For Earth's Sake protecting our planet is our duty

Scientists agree that Earth is warming, which is destructive to life on the planet. While some may deny that human activity causes climate change, the vast majority of the scientific community does not.

We stand in communion with all of creation. As people of faith, we are called to take action for our common home, Earth.

It is clear that the future of life on Earth is in our hands.

Too long have we as a people and nation treated our Earth as an object to be used and abused.

Through prayer, contemplation, readings, workshops, and everyday life, we have grown in awareness and deep understanding that Earth is not an object but, rather, a sacred subject, worth relating to as a teacher, mentor and healer.

Participate in a March

Whether it's related to fracking, climate marches, or visiting Standing Rock, North Dakota, we advocate for Earth's sake by (literally) standing for justice.

In 2014, we marched in

On April 29th, we marched again

Pray with Us

We invite you to participate in the prayer below as you are able, and to share this freely with others.

“All issues are connected to the issue of climate change. We need to develop a right relationship with plants, animals, and all creatures in order to have a right relationship with God.”

-Dominican Sister of Hope Nancy Erts, OP

Join with Your Local Community

We are members of various organizations in Westchester County who ban together to protect our common home.

With these organizations, we create solid action steps about educating ourselves and others, advocating for Earth's sake, and even gardening communally (without GMOs). Because we share this land, it only makes sense that we join with our neighbors to act in Earth's best interest.

Interested in getting involved?

Email or call Sister Bette Ann Jaster to learn how to take action for Earth's sake.

"Climate change underlies poverty, and then poverty certainly drives human trafficking. People are displaced from homes, food distribution is curtailed, labor source disappears, they begin to find other ways of refuge; it’s a terrible situation and it’s not getting any better."

-Dominican Sister of Hope Pat Flynn, OP

The good news? If climate change is related to human trafficking and other world issues, eradicating it will only multiply the benefits for all of us.

Write a Letter

to a local paper or to Congress

It's a concrete way to make your voice heard. Dominican Sister of Hope Catherine Walsh wrote a letter on climate change here:

In Westchester, Sister Bette Ann wrote a letter focused on fracking:

Want to write but aren't sure what to say?

Ask the Hard Questions

So many of us don’t think about where our water comes from when we turn on the tap, or where our oil comes from when we turn up our thermostat or fill up our cars. But, that information is vital to us as part of a global family who calls Earth home.

“The awareness of the system that brings you water or energy just isn’t there. So many of us have a total lack of understanding of our dependence on the land.”

-Michael Prate, former Jesuit Volunteer and food justice advocate on the Rosebud Native American reservation in South Dakota

Mike Prate (right)

Do you know where your water comes from?

(Not the faucet. We mean the true source of your water. If you have a well, do you know where your town or city's water is sourced from?)

Do you know where your food comes from?

(Not the local grocery store. Where is your food grown? Who is growing it? How is it transported?)

What about your neighbors’ water and food?

Just as important:

Do you know your history?

Do you know who was living here before you?

Do you know why they’re not here now?

These are questions that we all do well to answer, especially in times of water crises like those that have affected Flint and the Navajo nation across four states. Find out from where your water is sourced. Find out how to preserve that source not only for the short term, but for generations to come.

Take Action

Not sure what you can do for Earth? Start with one specific action. We've built houses for bluebirds, planted milkweed for Monarch butterflies, and changed local legislation to allow beekeeping (we now keep two hives of bees).

But, those are all small examples. On a bigger level, we've committed to securing much of our 61-acre land at Mariandale in a conservation easement. This will legally protect it from development in perpetuity so that our neighborhood can maintain its natural beauty for decades to come.

Ready to Commit to Protecting and Preserving Earth?

There are a wealth of options available to you.

TAKE ACTION NOW.

Created By
Dominican Sisters of Hope
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