ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS COURSE
by Juliette Cox MSc PGCE
November2007
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Introduction
This environmental awareness course has been written for the use of Christian Ecology Link, its members, and others who make use of its materials. It is designed for Christian groups, with resources appropriate for a variety of ages, including children and young people. In its present form, it is particularly suited to group leaders. Once they have participated in and/or worked through the course themselves, leaders can tailor the material to their particular groups. The purpose of the course is to raise awareness about environmental issues, and to help participants to develop a sense of love for and connection with God’s creation. The course includes a variety of experiential activities to encourage this connection. There is a shortage of resources of this nature, and so it is my hope that the course can be widely used – either as a stand-alone course, or as preparation for practical projects. The course is presented in four units. Each unit can take between one and three weeks, as appropriate for the participants.
Acknowledgements
I wish to acknowledge Miriam Pepper for her great effort in editing the script and for liaising between myself and other members of CEL. She has been crucial in seeing this work through to its completion. I would also like to thank those who commented on the course, in particular Chris Waltonand Ross Ashley, whose detailed comments/critique were invaluable in pulling the final version together.
Contents
Course sheets / PageUnit 1 / Outing to the Countryside / 1
Unit 2 / Appreciation of the Wonders of Creation / 3
Unit 3 / Examine our Impact on the Environment – Calculation of Ecological Footprint / 4
Unit 4 / Our Relationship with the Earth and with Other People / 5
Resource sheets
Unit 1 / Resource 1a: Emo-Scan / 6
Resource 1b: The Author’s Personal Observations about the Wonders of Nature / 7
Resource 1c: Inspirational poetry / 8
Unit 2 / Resource 2a: The Gift of God’s Creation and Wilderness Meditation / 9
Resource 2b: God’s Design and Purpose / 11
Resource 2c: Celebrating the Beauty of Creation / 12
Resource 2d: Mandala Templates / 14
Unit 3 / Resource 3a: Some Christian Perspectives on Environmental Issues / 16
Resource 3b Threats to the Global Environment / 17
Unit 4 / Resource 4a: Learning about the State of the Planet / 21
Resource 4b: Act Now! / 22
Resource 4c: Useful Websites and Green Goals / 24
UNIT 1: OUTING TO THE COUNTRYSIDE
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Aim
To experience nature more fully and to become aware of and appreciate God's hand and essence in creation.
Introduction
Nature is not a backdrop which perhaps many of us treat it as. We humans try to emulate nature in the way we construct objects of use, but we fall far short when we compare our designs with those of our Maker! And there is so much that we do not know or understand. But this is not as critical as our seeming inability to recognise the beauty and perfection of nature's design all around us. The natural world is full of love and wonder and offers us spiritual renewal.
To provide some background, resources 1a, b and c are provided. The following quotes are taken from Maclean (1991) and Francis et al (2001), some of which could be read aloud for more advanced participants during the outing:
Todd, J. in Maclean, 1991 states that "there are many ways to explore nature and discover its immense mysteries. Scientists dissect and decode nature with microscopes and computers" (including satellite mapping) "and the realms they have discovered are truly wonderful.
However, there is another, lesser-known path to knowledge and association with the natural world… This is achieved by simply attuning oneself to the Earth and its creatures, the gateway for which is love and appreciation."
We are concerned here with tuning into the spiritual essence of our experience in the natural world and recognising the difference between these two ways of experiencing nature.
Berry, T. 1990 in Maclean, 1991 states that we need to "express a true intimacy with the larger Earth community. Such intimacy requires an awareness of the unique aspects of each region of the Earth. It requires a consciousness of the many varied species, and of the individuals within each species, as they speak to us from the inner depths of reality. In understanding the vast web of interrelations between all natural phenomena - the flow of energy whereby each reality sustains and is sustained by all other realities in the entire world - we come to true wisdom."
In fact "humanity's greatest contribution to life on the planet is to love consciously and to bring more health, vigour and beauty to life." (Maclean, 1991). There is a great need to develop "a passionate respect for nature and its delicately balanced ecosystems." (Conway and Watson, 1998) "Respect for the cosmos is not an optional extra for human well-being; it is necessary for connecting us with God and God's creation. Respect for the cosmos opens people to wonder and stirs humility; it also supports efforts to live in harmony with the complex sea of wonder in which we all live." (Mullino Moore, in Eds. Francis et al, 2001)
As Tim Cooper notes, the world is a consequence of nothing less than divine choice, God's will. "God created the cosmos out of his own self, which is love, for loving demands sharing." God reveals Himself to the world through his wondrous creation. We can sense God's presence, goodness and love in everything that He has created as He considered them all to be "very good"!
