God made us stewards of creation.  Clean water, sanitation, and development can work together to save lives and create productive, thriving societies.

The targets of Goal Seven are to cut in half the number of people without safe drinking water, and to reverse environmental damage by practicing sustainable development.

Making It Real
Episcopal Relief and Development is one of the organizations that are protecting the environment.  All of ERD's programs take a sustainable development approach.  ERD's food security programs, for instance, focus on organic gardening and crop rotation.  These projects create sustainable futures for both communities and their local environments.

ERD and the Diocese of Venezuela replanted a coffee farm as a source of income for the local community.  Farm workers are cultivating the land to produce, process, and eventually sell coffee to fair trade organizations.  ERD is also renovating an agricultural school on the premises, where students will learn organic and sustainable farming techniques.

Aristides Brito works at the Hacienda Emaus coffee farm.  With eight children under the age of 14, he is happy to have found a full-time job.  As he works, Aristides is also learning valuable skills: "I have learned about organic agriculture and how to grow crops without chemicals."  Better and steadier wages allow him to support his family and send his children to school.

For Further Consideration

• Most communities have a local recycling program.  Get your household and your congregation actively involved: How to Start a Recycling Program.
  
  
• The Diocese of Connecticut's Earth Ministry has an online Parish Environmental Audit.  Take the quiz to find out if your church is earth-friendly.
  
  
• Read this Episcopal Life article, Greening the Church, about Episcopalians and their growing concern for the environment.  Click on the links in the article to learn more.

Go on to Goal 8  >>