THE GRAFTON DIOCESAN COMMISSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

The Grafton Anglican Diocese, with its 28 parishes, covers from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie. It therefore coincides fairly closely with the ecological region of North-Eastern NSW, an area which has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in Australia - and high levels of endangered species. It is also a part of the state subject to considerable population increase. Responding to this environmental situation and following the example of the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn, the Grafton Diocese has set up a Commission for the Environment (DCE).

This new organization aims to meet every second month in Grafton, its meetings occupying a large part of a Saturday. At this early stage time has been spent developing its basics - vision, objectives, terms of reference, foundation stones. However, elements of action are starting to emerge.

The North Coast Anglican (circulation approximately 4,700) is the monthly newspaper of the Grafton Diocese. Commission articles are now appearing in each edition, sometimes accompanied by a photograph. The following is an extract from an article by Dr Peter Mears, Vice-Chairman, DCE, entitled Do we value our precious water?

A few years ago in Ethiopia I experienced a simple act of welcome and cleansing in a darkened peasant hut. Before the simple meal was served, we cupped our hands while our hostess poured water through our fingers from a jar, at the same time catching every drop in a brass basin. Afterwards the water was carefully stored in a 201 tin for later use in the garden. This water had been carried up a winding path from a river many kilometres away.

In an earlier article on Environmental Ethics, Rev. Toby Klein says: As human beings, we are not over and above, separate from the environment. We are fellow members of the Earth Community. That's a better way to talk about ourselves and the environment.

The DCE in Canberra-Goulburn Diocese has spent two years developing a programme which will lead to considerable financial and environmental savings in the Diocese's use of energy. This has been done with the assistance of the ACT government, SEDA and the Australian Greenhouse Office. The Canberra-Goulburn DCE hopes that the implementation of this programme may become a model for the broader community. The Grafton DCE is undertaking research as to whether an appropriate programme can be developed to reduce our 'ecological footprint' in a similar way.

Following research on global warming by a member of our DCE, the Grafton Diocesan Synod recently passed a motion calling on our government to sign the Kyoto Protocol. This action was in response to a call by Archbishop Carnley to Anglican Dioceses throughout Australia to consider this extremely serious matter.

-Stan Mussared, Chairman, Grafton DCE