recent Church Teaching on the Environment
(Justice and Peace Commission, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops [CCCB]).

Materials

Videos:

Program One: A Life-Giving Ecology for All

Website:

Documents:

Study Guide

Goal

The goal of Program One is to introduce students to Church thought on the environment, highlighting documents from recent Popes and Canadian Bishops, as well as the efforts and thoughts of Catholic religious, lay communities and individuals with long-standing commitments to eco justice.

Steps

1. Show the video "Program One: A Life-Giving Ecology for All "

2. Ask students to form small groups to describe the following impressions from the video:

• What is the document mentioned in this episode and why was it created?
• What small steps can we make towards improving the environment?
• What did you know after viewing the video that you didn't know before?
• Which quote from what pope in this program means the most to you and why?

3. Option for Take-Home Assignment. Using the internet links offered here, find more facts about:

• Existing Catholic eco justice initiatives
• The writings of Popes on the environment

4. Write 1.5 pages on the results of your research.

5. Group discussion

In groups, first share your short essays and then, asking one person to represent the discussion, make presentations to the class about any or all of the above.
Include suggestions on how students could start an ongoing eco justice project or become involved with local Catholic eco justice projects already in existence.