God blessed them, saying to them, 'Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all the living creatures that move on earth.' Genesis 1:28

Why is creation sacred?

‘Through your closeness to the land you touched the sacredness of man’s relationship with God, for the land was proof of a power in life greater than yourselves. You did not spoil the land, use it up, exhaust it, and then walk away from it. You realised that your land was related to the source of life.’ Pope John Paul II

How do you think the dreaming you found demonstrates the connection of First Australians to the land? In First Australian culture, people do not own the land, they belong to the land, the land owns them. How is this different to our view of the land? If we thought about the land in this way, how might we live differently? What can we learn from First Australians about how to live in harmony with our environment?

What event caused the favela residents to become aware of environmental damage? Who was responsible for that damage? The group took a specific action in response to that event. What was the action? What impact did it have?

Love thy neighbour as thy iPhone! If Apple’s numbers are to be believed 402,000 iPhones are sold every day, and almost all of them are treasured by someone. I know I would be completely lost if I misplaced mine...

It goes almost everywhere with me. It knows everything I do each day… It gets me up (with the alarm app); it’s my address book; it entertains me (with my music and audiobooks); it reminds me of what I should do (with my iCal and Reminders); it helps me to pass time (with Angry Birds); it keeps me in touch with people (with Twitter and Facebook)…

it keeps my cinema tickets (in passbook); I can write a blog on it (via WordPress); I track my runs on it (with run keeper); it holds my s; it tells me the weather (with the weather Oz app)… and I can even use it as a phone – if I need to! it helps me write and create (via the Internet and Dropbox); it expands my knowledge (with iBooks); it helps with my Bible reading (with my Glo Bible); I can take pictures and video with it;

I love my iPhone, I would be lost without it! …I look after it, I make sure nothing happens to it. In short I take very good care of it. I’m sure most people do the same. Most people would take care of their $500+ iPhone.

Imagine how much better the world would be if we took as much care of other people and the environment as we do of our technology.

Imagine if other people and the world meant as much to us as our iPhones (or Samsungs or whatever else you have).

We would live in a very caring world where everyone would see everyone else as important; and we wouldn’t be ruining our planet for our own gain, not thinking of the impact on others around the world and future generations.

So I say, in a clear and loud voice, “Listen to a new commandment – Love thy neighbour as thy iPhone!”

“People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason the world is in considerable chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used.” Source: Unknown

“In this assembly of “cartoneros” and “recicladores”, think on how to continue forward in this work of recycling - forgive me for saying - what is leftover. Because what is leftover is rich. Today we can’t afford to despise that which is leftover. We are living in a throwaway culture where we easily leave over things, but people as well…

…You recycle and with this two things are produced: an ecological work, which is necessary, and on the other hand, a production that promotes brotherhood and gives dignity to one’s work, you are creative in your production, but also creative in caring for the earth, of the world in this ecological dimension...

…You know that the food that is thrown away can feed all the hungry people in the world. Think on this as you continuously find food that is thrown away. And remain with this conscience: that recycling is not only ecological - which is something great - but also productive to everyone else. And be conscious that food should not be wasted, because there are children who are hungry. Thank you for what you do.”

Do you agree that we should ‘aspire not to have more, but to be more’? Is this too much to ask? Is such change manageable?

All pictures credited to Caritas Australia unless otherwise stated. Picture credits Slide 1: Raphael Meting Slides 2, 3, 5, 6: Richard Wainwright Slide 7: Aratja growing in the bush – Simon Hewson Slides 14, 16-18: Erin Johnson/room3 Find out more Last updated April 2014