Q 1. Why has the environment mattered (or not) to you in your life? How would you describe your dependence on nature for survival? In what ways, if any, have you been spiritually inspired by nature? Do you believe that non-human creatures have rights? 2. Pope Francis recently called for the care of the earth to become a priority for Christians. His thinking is guided by Catholic social teaching and science. If the Pope can see the value of science, particularly in the effort to protect the right to life for every creature, why do you think so many modern people reject the truth of science and seek only religious understandings about our relationship with nature? 3. Go to these web links: Read about the World Footprint and then use the Earthday Network Footprint Calculator to calculate your personal footprint. Then go to this site: What’s my carbon footprint. Calculate your own personal footprint. Go to this website: What is your carbon footprint (EPA) and again follow the prompts to get feedback about your carbon footprint. Note that for this one you need information about your utility bills so if you don’t have access to these bills, skip this calculator and go to the next. Cool Climate Calculator (Univ. of California) and follow the prompts. (NOTE: don’t get hung up on the details—enter the information you know and make educated guesses when necessary.) Document your results either by printing to a .pdf format or creating a Word document. You will submit the results page from each of the calculators with your written reflection on this exercise. After reviewing the results from these carbon footprint sites, write about your observations and learnings.What surprised you, if anything? What confirmed some things about the way you know you are consuming? What gave you hope about your current impact on the planet? Then explain why those of us working in Christian social justice today might be aware of and concerned about our human carbon footprint. 4. Sister Paula Gonzalez, SC, presents a hopeful-yet-honest perspective about the future of our planet, even as climate change points toward a planet in distress, inundated with the consequences of industrialization and globalization. As you listened to Sister Paula, what two realities made you cringe? What two solutions made you hopeful? Instructions for Submission of weekly written assignments: Create responses to the questions in one Word Document. (Do not create one document for each question of the weekly written assignment.) Follow the directions provided at the first item under "Assignment Submission" located at the top of this page. Assignment due: Friday @ 11:59 pm.