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Creation Caring buildings-the earthshippresented by eric krawczyk ’94-October 12, 2009

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Is God green?

Did Jesus have anything to say about the environment?

What is my role as a Christian in caring for the earth?

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The ProblemThe last half century has been a period of unprecedented change and growth:

• Between 1960 and 2000 the world population doubled from 3 to 6 billion people, and the global economy increased more than six fold.

• To meet this demand, food production increased 2 1/2 times, water use doubled, wood harvests for pulp and paper production tripled, timber production increased by more than half, and installed hydropower capacity doubled.

• However, in meeting these demands, humans changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, compromising the ecosystems upon which all life depends.

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creation carev. 1. applying biblical principles of stewardship to the environment we share with all living things

1. To have any lasting effect, our hearts must be moved by compassion. 2. We may find it dangerous3. We may have to use our own resources 4. It may be inconvenient.5. It may be expensive6. We may be ridiculed.7. We will have to take ongoing responsibility.8. Everyone is our neighbor, including people across the globe and future generations.

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A New Approach: Serving God by Caring for Creation✦More than 85 percent of Americans have some affiliation with a faith group

and attend a church or synagogue at least occasionally, yet almost none have heard even one sermon or participated in a single discussion group on caring for Godʼs creation. I want to change that.

✦The Creation Care mission is simple: We want to serve God by taking care of creation.

✦The Creation Care message is equally clear: If we love our Creator, we must love His creation. Every sacred text calls us to honor the world created for our sustenance, yet we continue to use resources at an unsustainable rate. We are called to leave the world better-or at least as good-as we found it, and yet each of us, every day, is polluting our land, water, and air.

✦The Creation Care’s central text is the Golden Rule, an overarching guideline for earth stewardship that is shared by every religion. We are all called to treat our brothers and sisters as we would like to be treated ourselves. When we use more than our fair share of the worldʼs resources, then we are harming our neighbors.

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Matthew Sleeth, M.D.founder of www.blessedearth.org

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6 principle Building science achievementsthe crocus earthship-Gunnison, COT

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East & west elevationsthe crocus earthship-Gunnison, COT

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floor planthe crocus earthship-Gunnison, COT

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structural cross sectionthe crocus earthship-Gunnison, COT

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Graywater subsurface flow wetlandthe crocus earthship

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Graywater Drainage planThe crocus earthship

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blackwater drainage planthe crocus earthship

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food & ornamental plant productionvarious earthships

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Excerpts from Pope John Paul II’s The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility.

“It is manifestly unjust that a privileged few should continue to accumulate excess goods, squandering available resources, while masses of people are living in conditions of misery at the very lowest level of subsistence.  Today, the dramatic threat of ecological breakdown is teaching us the extent to which greed and selfishness – both individual and collective – are contrary to the order of creation, an order which is characterized by mutual interdependence.”

“Simplicity, moderation and discipline, as well as a spirit of sacrifice, must become a part of everyday life, lest all suffer the negative consequences of the careless habits of a few.”

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“Just as the sun allows no darknessthe lake allows no drynessthe wind allows no calmthe river, no silence…The Earthship allows no poverty.” –Michael Reynolds

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every dollar makes a difference 2

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better world shopper

This list includes the 10 things that you can change in your life which will make the most difference for people and the planet. If you're having trouble knowing where to begin making changes, start here!

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Common Good Financealternative economic exchange system

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www.blessedearth.org

www.gunnisonearthship.com

www.betterworldshopper.com

www.commongoodbank.com

www.gunnisoncreationcare.com

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