God created man in his image; in God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; the divine image he created him; male and female he created male and female he created them.them.

God saw how good it was. Gen. 1:10 God saw how good it was. Gen. 1:10

God looked at what he had made, God looked at what he had made, and he found it very good. Gen. 1:31and he found it very good. Gen. 1:31

God said to Noah and to his sons: “See, I am now God said to Noah and to his sons: “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants, establishing my covenant with you and your descendants,

and with every living creature that was with you: all the and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and various tame and wild animals that were with you birds, and various tame and wild animals that were with you

and came out of the ark. Gen. 9:8-10and came out of the ark. Gen. 9:8-10

“Care for the Earth is not just an Earth Day Slogan, it is a requirement of our faith.

The present day environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.” (U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops)

Our earth speaks to us, and we must listen if we want to survive.Our earth speaks to us, and we must listen if we want to survive.Pope Benedict XVI, July 24, 2007Pope Benedict XVI, July 24, 2007

Rediscovery of the Face of the Creator in Creation, to rediscover in Rediscovery of the Face of the Creator in Creation, to rediscover in the Creator’s Presence our responsibility for his Creation. the Creator’s Presence our responsibility for his Creation.

Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day, 2008Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day, 2008

Pope Benedict has made the Vatican carbon neutral.Pope Benedict has made the Vatican carbon neutral. Pope Benedict instructed the organizers of the Vatican Youth Pope Benedict instructed the organizers of the Vatican Youth

gathering in Rome to use products made through the recycling gathering in Rome to use products made through the recycling process. process.

Plastic bags photo-degrade; overtime Plastic bags photo-degrade; overtime they break down into smaller, more they break down into smaller, more toxic petro-polymers which eventually toxic petro-polymers which eventually contaminate soil and waterways. As a contaminate soil and waterways. As a consequence the microscopic particles consequence the microscopic particles can end up in the food chain.can end up in the food chain.

Less than 1% of Plastic Bags are Less than 1% of Plastic Bags are recycled. It costs more to recycled. It costs more to recycle a bag than to produce a recycle a bag than to produce a new one.new one.

The petroleum used to make 14 The petroleum used to make 14 plastic bags is enough to drive a plastic bags is enough to drive a car a mile.car a mile.

The 380 billion plastic bags that The 380 billion plastic bags that Americans throw away each year are Americans throw away each year are made from millions of barrels of made from millions of barrels of petroleum. petroleum.

And where And where

do we throw do we throw

them?them?

Data released by the United States Environmental protection Data released by the United States Environmental protection Agency shows that somewhere between 500 billion and a Agency shows that somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year.trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year.

National Geographic News September 2, 2003National Geographic News September 2, 2003

The 380 billion plastic bags that The 380 billion plastic bags that Americans throw away each year are Americans throw away each year are made from millions of barrels of made from millions of barrels of petroleum. petroleum.

And where And where

do we throw do we throw

them?them?

““Men and women, therefore, bear Men and women, therefore, bear a unique responsibility under a unique responsibility under God: to safeguard the created God: to safeguard the created world and by their creative labor world and by their creative labor even to enhance it. “ (USCCB) even to enhance it. “ (USCCB)

Use a reusable bag in every Use a reusable bag in every store, every time you go store, every time you go shopping.shopping.

We can save 6 bags a week, 24 We can save 6 bags a week, 24 bags a month.bags a month.

That’s That’s 288288 bags a year or bags a year or 22,17622,176 bags in a lifetime.bags in a lifetime.

If one (1) out of (5) people in our If one (1) out of (5) people in our country did this we would save country did this we would save 1,330,560,000,0001,330,560,000,000 bags over our bags over our lifetime.lifetime.

Praised be You, my Praised be You, my Lord, through our Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and who sustains us and governs us, and who governs us, and who produces varied produces varied fruits with colored fruits with colored flowers and herbs.flowers and herbs.St. Francis of AssisiSt. Francis of Assisi