CIRCLE OF CREATION COMMITTEE’S
GREEN CORNER
The St. Francis Xavier College Church Circle of Creation Committee (CCC) has been working for a number of years to provide educational opportunities for the parish to learn about and act in the interest of environmental justice.
The Circle of Creation Committee meets on 4th Sundays of the month after the 10:30 Mass, either in the Ballroom or the Parish Center or via Zoom.
If you would like to join the Circle of Creation Committee, or if you would like to bring to the attention of the Circle of Creation Committee information and/or events related to environmental justice, please feel free to email fran@drfransmathstronglab.com.
Recycling of Solar Glasses
With the inspiration and assistance of the Ushers at all three weekend Masses with some additional help from some of our young people, 53 pairs of solar glasses were delivered to Schillers Camera, a local collection partner for Astronomers Without Borders. We are grateful to all who chose to recycle their solar glasses so Astronomers Without Borders could distribute them to other areas of the home planet where solar eclipses will be coming up. The Parish is no longer collecting solar glasses to be recycled.
Service Opportunities
Environmental Justice Cleanup #4, sponsored by Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU), is scheduled for Saturday, July 20, from 9:00 AM to Noon in cooperation with Central Baptist Church. The meeting place is Central Baptist Church Educational Center at 2845 Washington Ave. Details and registration can be found here [https://secure.everyaction.com/HUSZGNyov0yr2a9iByCylA2].
Revamp the Riverfront clean-up events are to prevent plastic pollution from entering the Mighty Mississippi and eventually our oceans! [interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E347224&id=108]. The next volunteer event is Monday, July 8, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM along Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd. There will be additional 2024 events on July 28, August 17, September 28, and October 19.
Great Rivers Greenways sponsors Environmental Stewardship actions. [greatriversgreenway.org/volunteer]
Earthday365 cosponsors Environmental Justice Days of Action in cooperation with various organizations. [earthday-365.org/environmental-justice-days-of-action]
For service opportunities through the Open Space Council, consider the ones on their Volunteer page. [volunteer.openspacestl.org/need]
Great Rivers Greenways sponsors Environmental Stewardship actions. [greatriversgreenway.org/volunteer]
Senior citizens 60 and over may want to consider the work of Third Act which is a national effort to organize older Americans to help protect our climate and safeguard our democracy. We’re stepping up and using our strengths as a generation to get to work taking collective action for progressive change, building a skilled, joyful, committed base of volunteers along the way.
The Global Theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics
Many of the products we use for household cleaning and personal care are sold in single-use plastic containers and/or have excess packaging. However, some brick and mortar stores locally and online sell products in bulk with refilling in non-plastic containers. If you google “refill personal and home care products,” both online and local stores will probably come up. You can read about their packaging and systems for refilling and decide if this is what you want to do to help minimize what goes into landfill or into plastic recycling where it probably is not actually getting recycled.
“Think that your plastic is being recycled? Think again.” is a highly informative article by Douglas Main published in the MIT Technology Review on October 12, 2023. You can also google “plant based laundry sheets” to find alternatives to bulky plastic bottles of laundry detergent.
For more information about the problem of plastics, please see further down this web page.
Eating Less Meat
Abstaining from eating meat on Fridays is our practice during Lent. Eating less meat can be a moderate sacrifice that significantly benefits our Earth and all her children. Our home planet is a life-sustaining gift from our gracious God. After Easter we can choose to continue abstaining from meat once a week or maybe a second day each week, or even more. For information on how eating less meat has an important environmental impact, please see The Diet that Helps Fight Climate Change. [facebook.com/watch/?v=1737570466430548]
Pope Francis latest letter on Climate
All people of good will can read this for free.
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION LAUDATE DEUM OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS TO ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
Minimizing Trash at Parish Events
Please do NOT bring Styrofoam to St. Francis Xavier College Church.
Parishioners and guests are heartily encouraged to wear reusable name tags. For those who don’t have one, Fran would be delighted to give you a magnetic reusable name tag (not for people who have a pacemaker).
Parishioners and guests are also heartily encouraged to bring their Reusable Beverage Containers (RBCs). However, there will be available both glasses and mugs for cold and hot drinks, respectively. [Your Reusable Beverage Container need not match your shirt.]
Senior citizens 60 and over may want to consider the work of Third Act which is a national effort to organize older Americans to help protect our climate and safeguard our democracy. We’re stepping up and using our strengths as a generation to get to work taking collective action for progressive change, building a skilled, joyful, committed base of volunteers along the way.
Recycling of All Sorts of Things
Channel 5 KSDK Investigative Team reports “Whistleblowers Say St. Louis City’s Recycling Failures Undermine Residents’ Efforts.”
