A World of Grace

by Nikki McClure and Anna Stern

That pause before the meal inspires us across cultures. Artist Nikki McClure adds her touch to our collection of mealtime prayers from around the world.
Nikki McClure of Olympia, Washington is known for her painstakingly intricate and beautiful paper cuts. Armed with an X-acto knife, she cuts out her images from a single sheet of paper and creates a bold language that translates the complex poetry of motherhood, nature, and activism into a simple and endearing picture. VISIT HER WEBSITE: www.nikkimcclure.com 11x17 1.66mb Download pdf poster of A World of Grace.		Illustration by Nikki McClure.

		LATIN AMERICAN To those who have hunger Give bread. And to those who have bread Give the hunger for justice. top
		BUDDHIST This food is the gift of the whole universe. Each morsel is a sacrifice of life, May I be worthy to receive it. May the energy in this food Give me the strength To transform my unwholesome qualities Into wholesome ones. I am grateful for this food. May I realize the Path of Awakening, For the sake of all beings. top
		MUSLIM All praises are due to Allah who gave us sufficient food to eat and who satiated our thirst while such food is needed by us all the time and while we are not ungrateful to Allah. top
		ASHANTI, GHANA Earth, when I am about to die I lean upon you. Earth, while I am alive I depend upon you. top
		SELKIRK GRACE, SCOTTISH Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it. But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit. top
		CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S PRAYER Thank you God for the world so sweet, Thank you God for the food we eat. Thank you God for the birds that sing, Thank you God for everything. top
		APOSTOLIC, ARMENIA The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord, And Thou givest them their food in due season. Thou openest Thy hand and fillest all things Living with plenteousness. top
		HINDU, INDIA Before grasping this grain, let us consider in our minds the reasons why we should care for and safeguard this body. This is my prayer, oh God: May I be forever devoted at your feet, offering body, mind, and wealth to the service of truth in the world. top
		COPTIC, EGYPT Bless, O Lord, the plants, the vegetation, and the herbs of the field, that they may grow and increase to fullness and bear much fruit. And may the fruit of the land remind us of the spiritual fruit we should bear. top
		MOTHER TERESA, CATHOLIC, CALCUTTA Make us worthy, Lord, To serve those people Throughout the world who live and die In poverty and hunger. Give them, through our hands This day their daily bread, And by our understanding love, Give peace and joy. top
		SIOUX, NATIVE AMERICAN I’m an Indian. I think about the common things like this pot. The bubbling water comes from the rain cloud. It represents the sky. The fire comes from the sun, Which warms us all, men, animals, trees. The meat stands for the four-legged creatures, Our animal brothers, Who gave themselves so that we should live. The steam is living breath. It was water, now it goes up to the sky, Becomes a cloud again. These things are sacred. Looking at that pot full of good soup, I am thinking how, in this simple manner, The Great Spirit takes care of me. top
		JEWISH Praised are You, our God, Ruler of the universe, who in goodness, with grace, kindness, and mercy, feeds the entire world. He provides bread for all creatures, for His kindness is never-ending. And because of His magnificent greatness we have never wanted for food, nor will we ever want for food, to the end of time. For His great name, because He is God who feeds and provides for all, and who does good to all by preparing food for all of His creatures whom He created: Praised are You, God, who feeds all. top

Sources:

VARIOUS ::
Compilation of graces by Azuka Nwigwe, Grail World Magazine
www.grailworld.com/GraceIndex.htm


ASHANTI, COPTIC, MOTHER TERESA ::
From the book "Bless This Food." Copyright © 1993, 2007 by Adrian Butash. Reprinted with permission of New World Library, Novato, CA. www.newworldlibrary.com


HINDU ::
Translated by Linda Hess at Stanford University

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Illustration by Nikki McClure. Research by Anna Stern. This article is part of Food for Everyone, the Spring 2009 issue of YES! Magazine. Anna Stern is an editorial intern for YES! Magazine.

Time to Get "Smart" on Biofuels

Sierra Club, Worldwatch Institute Outline "Smart Choices for Biofuels" in New Report

Washington, D.C.-The Sierra Club and Worldwatch Institute today released a report, Smart Choices for Biofuels (pdf), highlighting the need for important policy reforms at this critical juncture in America's effort to increase the use of biofuels. The report outlines the economic and environmental impacts of first-generation biofuels such as corn ethanol, proposes strategies to make the biofuels industry more sustainable, and offers specific policy recommendations in four broad categories:

• Developing sustainability standards
• Advancing biofuels production and new technologies
• Creating green jobs through biofuels
• Promoting policy coherence across energy sectors

"At a time of volatile gas prices and rising concern about global warming, it has become clear that biofuels can play a role in reducing dependence on oil and curbing climate change," said Christopher Flavin, President of Worldwatch Institute. "However, the large and growing scale of the industry make it critical that Congress now make smart choices that promote sustainable biofuels-rather than just more biofuels-as part of a clean energy economy."

