Vestry Motion from Diocese concerning single use plastics

15
Jan

At the parish meeting on January 12th, I commented that it would be difficult to approve the Motion from the Diocese on this subject.  I agreed to suggest edits for your consideration.

What follows is in two parts:

  1. The Motion submitted by the Diocese.  Notes 1-4 represent problem areas for us.
  2. The text of a revised Motion for your consideration.  Please let me have comments, so that we can include an agreeable revised Motion in the Vestry Journal.

ORIGINAL MOTION

Motion: Reduction of Single Use Plastics – 2020

 WHEREAS Christians are called to be mindful stewards of Creation and Anglican Christians are called to live out our baptismal covenant and the 5th Mark of Mission to “safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”; 

AND WHEREAS climate scientists and environmentalist are seriously concerned about the effect of plastic on the environment and the harmful effects of single use plastic on our oceans, rivers, streams, plants and wildlife are abundantly clear; (Note 1)

BE IT RESOLVED that all parishes/our parish in the Diocese of Niagara will immediately reduce the purchase of products with single use plastics, including rigid foam; (Note 2)

AND THAT parishes/our parish will diminish the purchase of single use plastics, including rigid foam, and end the practice completely by the beginning of 2022; (Note 3)

AND THAT parishes/our parish will provide education to parishioners about the use of alternatives to single-use plastics in their homes; (Note 4)

AND THAT parishes will report their progress on the reduction of single-use plastic to the Justice and Outreach Consultant each year in September.

(Note 1)     Plastics are not directly a climate change issue

(Note 2)     Electronic items come packaged with rigid foam, there thus no alternative.  We have already stopped buying bottled water and disposable plates and cutlery; further reduction will be limited.

(Note 3)     This is not feasible, even bread and slabs of cheese come packaged in plastic wrap.

(Note 4)     More important is to encourage those who rent our premises to be aware of our policies and to encourage them to do likewise

REVISED MOTION

Motion: Reduction of Single Use Plastics – 2020

WHEREAS Christians are called to be mindful stewards of Creation and Anglican Christians are called to live out our baptismal covenant and the 5th Mark of Mission to “safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”; 

AND WHEREAS environmental scientists are seriously concerned about the effects of plastic on the environment, because the harmful effects of single use plastic on our oceans, rivers, streams, plants and wildlife are abundantly clear;

BE IT RESOLVED that St George’s Lowville will immediately reduce the purchase of products with single use plastics,

AND THAT our parish will eliminate the purchase of single use plastics, to the maximum extent possible, by the beginning of 2022;

AND THAT our parish will (a) keep these issues before members of the parish, and (b) encourage renters of our property to follow our example by providing them with copies of this Motion;

AND THAT we will report progress on the reduction of single-use plastics to the Justice and Outreach Consultant each year in September

END