References:
Berry, T. (1990) 'The Dream of the Earth' Sierra Club Books.
Conway, R. and Watson, B. (1998) 'Green futures: the purpose and the passion that propels technology, and the implications for religious education'. British Journal of Religious Education, 20, 166-177.
Cooper, T. (1997) 'Sustaining the Earth - A Christian approach to caring for the environment.'
Francis,L.J., J. Astley and M. Robbins Eds (2001) 'The Fourth R for the Third Millennium" Lindisfarne Books
Maclean, D. (1991) 'To Honour the Earth' with a Forward by Thomas Berry (1990) Harper, San Francisco
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UNIT 1: OUTING TO THE COUNTRYSIDE (continued)
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Objectives
Participants will:
•Deepen their appreciation of the beauty and wonder of the natural world;
•Become aware of the spiritual essence of nature;
•Enjoy the closeness of God in the sanctuary of His creation.
Steps to Deliver
Planning the Countryside Outing:
A visit to either a well-known local nature reserve with public facilities and parking close by is recommended, or alternatively to a country park if it is not too busy and if a suitable secluded spot with an inspiring view is known by the leader. The good thing about a country park is its educational facilities and events which are offered all year round. The country parks are particularly accessible and are likely to entice those who are less confident to later visit the countryside on a regular basis.
A safety check should be carried out by the leader beforehand and a letter of invitation should be sent out to the course participants in good time, including a clear map for finding the meeting place if group transport isn't hired for the occasion. Dogs, although admitted in country parks, may prove to be a distraction for this exercise and are best advised to stay at home. The weather is an important factor and checking of the forecast a week ahead is suggested. Sunshine is an important element in the enjoyment of the countryside.
Step 1
The group, while being still and silent, can open themselves to nature by alerting all their five senses and, most importantly, their spiritual being. It might be a good idea for them to have a short walk to the site chosen for its beautiful views and natural surroundings. It is important for the group to relax and to breathe the fresh air before commencing with this sensory activity. The group is encouraged to become aware of the sights, sounds, feelings including the breeze on their faces, any sense of peace, happiness, appreciation of beauty.
Step 2
After having had a chance to attune themselves to nature, the group can then be encouraged to become aware of nature communicating with them. God may be speaking to our hearts through His divine gift of creation.
Step 3
To start to appreciate the value of the natural world, questioning ourselves whether what we are experiencing here is something new and which we have perhaps ignored consciously or unconsciously in the past. Without picking any plants, the participants could be encouraged to make a closer examination of a particular flower or tree bark or insect or any wildlife without causing it disturbance.
Step 4
Become aware of any sensations experienced - including physical, emotional and spiritual. Do we take these gifts for granted? Are we moved to praise and thank God? Complete an "Emo-Scan" (Resource 1a) in order to discover how the countryside experience affected each individual which could be discussed later. A comparison might be made by conducting an emo-scan in their everyday urban surroundings in order to highlight the values of being in the countryside, away from the more man-made environment.
Step 5
As a follow-up exercise, the group could examine ways of coming into greater contact with God's creation - to witness its magnificence and offer up praise and thanksgiving to God, praying that we may act as stewards for the benefit of ourselves and future generations. See Resource 1b for the author's experience of the natural world). It is suggested that leaders reflect on their own life-time experiences so that they can express their own enthusiasm to the group.
Learning Outcomes
•Nature is incredibly beautiful and fascinating;
•Nature is a source of peace and spiritual refreshment – both calming and energising;
•We can experience God through nature.
UNIT2: APPRECIATION OF THE WONDERS OF CREATION
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Aim
To raise awareness of the beauty and magnificence of God's creation.
Objectives
Participants will:
•Appreciate the value of creation and what it offers at a personal level.
•Understand how to develop a relationship with nature/God's work and to be open to its infinitesimal wonders.
•Through this deep appreciation and love of nature, strengthen the wish to become stewards of creation and begin to ask how to go about this.
•Understand the fragility of the natural world in the face of our escalating human population and unceasing demands.
•Understand that the Earth is a finite resource and that a balance is required to ensure long-term stability of the global ecosystem, our life-support system.
Steps to Deliver
Step 1
Look at a selection of pictures which illustrate the beauty and magnificence of creation (including an image of the Earth from space, awe-inspiring nature photography, vivid landscapes, familiar creatures from our gardens, unfamiliar sea creatures, magnified images which show the intricacies of certain plant and animal species. (Calendar pictures and posters are ideal or refer to Steve Bloom's book "Wild Nature", Yann Arthus-Bertrand's "The Earth from the Air")
Step 2
Each person could pick out a picture that they particularly like and then share their feelings with the group. If they were actually there in a particular landscape what might their reaction(s) be? The tutor might ask them "why?" for some further responses. (Meditation exercise: Resource 2a)
Step 3
Message for discussion: The God's world is fruitful and able to sustain itself and inspires awe/wonder (Resources 2a and b).
