52 ways to care for creation
Laudato Si’ Movement has created a list of 52 ways for individuals, families and communities to pray and take action for God’s creation.
See if you can find something new to put into practice:
https://laudatosimovement.org/news/52-ways-to-care-for-creation-en-news/
Reduce Ecological Debt
In Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis urged us to “forgive the debts of countries that will never be able to repay them”, calling it “a matter of justice” in light of a new form of injustice called “ecological debt”. In Laudato Si’ (#51-52), Pope Francis’ letter on care for our common home, the Pope explained ecological debt as wealthier countries’ greater use of natural resources and contribution to global pollution including from mine waste and climate change, that has harmful impacts on poorer countries. Read the Canadian Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Debt Forgiveness in the Jubilee Year 2025 which includes a section on ecological debt.
Some ways we can help reduce this ecological debt include:
Avoiding unnecessary purchases;
Eating more plant-based foods;
Reducing emissions e.g. by taking public transport, walking and cycling;
Reducing waste, especially plastic waste and eliminating food waste;
Most important— joining a movement like Development and Peace or Laudato Si' Movement working on the debt crisis and other social and ecological justice.
Protect Nature
The Canadian government has outlined 31 Protect Nature Challenges and invited individuals and families to join them in protecting nature by choosing some of these actions to practice in daily life. Short guides with further resources and links are provided for each action which include:
Rethink your consumer habits;
Save money and save nature;
Stop waste and Shrink your food waste;
Protect biodiversity from home.
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/nature-legacy/activities.html
The City of Toronto has several resources to help reduce and properly sort waste:
Ideas and resources for reducing waste available here.
To find out what waste item goes where use Waste Wizard or the TOwaste App.
What is Household Hazardous Waste and how to dispose of it at this link.