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| Green Parish Award |
| The Board gives away Green Parish Award to a
Parish every year after assessing the ecological work done by the
various Parishes . CSI Church, Quilon, CSI Church , Mundiappally,
CSI Cathedral, CSI Church Mavelikara bagged the Green Parish awards
for the past years. |
| Diocesan Ecological Convention |
| A special Session on Ecological
concerns is held every year in connection with the Diocesan convention.
Prof.Christian Babu, Convener of CSI Synod Ecological Committee, Mr.
P.J Joseph (Ex-Minister of Kerala) Fr.Dr.Markose Joseph, Mr.Binoy
Viswam, Hon.Minister for Forests- addressed the gathering in the past
years. |
| Environmental Rally |
| The Diocesan Ecological Committee
conducts Environmental rallies to highlight the environmental issues |
| Rain Water Harvesting |
| Rain water Harvesting pits were
dug in 125 parishes during the monsoon season in 2004. The slogan
is ‘Not to waste rain water falling in our Church land’
. The diocese is encouraging its members to construct Ferro-cement
tanks and rain water harvest pits to harvest rain water in all houses.
The Diocese is providing the service of technical experts to those
who need it. |
| Interactive Bible Study Programme |
| Interactive ecological Bible study
programmes for clergy and educated persons. |
| Environmental Day Celebrations |
| Celebrates World Environment day
on June 5 in all the Schools of the Diocese |
| Ecological Sunday |
| All the Churches in Madhya Kerala
Diocese celebrates Second Sunday in June as Ecological Sunday. A sample
Eco sermon is prepared and distributed all over the diocese. Sunday
sermon on Deputation / Pulpit Exchange basis |
| Resource Persons Training Camp |
| A training programme to equip resource
persons during April & May, every year |
| Throw away Plastics |
| The diocese has taken a bold stand
to avoid throw-away-plastics like cups, carry bags etc. in the premises
of the Church. A sign board has also been exhibited in the Diocesan
office campus prohibiting the use of throw away plastics in that campus.
Such sign boards are exhibited in most of the parishes in the diocese.
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| Activities in the Organisational level |
| The Ecological committee is carrying
out awareness programmes in cooperation with other organizations such
as Sunday school, Laity Fellowship, Women’s Fellowship, Youth
Movement etc. In the he conferences arranged by these organizations
in the diocese, a talk on ecological concerns has been arranged at
our request. |
| |
| VBS Training |
| Ecological activists participates
in the VBS training programmes to share the Ecological concerns. They
give suggestions to be communicated to the students, especially on
the need to protect the environment. The CSI Synod has published a
book called ‘Eco-Vision and Mission’ for the Sunday School
Students. |
| |
| Organic farming |
| The Diocese is taking every effort
to promote organic farming. Some parishes have taken up organic farming
seriously. Most of the parish members are using organic manures for
cultivation. |
| |
| Planting of Trees |
| Saplings of 5750 pathimugham plants
were distributed all over the Diocese . We distribute saplings every
year during the month of June with the cooperation of Social Forestry
department of Kerala. |
| |
| Pilgrimage |
| Diocesan Ecological Committee members
arrange an eco study every year . We call it a pilgrimage as it is
a search to the inner soul of Nature. |
| |
| Regional Conferences |
| Diocesan Ecological committee organizes
Nine regional conferences for the propagation of the Green Diocese
programmes during the month of May. |
| |
| Parish level Eco Committees |
| As per the direction of the Bishop
, Eco Committees were constituted in all the parishes of the Diocese
with the Vicar/Church worker as the Chairman. A convener will coordinate
the work of the parishes. |
| |
| District level work |
| A clergy is in charge of the eco
activities in the pastoral district. The first Tuesday of every month
clergies of the pastoral district will meet regularly for evaluating
the pastoral work, prayer and for study. The clergy in charge of eco
activities will report the activities in the meeting. The Diocesan
Ecological Board has appointed observers/conveners to coordinate the
work of Districts. |
| |
| Eco Clubs in Schools |
| Eco Clubs were constituted in all
the schools in the diocese. Every year Diocesan Ecological Board conducts
Green essay competition, Green Quiz, Green Painting Competition for
the School Children. |
| |
| Eco Bible Study programme |
| The Diocesan Ecological committee
arranges an Eco-Bible Study programme for the clergy and the Church
workers of the Diocese. |
| |
| Eco-literature |
| One of the problems faced was the
lack of eco-literature. The Secretary was authorized to make necessary
arrangements .The following books are available in the market. 1)Reconciling
with Nature – Edited by Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu & published
by CSI Synod Ecological Concerns, Chennai (English)
2) God is Green – Edited by Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu &
published by CSI Synod Ecological Concerns, Chennai (English)
3) Eco-Vision and Mission Edited by Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu,
Prof.Christin Babu, Dr.Edwin Chandrasekharan, Mrs.Jessy Jayakaran&
published by CSI Synod Ecological Concerns, Chennai (English)
4) Haritha Daivasastram (Green Theology) Edited by Dr.Mathew Koshy
Punnackadu &Published by CSS , Thiruvalla(Malayalam)
5) Paristhidi Vedapadanagal(Ecological Bible Studies) Edited by
Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu &Published by CSS , Thiruvalla(Malayalam)
6) ) Muthassiyuda Paristhidika Kadakal, (Ecological stories for
Children), by Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu& Published by CSS ,
Thiruvalla(Malayalam)
7) Paristhidee Kadhakal, Parichindanangal, (Ecological stories for
Children), by Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu& Published by CSS ,
Thiruvalla(Malayalam)
8) Njanoru Nisabda Kolayali ( Eco-toxicology) by Dr.Mathew Koshy
Punnackadu &published by Rainbow books, Kallissery(Malayalam)
9) Vijayikkanulla Ottmooly (Ecological novel) by Dr.Mathew Koshy
Punnackadu & published by Current books, Kottayam(Malayalam)
10) Environmental Problems of the Modern Age( Articles) Edited by
Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu& Published by Kerala Council of Churches.
Kottayam(English)
The following Books by other authors are also available at CSS,
Thiruvalla . 1) Paristhidi Daivasatram 2) Ecological Challenges
and Christian Mission 3) Bible, Ecology and Environment 3) Christian
Response to Ecological Challenges(Deepika Kottayam) , 4) Spiritual
Values for Earth Community 5) Greening of Minds 6) The Ecological
Vision of Jesus 6) The Road Back to Nature 7) One Straw Revolution
8) Towards an Eco Justice.
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| Conclusion |
We have a good network with other
environmental groups in Kerala and a good organizational set up and
cooperates and organizes jointly with Joint Ecological Commission(a
project of Kerala Council of Churches and Nilakkal Ecumenical Committee).
Like Moses and Elisha, we seek to be God's agents of healing and restoration
to those facing environmental crises as a result of ecological degradation.
For details: contact
Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu
Malayil, Punnackadu, Kozhecnherry, Kerala,India 689652,
Email :mkoshy@satyam.net.in |
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