Ladue News June 5, 2024 edition had a helpful article by Charlotte Renner “Where to Donate Used Sports Gear in St. Louis.”
People can recycle glass via Ripple Glass [rippleglass.com/stl/]. Accepted items are glass food and beverage containers (all colors, labels can stay on), cosmetic bottles and jars; candle jars (leftover wax is OK). The website also makes clear what types of glass are not acceptable and indicates specifically where the Purple Bins for Ripple Glass are located in the St. Louis metro area.
Mary Mother of the Church has ongoing metal recycling. Items to be recycled include the following: Kitchen items: Utensils, pots and pans, blenders, mixers, toasters, coffee makers, microwaves; Metal items: Metal siding and shelving, bar BQ pits, lawn mowers, fans, dehumidifiers, chain saws, car parts, metal tools and lawn furniture; General appliances: Washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, AC units and furnaces. All items that are mostly metal can be recycled. Non-metal furniture, tires, and TVs cannot be accepted. Items can be dropped off at 5833 Kerth Road, 63128 at any time. All proceeds are donated to St. Vincent DePaul neighbors in need of support. If you have questions, call Dick at 314-374-4680.
Recycling of textiles (clothing, shoes, toy stuffed animals) at REMAINS was featured on May 13, 2024 on “Living St.Louis” on PBS Channel 9 starting just after 8 minutes.
The Missouri Botanical Garden provides information Plastic Pot Recycling Discontinued in St. Louis [missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/gardening-in-st-louis/plastic-pot-recycling] and more on plastic recycling in general. However, Home Depot and other stores with gardening departments may be continuing to recycle plastic pots.
The Wine Cellar Outlet Sappington Plaza 11553 Gravois Rd, St. Louis, MO 63126 collects natural corks only (no synthetics). You can drop them off with an employee just inside the doors anytime during store hours.
Are you overwhelmed by paper junk mail and wish you could make it stop? Junk mail is a huge waste of our natural resources and our time. Sign up for Catalog Choice [catalogchoice.org] and start reducing your junk mail today!
Foam Products Corporation is accepting Styrofoam for recycling, non-food packaging only. FPC is at 2525 Adie Road, Maryland Heights 63043. Outdoor bins are accessible 24/7 on the north end of the building, the side that faces Page Avenue.
Nordstrom stores (both the store at the Galleria and the one in Manchester) have a bin in the cosmetics department for recycling empty cosmetics/personal care containers (lipstick/lip balm tubes, pans from eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara tubes, moisturizers or lotion tubes, powder compacts). There are some items that are not accepted: electronics, containers from nail products (such as nail polish, polish remover), and empty aerosol containers.
A recent article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides information about reuse stores:
“Buttons, corks and paper-towel tubes: Discards find new life at St. Louis reuse stores” [stltoday.com/life-entertainment/buttons-corks-and-paper-towel-tubes-discards-find-new-life-at-st-louis-reuse-stores/article_83319160-8595-5afa-96d2-0f382e62be96.html]
For locations and what is accepted, consult their respective websites:
Leftovers, Etc. [leftoversetc.com]
St. Louis Teachers’ Recycle Center [sltrc.com]
STL Teachers Trading Post [stlteachertradingpost.com/St._Louis_Teacher_Trading_Post/Welcome.html]
Upcoming Electronics Recycling Events
Public Electronics Events conducted by Midwest Recycling Center (MRC)
June 22, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Spanish Lake Community Association
11725 Bellefontaine Road
St. Louis, MO, 63138
hosted by Spanish Lake Community Association
__________
July 20, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
359 Old Meramec Station Road
Manchester, MO 63021
hosted by City of Manchester
__________
August 10, 8:00 AM to Noon
2505 South Brentwood Boulevard
Brentwood, MO, 63144
hosted by the City of Brentwood
__________
August 17, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
1924 Pestalozzi Street
St. Louis, MO, 63118
hosted by Berkshire Hathaway
__________
Initial Results from Air Quality Monitor on SFX Parish Center Roof and on other City Locations are provided in this YouTube video. [youtube.com/watch?v=9hF-P8Sb3D8]
Educational films/videos, recordings, and articles regarding environmental issues and climate change
PLASTICS
“Think that your plastic is being recycled? Think again.” is a highly informative article by Douglas Main published in the MIT Technology Review on October 12, 2023.
