Koshy and Elizabeth Koshy

Kanayathu C. Koshy and Elizabeth Koshy*

God’s Earth in Human Hands** COP 26 – A scene-setter, Epthinktank, European Parliament; © Ricochet64 / Adobe Stock

Introduction

In April 2021 we published a book called “Fragrance & Abundance: God’s Earth in Human Hands”. These 316 pagers discussed the current perils of planet earth, and how to manage them, in detail. Creation Care often involves a cyclic system of ever-increasing problems. In brief, these comprise: (i) the unsustainable consumption and production, (ii) very heavy dependence on fossil fuel, (iii) unprecedented climate change, (iv) loss of biological diversity, (v) increasing population with a “bottom billion” under appalling poverty, and (vi) an outdated institutional framework that stifles growth and appear unable to handle the magnitude of the problems at hand. However, we argued that in the hands of determined hard workers, upright in their spirituality and attitude, the situation could be reversed for the better. The United Nation’s Conference on Climate Change, COP-26, had the same message for us, which is “the climate world-wide is changing and we should change too”. This has become the crucial issue under “Creation Care “for our survival.

COP-26

The 26th Annual Session of the Conference of Parties (COP-26) in Glasgow, Scotland, 31 Oct-12 Nov 2021, led by the United Nations ended with mixed outcome. While the organizers were upbeat about the meeting’s success, the group that gathered demanding action was thoroughly disappointed. “It is not a secret that COP-26 is a failure. It should be obvious that we cannot solve the crisis with the same methods that got us into it in the first place,” Greta Thunberg, the climate activist, said. However, there are many who believe that the truth lies somewhere in between. Such feeling arose because the delegates had struggled to resolve major sticking points, such as phasing out coal, fossil fuel subsidies and poor financial support to developing countries. The U.N. meeting, was billed as humanity’s last and best chance to keep the all-important goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius alive. Now the reality is that it is a responsibility of the approximately 200 countries that gathered to rally round the ‘Glasgow Climate Pact’ (only an ‘Advance unedited version’ was available at the time of writing this article) and bring climate under control by ‘making things happen’.

Our Book

‘Fragrance & Abundance: God’s Earth in Human Hands’, published in 2021 by K. Koshy and E. Koshy (the husband-and-wife team) talks about risk reduced living when it comes to disaster management. After all, it is the risk that gets realized into disaster that we fear. It is the same sentiments that was expressed by the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Sendai, Japan in March 2015, when the member states agreed to the latest ‘Risk Reduction Framework’. In applying the Framework to real-world situations, we realize that just as we rush to manage disasters when they occur, we need to work hard to reduce risk even in the absence of disasters and thereby increase resilience. These measures would prevent serious disruption of the functioning of communities due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and incapacity, through mitigation by dealing with the root cause of the problems, and adaptation to address the impacts of such hazards, floods, cyclones etc. An integrated approach would require both mitigation & adaptation before disaster, and resilience & sustainable development after disaster, through Response and Recovery measures. Please see Sections such as: the initial Sections including The Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan’s Message, Ch2, P31-37; Ch23, P144-149; Ch32, P194-200; Ch41, P243-246; Ch42, P247-253; Ch44, P258-263; Ch46, P269-272; Ch50, P287-290 and other relevant sections that follow of our book, if possible.

The PLEDGE SHEET

In its implementation, caring for God’s Creation demands our focused attention at multiple levels. There are things we can do as a Family (Individual); larger groups - Church (Institutional); and as the overall enabling environment provided by the Sabha (Systemic). These must be ‘winwin’, or ‘no-regret’ activities – enjoyable and easy to do and must be aimed at all groups in the church - Sunday school, Youth, Sevika Sangam, Area Prayer, Senior Citizen (Golden Circle), etc. Interestingly, any other civil

group from the larger society, without regard to their faith preferences, could also carry out activities directed at Planet Earth’s well-being. An initial list under the three levels, (Individual, Institutional and Systemic) is shown below; more may be added in due course. Let people pledge voluntarily under Creation Care they would like to do. What follows is a short list of relevant activities that one can get involved in:

Conclusion

A PLEDGE SHEET Individual – Family/Small Groups

1. Waste management – Practice 3Rs – Reduce,

Reuse & Recycle.