Step 4
Explain that it is often difficult to find words to conjure up the essence of nature. For the more advanced participants read St Francis' Canticle of the Creatures/Brother Sun, the poem “Creation” by Prof R Boyd, Moore's poem, or the well-known hymn "All things bright and beautiful" (Resource 2c). A delightful children's book "Wonderful Earth!" by Butterworth and Inkpen is suitable for the young at heart. A creative activity to follow up could be to colour or design a mandala depicting nature and unity (Resource 2d).
Step 5
Nature is not just a back-drop to our daily lives, nor are we or any part of creation simply an accident. Thinking this way can damage the way we interact with other people, with nature and with God. Lack of respect for nature will exacerbate mindless exploitation of resources through excessive lifestyles. Pope John Paul II (2003) warned that with man's ability to transform the world he "must always respect God's design of creation".
Step 6
Bible Study about God’s design and purpose in creation, including Luke 12, Psalm 96, and a prayer of Adoration. (Resource 2b)
Learning Outcomes
•Recognise God's hand in the beauty of creation.
•Realise that nature reveals God's love and offers us peace, tranquillity and spiritual renewal. Glorifying and praising God is a natural reaction to the goodness and beauty of Creation.
•Nature can be perceived in a variety of ways including visually close-up and from a great distance. Each scale of observation has a distinct beauty and widens our perceptions.
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UNIT 3: EXAMINE OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT- CALCULATION OF ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
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Aim
To examine human impact on the Earth from a global and a group/personal perspective.
Objectives
Participants will:
•Understand the global environmental crisis, in particular the threat of global warming;
•Appreciate the magnitude and the range of human impact on the Earth’s ecosystem and prospects for the future;
•Become familiar with the Ecological Footprint which effectively measures non-sustainability;
•Question whether we are using more than our fair share of the Earth's resources, considering the needs of the global population and future generations;
•Become more aware of the disparities of wealth and lifestyle, which are linked to peoples' quality of life.
Steps to Deliver
Step 1
With the group's greater appreciation of the wonders of creation, we are now ready to consider how humans have disrupted the balance of life on Earth. Introduce the Christian viewpoint on the state of the planet and describe the various global impacts, referring to Resources and 3a and b respectively. Humans love convenience. However, it is important to note that overconsuming does us no favours - it kills the spirit. There is an urgent need for us all to live more simply (
Step 2
Discuss how we, as individuals, may be contributing to the demise of God's Earth. How does this make us feel? Understand that the entire wealth of the world's nations and major corporations is ultimately derived from the Earth's natural resources which are becoming increasingly degraded, polluted, used up and less able to support us all. The Earth's intricate nutrient cycling and phenomenal biodiversity are under threat as their rates of adaptation and adjustment are not going to speed up for our sake!
Step 3
We as individuals can’t be held responsible for the way our society works, but we can try to alleviate our own impact as much as possible. We can also encourage other people and our government to make changes. But first we need to understand the threat of inaction on the future of our world. God's Earth can cope on its own geological time-scale, but God's human race cannot without a global effort to nurture and restore our planet so that it can sustain us and future generations.
Step 4
The ecological footprint is a sustainability indicator. It relates the average productive land available per person across the world to the average land area required per person (in terms of food, wood and infrastructure) to sustain present living standards and includes the space calculated to absorb the carbon dioxide emitted from burning fossil fuels. Currently, the productive space available per person is about 2 hectares (5 acres), but the world average footprint is 2.85 hectares. We are exceeding the Earth's capacity by 30% and this is set to grow with the rapidly expanding middle class of developing nations racing to catch up with the developed world.
Step 5
Use a simple and interactive Footprint tool eg “bestfootforward” (website below), where you can try adjusting your lifestyle choices and witness the potential global impact. Carbon footprint calculations are more focused on the problem of reducing the threat of global warming. The issue of the appropriateness of carbon offsetting could be introduced here when discussing the ethics of flying. Most of these footprint calculations demonstrate how many earths would be needed if everyone shared our particular lifestyle. Sites worth visiting include: and lastly for the leader to understand standardisation issue behind these calculations.
Step 6
The 'Bioregional Development Group's Eco-footprinting', accessible on WWF's webpage indicates that the average person in the UK currently has an ecological footprint of around 6 hectares, or three times the global per capita target! Tutor to explain that we would need three Earths to support us all, consuming at the rate that we do in the UK. Investigate global differences in national average footprints and discuss footprints of some of the poorer nations.