Earth Day is observed once a year on April 22 to promote environmental awareness.
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1) Besides creation care being one of the first commandments from God to humanity (Genesis 2:15), the Old Testament is full of laws regarding sustainable agriculture (Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 25:4; Isaiah 5:8), respect for wild animals (Deuteronomy 22:6-7), care of domestic animals (Exodus 20:10; 23:5; Deuteronmy 5:14), and respect for the land (Exodus 23;11; Deuteronomy 20:19-20).
2) In light of Romans 8:21, which speaks of creation’s groaning for redemption, New Testament passages of judgment by fire, such as 2 Peter 3, should be interpreted as a transformation of this world, with a measure of continuity between this one and the next.
3) Besides writing thousands of proverbs, poems, and shrewdly managing his kingdom, King Solomon had vast knowledge of plants, animals, birds, reptiles, and fish (1 Kings 4:33).
4) Simply unplugging electrical appliances when not in use, including a TV or DVD player, and unplugging wall chargers, can save thousands of pounds of CO2 a year.
5) In the past 50 years, humans have consumed more resources than in all previous history. The average American produces 1,600 pounds of garbage a year, and uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water a day. Every square mile of ocean contains more than 46,000 pieces of floating plastic (source).
6) Ecotherapy is increasingly recognized as an effective treatment for health and wholeness. Being outside in nature has numerous therapeutic effects, including the improvement of mood, the ease of stress, anxiety, and depression, and other probable physical benefits such as reduced blood pressure.
7) In recent decades, the majority of Christians have rightfully shifted their perspective away from the centuries-old “dominion” thinking towards “stewardship” thinking.
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