2. Energy efficiency - Use energy efficient gadgets, minimize wastage; use renewable energy if possible.

3. Time management - Use time wisely, not so much the hours you put in, but what goes into the hours that matter.

4. Family values – Value natural, financial & social capital, and most of all spiritual values.

5. Family prayer – Recognize sustainability principles in songs, Bible readings, and factor Creation Care in prayer. Institutional – Church/Any Relatively Larger Groups 1. Awareness building – Develop brochures, meetings, campaigns and competitions. 2. Waste management – Continue to exercise 3Rs. 3. Market place evangelism – ‘Walk the talk’, be the change we profess, follow best practices. 4. Intergenerational interactions – Promote healthy exchanges between all age groups. 5. Spiritual security – Ensure the Environmental, Ecological, and Social persuasions do not endanger our spiritual convictions.

Systemic – Sabha/Civil Groups in Districts or States

1. Awareness building – Sensitize Laity, Clergy,

Bishops and Decision makers at all levels. 2. Policies and procedures – Enact strategies, roadmaps, policies and procedures. 3. Enabling environment – Ensure Creation Care factors in discussions, sermons, teachings, trainings and financial commitments. 4. Institutional framework/Governance – Appoint high level committee/s and practice Creation

Care in all Church institutions. 5. The new mission field – Establish Creation Care as an approved mission area of the Sabha. One would notice that it is a lot more than mere environmental stewardship that we are talking about. The Environment we live in, the Economic activities we do for a living, and our Social life – all integrate well with our Christian faith & Stewardship. The ability to sustain this delicate stability seems to define true sustainability.

The above approach would fit the needs of a variety of people wanting to do “small-big-very big” projects. The ‘very big’ may have to be broken down to smaller causeeffect hierarchical pieces as in a Logical Framework Analysis (LFA). Please look up the Internet for details OR contact me. This method (LFA) also includes a “Vision, Mission, Activity” sequence most project people would be familiar with. It is true that some of the Creation Care problems are very big indeed requiring breakdown, while others are manageable at lower levels.

*Prof. Dr. Kanayathu C Koshy & Elizabeth Koshy Emeritus Professor, ERRC Manjadi P.O. Thiruvalla (689105), Kerala, India. E -mail: kanayathu.koshy@gmail.com

** [Note: The disclaimer and the copyright states that “Reproduction and translation for non-commercial purposes are authorized, provided the source is acknowledged and the European Parliament is given prior notice and sent a copy.

Dr. K. V. Thomas obtained his Ph.D in History from Lucknow University and has published extensively on Indian Culture, Women’s issues, Indigenous nature of Mar Thoma Christians and India’s Freedom Movement. His extensive teaching record spans Christ Church College, Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow 1973-82; Founder and Principal of Children’s Academy High School 1984-2004. He represented ‘Minority Christians of Aligarh City’ at the State level 2002-2004. He represented India at an International Seminar on Educational Technology in Israel in 2001. He returned to Kerala in 2004. He is now the Adminstrator of the Brethren English Medium School Kumbanad. At present Drs K. V. and E. Thomas are very active in several cultural and social organisations, and the President and Secretary of the Kumbanad Senior Citizens Association for the last 3 years.

Dr. Elizabeth Thomas completed her Ph.D in Home Science from Aligarh Muslim University in 2000. She took her M.Sc (Home Science) from Delhi University and her M.A in English from Aligarh Musim University. She has published two books, ‘Clinic in the Kitchen’, and ‘A Handbook of Hygiene for Undergraduates’, which were prescribed as textbooks. She had been teaching both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She was also the International Students’ Advisor & Assistant Proctor, and also a UGC Subject expert for Home Science. After voluntary retirement as Head of the department, she became Vice Principal of a CB S E school in Kumbanad for 9 years. They are settled in Thiruvalla, Kerala.