{"id":3852,"date":"2019-05-22T13:07:40","date_gmt":"2019-05-22T18:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=3852"},"modified":"2019-05-22T13:22:12","modified_gmt":"2019-05-22T18:22:12","slug":"goodness-of-biodiversity-mindfulness-required","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/goodness-of-biodiversity-mindfulness-required\/","title":{"rendered":"Goodness of biodiversity: Mindfulness required"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ruth Ivory-Moore, Program Director for Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility<\/em><\/p>\n

The intricacies and diversity of <\/span>c<\/span>reation are mind-boggling, a reflection and reminder of the power and glory of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit expressed through the created order<\/span>. The United Nations honors creation on May 22 <\/span>through<\/span> the <\/span>International Day for Biological Diversity<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>This year\u2019s theme is \u201cOur Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health.\u201d <\/span>Marking the day<\/span> increases our understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues<\/span> in God\u2019s good creation<\/span>.<\/span> \"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Try to trace the biodiversity story of many things you eat and use every day. From <\/span>a lunch bag <\/span>apple to ingredients in your cold medicine, our food and health are dependent on biodiversity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Biodiversity is the variety and diversity of various forms of life on earth, and particularly that in a specific re<\/span>g<\/span>ion that includes various species of plant and animal life, microorganisms and the ecosystems where they exist. <\/span>It<\/span> is essential. <\/span>Living entities support each other<\/span> and interact with their non-living environment to provide and enhance healthy life for all of creation. As <\/span>told in Genesis, from chaos came synchronization where all life is valued and interlinked. \u201cGod saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good,\u201d (Genesis 1:31<\/span>).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where do we see <\/span>the essential role of diversity in <\/span>our food and health? <\/span>Crop genetic diversity<\/span><\/a>, for example, plays a critical role in creasing and sustaining production levels and nutritional diversity t<\/span>hroughout <\/span>the<\/span> full range of different agroecological conditions. <\/span>Diverse organisms contributing to <\/span>soil <\/span>diversity<\/span><\/a> perform vital functions that regulate the soil ecosystem, such as decomposition of litter and recycling of nutrients, converting atmospheric nitrogen to an organic form and reconverting this to gaseous <\/span>nitrogen<\/span>, and altering soil structure. <\/span>Ecosystems<\/span><\/a> support soil formation, nutrient cycling, and primary production; provide food, fresh water, fuel, fiber, biochemicals, and genetic resources, and regulate the climate, disease, water, water purification, and pollination.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then there are bees! Consider these truly amazing insects. <\/span>A <\/span>one-minute video<\/span><\/a> from the <\/span>Food and Agriculture \"\"<\/a>Organization of <\/span>the<\/span> United Nations<\/span> imagines a world without this essential component in the food chain. Threats to biodiversity are threats to us all.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Havoc imposed on earth and its ecosystems cannot continue unrestrained. <\/span>W<\/span>hile production of basic goods and services are among priorities noted in the ELCA social statement \u201cCaring for Creation<\/span>:<\/span> Vision, Hope <\/span>and<\/span> Justice<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> our quest for economic prosperity<\/span> and other human <\/span>activity<\/span> threatens global biodiversity. <\/span>D<\/span>isregard for life of a certain species or ecological system will negatively impact all of life.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The<\/span> sabbath<\/span> and<\/span> jubilee<\/span> laws<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> Hebrew<\/span> tradition<\/span> remind<\/span> us<\/span> that<\/span> we<\/span> may<\/span> not press<\/span> creation<\/span> relentlessly<\/span> in<\/span> an<\/span> effort<\/span> to<\/span> maximize<\/span> productivity<\/span> (Exodus<\/span> 20:8-11; Leviticus<\/span> 25).<\/span> The<\/span> principle<\/span> of<\/span> sustainability<\/span> means<\/span> providing<\/span> an<\/span> acceptable<\/span> quality<\/span> of life<\/span> for<\/span> present<\/span> generations<\/span> without<\/span> compromising<\/span> that<\/span> of<\/span> future<\/span> generations. Protection<\/span> of<\/span> species<\/span> and<\/span> their<\/span> habitats,<\/span> preservation<\/span> of<\/span> clean<\/span> land<\/span> and<\/span> water, reduction<\/span> of<\/span> wastes,<\/span> care<\/span> of<\/span> the<\/span> land\u2014these<\/span> are<\/span> priorities<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d <\/span>notes the <\/span>Caring for Creation<\/a> statement.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On this <\/span>International Day for Biological Diversity<\/span>, let\u2019s lift all of creation <\/span>in prayer<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

God of wisdom, <\/b>showing us your love in the rising sun and waning tide, you grace Earth with life in all its variety. Everything has meaning, is blessing; everyone is charged with care for the smallest creature to the ocean\u2019s depth. Grant us wisdom to know your ways of love and gentle kindness. Give us the mind to learn what we do not know but long to understand so that we may honor and nurture all that makes us one with you. Amen\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pray<\/span>er<\/span> by Diane Lopez Hughes at <\/span>oikoumene.org<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additional information:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n