Here is a brief blog post with a list of organizations promoting creation care and justice issues related to the topic.

An interesting article about the growing “creation care” movement within Christian colleges and Universities. A Rocha’s own Ben Lowe is quoted. Go Ben!

Here is a story of a visit to the A Rocha Canada Center by another blogger:

http://mattbusby.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/a-rocha/

A Rocha International turns 25 years old this year. Help celebrate with A Rocha USA by particpating in Christians in Conservation Month (October). For more info and ideas check out:

http://www.arocha.org/us-en/3002-DSY

A Rocha and NieuCommunities invite churches and community organizations to a weekend of hands-on workshops about caring for creation.

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The Chiltern Gateway Project celebrated its 25th anniversary in Lewknor, UK. A Rocha UK works together with Natural England and the Chiltern Conservation Board to care for and share local natural treasures with the community as well as visitors.

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Last week Sandbach, UK’s A ROCHA group heard a ‘story of hope from Lebanon’, with Chris Naylor first setting out the background of the Middle East and Lebanon in particular.

He then described the remarkable success of the Lebanon project since it began 11 years ago with the aim of conserving the last remaining wetland in the country.

He explained the commitment to conservation which motivates the independent A ROCHA projects, now in 18 countries worldwide.

The speaker described the Aamiq marsh project set up by A ROCHA Lebanon in the Bekaa valley, and its significance to the huge number of birds that migrate to Europe.

He further explained how the project has contributed to a growing interest in the environment in this troubled region of the Middle East.

Conservation education has been promoted through building of strong links with local schools and organisations from across the community and from all religious backgrounds.

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Christian conservation organization A Rocha brings people of all religions together in saving the planet.

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We have been staying on the site of A Rocha Canada in Surrey, B.C. It has been great to see a solid conservation center in action. The center is ten acres and holds a small farm, including a few cows, chickens, and a vegetable garden that helps feed the staff that lives and/or eats on site. A wide variety of expertise comprises the staff - scientists conducting research, educators, administrative staff, community outreach coordinator, volunteers, a cook, graphic designer, media specialist, gardeners (small time farming really) and a few fundraising staff. All is all there is about 20+ staff and additional volunteers make up the team.

It has been encouraging to see how well developed their projects have become and how well this crew works together.

The national director oversees all activities and makes sure that each one of the areas listed below are working in concert in addition to raising funds and working on organizational growth. A site manager, a husband and wife team, live on site and ensure that the facility and the staff that live on-site are functioning in concert and living in a thoughtful and intentional community. An educational coordinator and his staff ensure that visiting school groups, summer camps, and other educational outreach opportunities are meeting needs and functioning to their potential. A community outreach coordinator promotes the organization in the surrounding area and works with the education coordinator and volunteer coordinator to promote community involvement. The volunteer coordinator recruits help for the on site garden/farm, tours of the site’s wetlands, data collection for the staff scientists, and educational outreach. All in all it is amazing how much activity runs through this site each day and how much contact they have with the greater community while still having a core of staff living in intentional community.

This is a great model for us.

Churches are not burying their heads in the sand, and they recognize the need to deal with and pray about the ecological problems that face humankind.

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