Interfaith organisations in Australia are coming together to render support and hold prayer and meditation events to mark Earth Overshoot Day. The coming together as multifaith groups will render support God’s Creation as we know it on Earth
This year Earth Overshoot Day will fall on 22 August. To maximise publicity about this solemn milestone day, Interfaith networks will assemble at with their prayer and witness at midday on Friday 21 August to alert people to Earth Overshoot Day the next day.
What is Earth Overshoot Day?
Earth Overshoot Day is the day when humanity’s demands for ecological resources (fresh water, fish, forests, etc), exceeds what the Earth can renew in a year.
What is Earth Overshoot Day?
Earth Overshoot Day is the day when humanity’s demands for ecological resources (fresh water, fish, forests, etc), exceeds what the Earth can renew in a year.
This is driven by our attitudes and disconnect towards the Earth, our common home that God created and entrusted to our care. Collectively, we are over-consuming, over-exploiting and de-stabilising God’s Creation. This has upset its delicate balances and recovery processes. We see this in increasingly ‘unprecedented’ fires, drought and extreme weather.
Yet our changed behaviour – even for a short time – to stop COVID-19 spreading has pushed back the date of Earth Overshoot Day this year by about three weeks. This does not mean we can relax, though. The window for avoiding catastrophic consequences from damage to our climate continues to close rapidly. We are also driving mass extinction of species and breakdown of the integrity of our common home.
Why do we need to change our attitudes and behaviour?
These unfolding climate and ecological crises – and COVID-19 – are tragic warning signs of our broken relationship with God’s Creation and our loss of understanding our interrelationship with all living things and the physical environment that enables life. Australians are some of the biggest contributors to this problem: if everyone behaved like us, humanity would consume the equivalent of over 4 Earths each year!
Why is it important to mark Earth Overshoot Day?
Australians are some of the biggest contributors to this problem. If everyone behaved like us, humanity would consume the equivalent of over 4 Earths each year. www.overshootday.org
Our attitudes must change Now it is time for action
On Fri 21st August, take symbolic action by ringing chimes or bells or lighting candles.
- A coalition of many faith traditions will mark Earth Overshoot Day 2020, affirming our belief that the Earth is sacred for all people and all life.
- As people of faith we recognise our failure to care for our common home, the Earth, in words, attitudes and deeds.
- We live our Faith in our actions. We do not simply despair about the state of the Earth, but seek to reduce the threat our lifestyles pose to our Earth and to future generations.
- We seek to live in harmony with each other and the environment that sustains us all, taking only what we need and sharing our resources.
- We commit to work towards a sustainable ecological footprint, to reduce our carbon emissions and to support vulnerable communities.
- We encourage others to do the same. We do this with hope and determination to make a positive impact on our common future.
- Speak with your Faith community leaders about Earth Overshoot.
- Encourage them to lead your faith community in action for change.
- Urge your political representatives to act for a thriving Earth for all.
- Pray for all people to see the ecological crises in our midst and take action.
- Watch “Fight for Planet A” on ABC I-View and take action.
