The Return of the Stone Age?

Prior to a recent meeting, I was opening my note book and observed that the paper was made of stone. This aroused my curiosity.  On the back cover, it stated that stone paper is:  “recyclable, durable, grease resistant, tear/scuff resistant, water resistant and never turns yellow.” Some of the women attending this same meeting, tried writing on the paper to experience what it was like.  The pen seemed to glide along the page.  A certain ink took a few moments to dry.  The paper looked very white and felt smooth to the touch, strong and thick. I began to wonder if stone paper is a viable option when searching for school supplies or purchasing wrapping paper and wallpaper. Being a lover of nature, who is alarmed by the devastation of the forests, I was hopeful.  

Travelling the information highway, I discovered further enlightenment. The internet told me that this “flexible, mineral-based medium” is growing in popularity. It is argued that stone paper is a better alternative to the pulp-based standard since trees, water, chlorine acids and petroleum are not used in its production nor does its creation cause air or water pollution.  Only half the energy needed to produce normal paper is required for this process.  Stone paper is made primarily from calcium carbonate, a very common element which is the principle component in many types of stone, including limestone and marble. On mining and quarry sites, enormous amounts of calcium carbonate are scraped away in order to get at precious minerals. This excess material can be put to use in the paper industry.  Stone paper is made in Canada. 

Along with crushed stone powder, stone paper products are made with a non-toxic and recyclable binding agent called “High Density Polyethylene.”  Although logging would be reduced, an alarming fact I read stated that, “if all paper were replaced by stone paper, global plastic production would increase by up to two-thirds.”  Some environmentalists claim that the recycling potential of stone paper is a controversial topic. The producers say that stone paper “can be reused in many areas such as construction”, others note that the “plastic and stone components are leached out during recycling and end up in our wastewater” causing pollution.  In order to be decomposed, stone paper needs to be exposed to “direct sunlight.” It is suggested that “unbleached recycled waste paper” is a better alternative.  Stone Paper … hmmm … it is not a clear cut way to go! 

Kathy O’Keefe CSJ 

Reflection on Flint Water Crisis

It is not unusual for a group, to want “to do something” after a disaster. We want to help, heal, reduce pain, bring relief, and some balance through song, because our desires are deep and well-intended, loving gestures. At the same time, our intention “to act”, “to do” something, invites me to look deeper, “to wonder”, and ask the question, what might this situation be saying to me personally. What are the energies moving within me? How might such pain, loss, confusion, be also leading me personally to greater transformation?  

We can “do” but can we also allow ourselves “to be”, to feel the monumental pain of mothers with children, to grieve imperfections of our society and civic leaders involved in this horrific situation of toxic lead in the Flint water supply? Does this crises move me towards greater wholeness, oneness with others and self?  We do change and that is the paradox and mystery of pain.

Perhaps there is a challenge here. Can I listen to details of this tragedy without adding more waves of violence, anger and blame into our universe and towards others? Can I/we hold all the confusion and pain lovingly without judgement? There is no doubt in my mind that Divine presence is around us and within us, bursting forth in ways we cannot imagine, holding the pieces and threads of our groans, and us, intimately, in this darkness. Beatrice Bruteau in Holy Thursday Revolution, urges us “to exercise our imaginations to offset pessimism and despair”. In this situation as in so many other environmental disasters, consciousness expands bringing together new relationships and sculpting a new creation. At this moment it may not be clear, but in time, maybe hundreds or thousands of years from now, this water crises may be understood as related primitive roots of a new birthing. 

These are the energies I hold, the connections I make, and the new picture I paint. Seeking stillness. Open to a mindful presence. I like to believe that we as people, personally and collectively are evolving just like the original birthing of the universe and planet earth itself. According to Hildegard of Bingen, “God has arranged everything in the universe according to everything else”. Everything in creation is not perfectly shaped and beautiful, in fact it is as we have experienced before, it is both messy and Mystery.  We are on a journey, still unfolding.

Pat St. Louis, CSJ

“YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!”

For two years, I was blessed to live at Villa St. Joseph Retreat and Ecology Centre in Cobourg, ON and to spend the summer at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, ON. Nettie and Susan, two gifted cooks, skillfully prepared delicious meals that were nourishing for both body and soul! Experiencing earth to table eating allowed me to enjoy the wonderful sensory delight of organic food. If persons in Cobourg and Guelph wish to grow their own food organically, they are able to rent community garden plots. Community Shared Agriculture in Guelph provides freshly harvested organic products for persons to take home for family meals.  What joy I experienced as I visited farmers’ markets, connecting with the people who grow our food! Local food is not necessarily organic; and, organic food is not always local. Look in your own community for the perfect combination of local food grown using organic or ecological practices. 

