Recently Pope Francis wrote that the forests of the Amazon are the lungs of the Planet. Many other religious leaders supported this statement. Land speculators illegally parcel out plots of public forest, offering land titles obtained irregularly from corrupt government officials. Narcotraffickers have made drug crops profitable, creating an incentive to cut trees and plant coca, which is used to make cocaine. They then launder money through illegal timber and mining operations that destroy more forest. Read an update from COP 26
The German Catholic Bishops conference says that the Catholic Church should take a leading role in protecting the environment and addressing climate change, said the bishop who is the commissioner for environmental and climate issues at the German bishops’ conference. The conference issued a 125-page report describing progress on environmental protection and difficulties faced by parishes and other church institutions in responding to climate change. Read more about the German Bishops statement
Faith in Community Scotland: As a community worker, working primarily with communities of faith, it is also interesting to see the development of thought and practice of many faith groups in this area. For instance, to name but a few, the Church of Scotland’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030, the work of Muslim Climate Action and Muslim Aid, and the Catholic Church’s and Pope Francis’ promotion of eco-friendly policies – such as in the papal encyclical Laudato ‘si. Read about Greener Spaces, Fairer Places – Faith in Community Scotland
BBC4 Divine Service on Sunday: A Service for COP 26 featuring Doug Gay, Principal of Trinity College; University Chaplain, Rev Dr Carolyn Kelly of the University of Glasgow, and Rev. James Bhagwan of Kiribati, General Secretary of the Pacific Council of Churches. You may read the script for the service (and listen).
NGO/Charity Go Dharmic is hosting ‘Ahimsa & The Environment: Making Peace with Nature‘ an event leading up to COP26 to protect the planet and go against climate change. COP26 is a pivotal moment where a new path can be forged to address the climate crisis. With governments, businesses, civil society and other stakeholders engaging in the COP26 process, it is an opportune moment to discuss and bring to the forefront the importance of non-violence in addressing climate change. The movement promises to create pivotal momentum towards the success of Climate Objectives. This event by Go Dharmic seeks to promote and educate society on non-violence as a practical means of achieving our climate objectives whilst directing us towards a kinder, symbiotic relationship with nature.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received an honorary degree from the University of Notre Dame Oct. 28. During an academic convocation in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart the Eastern Orthodox Church leader said climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are interrelated crises. Read about the Conferral of the Honorary Degree on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
BBC Sounds: Heart and Soul, COP26: Faith and the environment: This week leaders from over 200 countries have been making pledges to cut carbon emission at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). But for many climate activists on the ground, action speaks lounder than words. Reporter Rajeev Gupta speaks to activists who say they are compelled by their faith to act now. Presented and produced by Rajeev Gupta
Many of you will have read that wonderful book of poetry, Winnie the Pooh: When We Were Very Young. We now have another generation,Fridays for Future who will tell their stories of when they were very young: they marched at Glasgow for the Future. Although the march was initially organized by Fridays for Future, the youth-driven movement inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, people of all ages gathered at George Square to demand climate action. From small children waving their handmade picket signs, to older adults demanding a better future for those that will come after them, the COP26 host city saw children and young people in unprecedented numbers rallying to get their message heard
