World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

“Аir pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally, with some estimated 6.5 million premature deaths across the world attributed to indoor and outdoor air pollution.”

– United Nations

Make your voice heard for environmental protection, anyone can do it! In Canada, young people have been leading the way for many years. Groups and organizations continue to pressure governments to take concrete action on climate change.

“The phaseout of ozone depleting substances have not only helped protect the ozone layer for present and future generations, but have also contributed to the global efforts that address climate change; it has protected human health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful UV radiation from reaching the Earth”

– United Nations

“The simple act of cleaning has become a force that binds together people and groups that would otherwise never dream of working towards the same goal.”

A citizen’s movement now in more than 190 countries to clean up the beaches, rivers, forests, and streets on the same day. This global clean up has mobilized millions of volunteers and organizations across the planet.

-worldcleanupday.org

“For too long, we have been waging a senseless and suicidal war on nature. The result is three interlinked environmental crises. Climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pollution that threaten our viability as a species. They are caused by unsustainable production and consumption”.

– United Nations

A great opportunity to reduce air pollution! Cities worldwide participate in this initiative and encourage motorists not to use their car for the whole day, choosing alternative transport instead.

“Globally, around 14 % of food produced is lost between harvest and retail, while an estimated 17% of total global food production is wasted:

• 11% in households,
• 5% in the food service,
• 2% in retail.”

– United Nations

“The oceans are the earth’s major shapers of climate. The health of the oceans is essential to human well-being, to biological diversity and to the stability of our world’s climate. And the oceans are home to countless species of life, from great whales that are loved by all to tiny creatures that only God knows.”

-Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. June 8, 2016

On this last day of the Season of Creation, many churches welcome pets inside and offer a blessing of the animals while paying homage to St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. It is also World Animal Day and World Habitat Day, where we can reflect on our relationship with all the creatures of the Earth and live simply like St. Francis of Assisi.