Organic farmers follow the specific ecological practices stipulated in Canada’s National Organic Standard. They work with the diversity that nature already offers: They save and exchange seeds and knowledge. Healthy soil, rich in minerals and nutrients, produces appealing and flavourful food. As the saying goes, “we are what we eat.” It is important to know exactly what our bodies are digesting and how it came to be on our plate in the first place. The wisdom of organic farming speaks for itself. To sample some tried and true recipes, you can visit Susan Sprague’s blog at:  www.loyolahousekitchen.wordpress.com where you can get recipe the recipe for her Vegan Carrot Cake pictured above.

Bon Appetite!

https://loyolahousekitchen.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/septembers-taste-of-italy-celebration-3/

Kathleen O’Keefe, CSJ

Alberta’s Climate Plan: Game Changed

Ever have one of those days when all the assumptions you had about an issue turned upside down? Today (November 22^nd) is one of those days.

Addressing climate change in Canada has long been an intractable problem. This is because, despite the slowly transforming economies and declining carbon pollution emissions in Ontario, Quebec and B.C., Alberta’s emissions were growing at a breakneck pace and wiping out the reductions happening everywhere else. As a result Canadian governments were left with two options: deny or avoid the problem, or force change on Alberta.

Needless to say previous federal governments have consistently chosen door one.

But today’s climate change announcement in Alberta could change all that forever. The new plan will:

• Cap the carbon emissions from the tar sands at 100 MT and eventually force them to decline
• Close the fleet of coal electricity plants by 2030, drastically reducing both deadly local air pollution and also massive amounts of carbon emissions
• Increase the amount of renewable electricity on the grid to 30% by the same year
• See Alberta join with Ontario, Quebec and B.C. in putting a price on carbon pollution. Alberta’s price will start at $20/year in 2017, rise to $30 in 2018 and then rise annually. Money from the fee will be invested in programs to further reduce carbon emissions and help to ensure that price increases don’t harm citizens with limited income
• Significantly reduce waste methane emissions from oil and gas wells that are also important causes of climate change

This is a historic moment for Alberta and Canada. This is a commitment to tangible and aggressive climate action and we all should applaud Alberta for this huge change in direction.

Based on this announcement, Alberta’s carbon pollution should soon peak and start to decline. This is a fundamental pivot after years of uncontrolled carbon emissions growth and it removes one of the largest barriers to developing a meaningful Canadian climate strategy.

This announcement also sets Alberta on a path toward diversifying its economy and recognizing that a global transition away from fossil fuels is essential if the world as we know it is to survive. The money collected from a new price on carbon pollution can be invested in more energy efficient homes and businesses, new clean technology and renewable energy jobs.

With this move from Alberta, there is now nothing standing in the federal government’s way of developing a credible climate strategy and following Alberta’s lead by setting a limit on carbon pollution in Canada. Canada can now move ahead and fulfill its promise to cut carbon pollution in line with global science-based targets. 

Today’s announcement is very good news for Albertans and Canadians. It will help protect us all from dangerous climate change, set the scene for Canada to restore our good name, and places the country and the province in a solid position to harness the opportunities for growth in a clean economy.

This is the beginning of something new, folks. I am looking forward to a new Canada on the stage in Paris at the U.N. climate negotiations.

Guest blogger, Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environment Defence www.environmentaldefence.ca/

Another Messenger Came…..Will We Listen?

Another Messenger Came…..Will We Listen?

...David Suzuki came, a voice crying in the wilderness; we laughed and barely listened as the smog increased.

...The First Nations came, beating drums for Mother Earth; we polluted the water and raped the land.

...The scientists came, with unquestionable evidence – the sea is rising, the earth is warming, the ozone is disappearing; we silenced them and destroyed their research.

...The poor came, unable to till the barren soil now becoming deserts; we turned away and continued our destructive ways.

...The hurricanes, fires, tsunamis and blizzards came; we rebuilt and carried on as usual.

...Pope Francis came carrying peace and Laudato Si.  Will we listen and mend our destructive path to end it all?

Will We Listen?

Jean Moylan, CSJ