U.S. biofuels production in 2008 topped 9 billion gallons-the vast majority of which was corn ethanol-and successive Congressional mandates call for the use of 36 billion gallons of biofuels by the year 2022. Domestic biofuels output has more than doubled since 2005, and the report explores the many issues associated with this dramatic increase in the production of renewable fuels, including: the global warming emissions profile of corn ethanol; the effect on the Conservation Reserve Program; other effects on the nation's air, water, and land; and the lower-than-expected economic benefits for rural communities.

"The headlong rush toward biofuels-corn ethanol in particular-has had many consequences, some foreseen and others not," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director. "The downside risks to our land, air, water, and economy have become readily apparent, but the good news is that with smart choices we can make biofuels work for the environment, economy, and climate, while enhancing our energy security."

Smart Choices for Biofuels maps a future path for biofuels to ensure that they are more environmentally and socially sustainable and that the use of renewable fuels for transportation contributes to the global effort to reduce global warming pollution. The steps proposed in the report include an accelerated transition to cellulosic feedstocks such as switchgrass and the use of more effective agricultural practices to decrease erosion and soil nutrient depletion. The report also recommends complementary steps beyond improvements in biofuels production, such as the promotion of plug-in hybrid vehicles and increased investments in public transportation, which could also help achieve crucial energy and climate goals.

Finally, the report concludes that if a renewable fuels mandate is to contribute effectively to reducing foreign oil dependence and curbing global warming, it must be reevaluated in light of changing circumstances. Changes in four broad policy categories-sustainability standards, advancing biofuels production and new technologies, creating green jobs, and promoting policy coherence across energy sectors-are detailed in the report.

Sierra Club and Worldwatch Institute previously collaborated on biofuels and sustainability when they released a report in October 2007 focused solely on Iowa, titled Destination Iowa: Getting to a Sustainable Biofuels Future.

Green Facts' Papers

• http://www.greenfacts.org/en/digests/leaflets/index.htm

	Facts on Agriculture & Development 6 pages, 0.9 MB GreenFacts summary of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) Available in [en] [es] [fr] [العربية] [Русский] Web version
	Facts on Arctic Climate Change 6 pages, 0.7 MB GreenFacts summary of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA). Available in [en] [fr] Web version
	Facts on Biodiversity: A Global Outlook 6 pages, 0.9 MB GreenFacts' summary of the Global Biodiversity Outlook 2 of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Available in [en] [es] [fr] [nl] Web version
	Facts on Biodiversity & Human Well-being 6 pages, 0.7 MB GreenFacts' summary of the Biodiversity Synthesis of the Millennium Assessment. Format: A4 Available in [en] [es] [fr] [nl] Web version
	Facts on CO2 Capture and Storage 6 pages, 0.8 MB GreenFacts summary of the Special Report on CO2 Capture and Storage of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Available in [en] [fr] [中文] Web version
	Facts on Climate Change: 2007 Update 6 pages, 0.7 MB GreenFacts' summary of the Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Available in [en] [es] [fr] [nl] Web version
	Facts on Climate Change: 2007 Update - WG1 2 pages, 0.4 MB GreenFacts' summary of the Working Group 1 report (the Physical Science Basis) of the Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Format: pocket-size leaflet (1/3 of an A4) Available in [en] [fr] [nl] Web version
	Facts on Desertification 6 pages, 0.7 MB GreenFacts summary of the Desertification Synthesis of the Millennium Assessment. Available in [en] [fr] Web version
	Facts on Water Resources 6 pages, 0.7 MB GreenFacts summary of the United Nations World Water Development Report UN Water. Available in [en] [fr] Web version

Simple steps to stop global warming

• http://www.climatedoctor.net
  

Together, we can make a difference! Let's guide our country towards a clean energy future that will create jobs, strengthen our economy, and protect our environment. The following simple steps will help prevent climate change for future generations.

Recycle plastic water bottles, glass containers, paper, and aluminum soda cans. You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates.

Reduce greenhouse gasses, provide habitat for native wildlife, improve human health by producing oxygen and improving air quality, and reduce home energy needs by planting a tree.

Conserve energy by turning lights and computers off when you leave a room. Electronics are affecting global warming in a truly preventable way.

Reduce the consumption of plastic and paper shopping bags due to their adverse effect on the environment.