Why do we have a created world—because God knew we would like it! The environment is a part of God's creation. As such, it is a moral issue that merits our care and concern.

Without a properly sustained Earth, we humans could not continue our existence. Because no other creatures have consciousness, no other creatures have a choice about the environment.

Since humans have consciousness, we possess the privilege of choice. We can protect or destroy the Earth.

At this time protecting the unborn is so much in the political and religious foreground. Such an emphasis is consistent with the Catholic tradition of respect for life.

Sometimes, however, there is an inconsistency regarding reverence for all of life, human and other forms.

John Paul II spoke often of the importance of ecology. Respecting the life of the poor, respecting all of creation—forests, air, water and the soil are essential for continuing life on Earth. These do not receive the emphasis or attention as the protection of the unborn.

Care of Earth is extremely necessary for the very existence of human beings as well as other species. Water, food and air are essential for life on the planet. Polluted water, contaminated soil and toxic air shorten lives if not actually ending them.

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) has issued a strong defense on providing potable water for all of God's people. Polluted water is a major problem. Do the poor buy bottled water if they are living in a country that has no or very little pure water? Notice the price of a bottle of water.

Polluted water often causes contaminated soil. Corporations have been pouring waste in streams, rivers and the soil with no thought of what it does to the long-term condition of the health of the soil and the people of the area.

Toxic air is the result of indifference on the part of many manufacturing plants ignoring what their smoke stacks might be spreading in the atmosphere.

In addition, the profligate use of cars has contributed to global warming. Almost daily we read of the results of this warming trend. Artic ice masses are receding at a rapid rate and eventually will cause coastal flooding.

This air is causing major crop disruption and a change in growing patterns of many native plants. For example, this past summer was extraordinarily warm and dry in many parts of the world.

The United States contributes more air pollution than any other nation. Who knows the effect of our life styles on natural disasters such as hurricane Katrina?

Personal Efforts

These factors have influenced my decision to work in Menifee County in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky. Because education is essential for changing attitudes and offering alternatives, I do volunteer tutoring in the county GED Program, the local school and in a nearby prison.

Heifer International, which I coordinate in the county, offers low-income people seeds for gardening, as well as heifers or other means for the participants to increase their income and perhaps improve their diet. Heifer's reputation is as an organization that cares for the health of Earth.

Tarr Ridge is the site of my small garden. It provides some very good vegetables and fruit in season. A recently completed straw bale addition (see left) provides a model for alternative building material. The straw is replaceable annually as contrasted with wood, which takes years to grow to a usable size. The straw bales provide excellent insulation; this lessens the need for as much heating as a conventional structure.

My endeavors in addressing the major concerns of earth-stewardship are small efforts to confront a major problem in the world and particularly in the United States because of our extravagant, wasteful life styles.

The common good requires us to live simply and model a counter cultural way of life because God will like it.

About the author: Gayle Brabec, BVM (Luellen) ministers on Tarr Ridge, Menifee County, Ky.

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© 2006 Sisters of Charity, BVM