Earth in Earnest

Welcome to the April edition of the New Community Project’s environmental e-newsletter, Earth in Earnest

"Look at the stars. Look how they shine for you." ~Yellow, by Coldplay

In this edition:
*Facts to Act on-What can we do?
*Simplify-Ideas for living more and using less
*Good News-Worship resources for a better world
*What’s to eat? –Dietary choices as an act of faith

In a recent study, the American Lung Association found that over 175 million Americans, or 58% of the population, dwell in areas that have unhealthy levels of either ozone or particle pollution. The situation can be worse in the summertime or in areas, such as California, that experience a lot of sunlight year round, as sunlight is key in making ozone. Perhaps even more startling, an article that I recently read in a medical journal states that the air quality within most homes is more toxic than the outside air quality due to cleaning chemicals and cosmetic products kept and used within the home. As is the case with many environmental issues, the poorer populations are hardest hit as those in poverty are more likely to dwell near major highways and more polluted areas. There is also the financial consideration of medical bills incurred by air pollution-related illnesses. The good news is that things are improving in some areas due, in part, to stricter EPA regulations.

“And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.' And it was so." ~Genesis 1: 14-15

Facts to Act on - In February, legislation was introduced that, if passed, could raise air quality standards. The Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 2010 (S. 2995) was introduced by senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Read about the proposed measures here and contact your own senators to urge them to support these ammendments.

Simplify - It is frightening to think of our own homes as toxic environments, but the fact is that many commonly used household cleaners and cosmetic products are neither healthy for us as individuals or for the earth. The good news is that environmentally friendly alternatives are becoming more and more affordable and easy to find. I was recently pleasantly surprised to see that my local grocery store now carries Seventh Generation products, which I had formerly purchased by mail. Even better news is that you can make safe and earth-friendly cleansers cheaply with things you probably have on hand. For example vinegar or baking soda dilluted with water can be used to clean almost anything. Additionally, I found an excellent online resource regarding green cleaning at PlanetGreen.

"Technology...is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and stabs you in the back with the other."--C.P. Snow, 1971

Good News - New Community Project offers a wide selection of worship and creative arts resources that can be used to promote a broad range of care for creation themes.

Looking for a breath of fresh air? Look no further than our upcoming Learning Tours to the Amazon and Alaska. Pristine streams, unpolluted air and the sounds of silence--hard to find where we live, but all around you on these trips. Take a deep breath--and register today!

"Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans."
— Jacques Cousteau

What's to eat?

There are lots of good reasons not to eat any meat, however this is an adorable article that propose ten excellent reasons not to eat pigs. Instead try this mock meatloaf recipe, which also happens to be vegan.

The New Community Project website offers recipes, some are vegetarian, some are vegan, all are earth-friendly. Find them at here.

Mama's Mock Meatloaf

Better than what mom used to make. Serve it with ketchup, mashed potatoes, and gravy.

1 medium onion, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced (optional)
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 packages beef–flavor Gimme Lean Beef
1/4 cup oatmeal, dry
2 slices white bread, crumbled
3 Tbsp. ketchup
2 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. pepper

Coating ingredients:
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Sauté the onion and green pepper in the oil over medium heat until soft. Combine in a bowl with the ground beef alternative, oatmeal, bread, ketchup, garlic salt, and pepper. Thoroughly mix with a spoon or your hands.

Press the mixture into an oiled loaf pan. Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix together the ingredients for the coating and set aside.

Remove the loaf from the oven and turn it out onto a baking sheet. Spread the coating over the entire loaf. Cook, uncovered, for another 15 minutes.

Makes 6 servings

Find more tasty, earth-friendly recipes here.

To submit a vegetarian, vegan or otherwise environmentally friendly recipe, email kchaffin@newcommunityproject.org with "recipe" in the subject line.

NCP main office: 718 Wilder St. , Elgin , IL 60123 ; 888-800-2985 toll free; ncp@newcommunityproject.org