Green Group Mission Statement
WHO WE ARE
In the spirit of deep respect, appreciation, and communion with our Most Holy Queen of the Forest, a few fardados came together on the Spring Equinox of 2016 to form “The Green Group,” with the mission of “greening” our family of churches in the U.S. and Canada.
OUR PRAYER
Fundamental to the Doctrine of the Santo Daime is a profound reverence for and gratitude to Mother Nature and all of the gifts that She abundantly showers upon us. Our religion was born in the emerald resplendence of the Amazon rainforest, which is the natural habitat of the vine and leaf that alchemize our sacrament. The medicines, wisdom, healings and blessings that we receive from the divine beings of the ocean, rivers, mountains, earth and plants invigorate our desire to protect our planet’s precious resources. Our songs in praise of the Sun, Moon, and Stars inspire us to care for and be loving guardians of our world home.
PRAYER PUT INTO PRACTICE
The Green Group offers guidance and suggestions to assist our national irmandade in initiating best practices around ecological sustainability and conscious consumerism. Mother Theresa once said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” We believe that each humble step that we take to protect our environment is significant and contains seeds of great, positive potential. Our goal in the near-term is to use non-toxic products in our works and social gatherings; to reduce the amount of waste that we generate; and to use our collective purchasing power to support businesses and other organizations that are supportive of a healthy and thriving planet. We believe that by caring for our environment, we also support our own physical and spiritual health as well as the vibrance and strength of our families and communities. The best solutions are ones in which everyone wins.
10 WAYS TO GREEN YOUR CURRENT
1. Candles
- Avoid purchasing candles made of petroleum, which produce toxic fumes that are harmful to human health.
- The best candle material is beeswax; sustainable palm oil is good too.
- Support green businesses; a source sustainable and affordable palm oil candles is Goodlight Natural Candles.
2. Flowers
- Many of the flowers that we purchase at the grocery store are shipped over very long distances (e.g. all the way from Colombia, South America). Best to use locally-grown flowers, if possible. Grow your own and see if any farmers’ markets near you carry affordable flowers.
- Use organic flowers in place of flowers that have been sprayed with chemicals.
3. Sacrament Serving Cups / Water Cups
- Sacrament Serving Cups: Instead of using paper cups (the worst being Koch-brothers created “Dixie” cups), use glass cups or biodegradable cups. To order glass serving cups, email: info@skyofhawaiiboutique.com.
- Water Stations: Use big glass jugs or jars to carry drinking water versus plastic jugs or jars.
- Drinking Glasses: Purchase biodegradable or reusable water cups for the current and invest in glass cups for the table. In email announcements/reminders, ask folks to bring a water bottle in order to reduce disposable cup waste.
4. Washing Service Glasses
- When cleaning serving glasses, use at least 2 buckets containing: a) hot soapy water and b) hot clear water, followed by drying with designated organic cotton cloth dish towels.
5. Green Detergents
- Purchase eco-friendly soap to wash cups, purge buckets, and for use in the bathroom.
6. Saavy Printing
- When sending files of local or special occasion hymns, ask members to print on both sides of the paper.
- Print on recycled paper, when possible.
- Squeeze as much on the paper as you can (e.g print 4 hymns to a page instead of 1).
- Encourage fardados and firmados to order hinarios instead of relying on printed copies.
7. Recycling At All Events
- Consider investing in two containers of different colors so church members can easily identify the recycling vs. trash containers.
- Use biodegradable or reusable eating utensils, such as spoons and forks.
- Compost food scraps.
8. Green Paper Products
- Buy eco-friendly tissues for the salao and bathroom.
- Support green businesses e.g. Seventh Generation products.
9. Food and Water
- Sing Mestre Irineu’s meal prayer before eating to express gratitude for our food, which comes from the abundance of Mother Earth.
- Ask everyone to bring only organic or non-GMO food and beverages to enjoy after the works.
- Birthdays: Instead of buying cakes loaded with GMO white sugar from the grocery store, encourage folks to make birthday cakes out of healthy, natural ingredients.
10. Give Vivas to Mother Nature!
- Viva Mamae Natureza! Viva sol, lua, e as estrelas! Viva terra, vento, e o mar!
We welcome your fresh ideas, help in researching clean products and also facilitating best green practices within our family of Churches. It is our hope and intention to enlist at least one brother or sister from each current to impart latest green messaging and oversee follow-thru of recommendations at the local level. Meetings are scheduled more/less quarterly depending on interest and urgency of tasks. In the near future we would like to address recycling practices, shipping and handling supplies, water in works, wellness (purge) supplies, as well as cultivating an ongoing online conversation around environmental issues and—through our awareness and actions–an ever better alignment with our Creator and Divine Mother Nature.
Feedback? Email us!
If you have questions, suggestions or would like to get involved in this initiative, please email initiatives@ceflurgem.org.