Deia Schlosburg, an alumna of Washington University, directed and produced a 2-hr documentary, available free, The Story of Plastic, [storyofstuff.org/movies/the-story-of-plastic-documentary-film]
EcoWatch provides a very informative recent article Ocean Plastic: What You Need to Know [ecowatch.com/ocean-plastic-guide-2653277768.html] including a variety of legislative efforts that need to be made as well as personal efforts that can be made.
Tune in to the Solving Plastic series on YouTube [youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9CqmRXtwce-Dtp42ygnIZqhPfYieVQgs] to learn how we can end the plastic pollution crisis for real!
“How Do Microplastics Affect Oceans & Marine Life?” written by Neville Chamunorwa [lastobject.com/blogs/sustainability-101/how-do-microplastics-affect-oceans-marine-life]
”How to (Really) Bid Good Riddance to Plastic” [sierraclub.org/sierra/2022-1-spring/material-world/how-really-bid-good-riddance-plastic]
VIDEOS, AUDIOS
Protecting the Earth: An Environmental, Economic, and Moral Challenge was a well-received and timely presentation on October 6, 2019 at St. Francis Xavier College Church Ballroom by Dr. Peter H. Raven https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_H._Raven who generously allows the audio recording to be available at this link: Dr Peter Raven
BOOK SUGGESTIONS
Mapping a New Geography of Hope: Robin Wall Kimmerer, Keynote, July 27, 2015, a bit old, but so timely. Length: 27 minutes
You may also find worthwhile, Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Braiding Sweetgrass, Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants available from Milkweed Editions and from the St. Louis County Library (which holders of St. Louis Public Library cards may also access).
Lights Out for Birds
Lights Out to Save Birds Spring migration is March 1 through June 15 and Fall migration is August 15 through November 30.
Lights Out to Save Birds by Stephanie Todd
(reprinted from the newsletter of Eastern Missouri Group of the Sierra Club [sierraclub.org/missouri/eastern-missouri]
Every year millions of birds die during migration due to artificial lights. Most birds migrate at night to save energy and avoid predators, using the moon and stars to navigate. Artificial lights disorient birds and cause them to circle lights until they die from exhaustion or hit something, like a building. St. Louis is the 5th deadliest city for birds during spring migration and 6th for fall Migration. You can help save birds! Turn-out outdoor lights during peak migration periods, September and May. If you must have lights on, you can mitigate their detrimental effects by shielding them so they do not shine up into the sky and turn them off by 11:00 pm. Also, putting lights on timers is much more effective for preventing crime and is also better for the environment. The Missouri Sierra Club is a partner in Lights Out Heartland. [facebook.com/watch/?v=1737570466430548]
Tens of millions of birds will migrate through St. Louis and Quincy this month is a podcast from KWMU’s “St. Louis On the Air” on May 9, 2024.
The Blessing of the Animals
The St. Francis Xavier College Church Circle of Creation Committee resumed having a live Blessing of the Animals with people and their pets on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 10:00 AM in Forest Park. Whether you participated in the Blessing of the Animals or not, you may want to consider sending donations to organizations working to rehabilitate laboratory animals, prevent extinction of species, rescue stray animals, preserve the environment for wildlife.
sanctuaryfederation.org/find-a%20sanctuary/?animal=any&region=NA&state=MO
Resources
Green Resources Info Service and FAQs
at Missouri Botanical Garden
has information on recycling and related questions. The website has frequently asked questions, as well as an email address and a phone number to ask other questions.
Environmental Justice Resources
are available from the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
was composed by Pope Francis and included in his encyclical Laudato Si’.
The Catholic Climate Covenant has additional inspiration and resources.
Missouri Interfaith Power and Light
emphasizes the connection between faith and the environment.
has as its mission to “inspire and mobilize a collaborative movement towards an equitable and environmentally sustainable St. Louis region – every day.” They also provide the restaurant sustainability certification program known as The Green Dining Alliance (GDA).
There you can find a list of local restaurants and their GDA ratings and practices.
Environmental Racism in St. Louis
The report Environmental Racism in St. Louis is explained and this site provides a link to the full report.
Recycling in Parish Facilities
We truly appreciate how eager our parishioners are to cooperate in the recycling efforts at our parish events, especially in the Ballroom. Below are a few reminders and/or updates:
1. Napkins and paper towels are NOT recyclable and should be placed in the Trash/Landfill bin.
2. NO LIQUIDS in Trash/Landfill or Single-Stream Recycling bins.
3. Gently empty any liquid/ice into the blue bucket by the sign indicating "Liquids here.”
4. Single-Stream Recycling at SFX accepts Plastics #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, but NO Black Plastic.
5. If you are unsure of where to dispose of an item, be sure to read the available signs and/or ask the Recycling Guide, usually wearing a green apron.