Anglican Journal: Archbishop of Canterbury signs Ash Wednesday Declaration

Anglican Journal: Archbishop of Canterbury signs Ash Wednesday Declaration:

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"Climate Change and the Purposes of God: A Call to the Church," the declaration challenges the church to realize that concern about climate change is fundamental to the Christian gospel and central to the church’s mission

Three Views on the Tar Sands from Revd. Ken Gray

 First, Archbishop Desmond Tutu is once again front and centre in a movement to draw attention to the ecological affect of increased tar sands expansion. 

Eight Nobel laureates including Archbishop Desmond Tutu have written to the prime minister to argue that oil derived from Canadian tar sands "threatens the health of the planet" and that the UK should support European moves to classify the controversial energy source as highly polluting.

The full article from the Guardian is here.

Second, internationally respected climate scientist Dr. Andrew Weaver from my local University of Victoria has offered a surprising view on the effects of tar sands operations.

One of the world's top climate scientists has calculated that emissions from Alberta's oilsands are unlikely to make a big difference to global warming and that the real threat to the planet comes from burning coal. "I was surprised by the results of our analysis," said Andrew Weaver, a University of Victoria climate modeller, who has been a lead author on two reports from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Full article with video links is here.

Third, a senior level Canadian bureaucrat may or may not have informed the Canadian Prime Minister about significant concerns around environmental risk factors issuing from amongst other practices, fracking in the Alberta Tar Sands.  This matter connects with other discussions on this list about fracking and transitional energy production strategies.

 OTTAWA, Canada — Collateral damage from Canada's booming oilsands sector may be irreversible, posing a "significant environmental and financial risk to the province of Alberta," says a secret memorandum prepared for the federal government's top bureaucrat.

The memorandum, released by the Privy Council Office through access to information legislation, also raises doubts about recent industry and government claims that oilsands companies are reducing heat-trapping gases produced by each barrel of oil.

The industry has suggested that a shift in oilsands extraction to use steam to remove synthetic crude oil from natural bitumen deposits on site can reduce land disruption and provide for reductions in energy and emissions

The full piece is here.

Episcopal Church sponsors major topical forum: The Intersection of Poverty and the Environment | Episcopal Church

Episcopal Church sponsors major topical forum: The Intersection of Poverty and the Environment | Episcopal Church:

Why do the poor suffer most when it comes to Climate Change?

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Green Awards Continues with Greening Sacred Spaces Pilot Project

Greetings from your EnviroAction Committee in the Diocese of Huron.

Many of you have earned a Green Award in the Diocese of Huron during the past 3 years. This year, we are proud to inform you that our good work has been adopted by a group called Greening Sacred Spaces! Your EnviroAction Committee is partnering with Greening Sacred Spaces to do a pilot project to test this new Green Certification on-line process. 

We suggest that you print the attached article by GSS Energy Coordinator, David Patterson as it includes instructions to refer to while you apply for your Green Certification on-line. Your on-line application is due March 30th.

You will still receive recognition for your achievements at the Diocesan Synod in May!

We have been chosen to do this pilot project here in the Diocese of Huron because of our experience with the Green Awards. Your good work has been the foundation for this new process that will soon be shared with all Anglicans across Canada as well as other denominations and faith groups! We encourage all parishes in the Diocese of Huron to take part in this Green Certification pilot program with Greening Sacred Spaces!

Thank you for caring for creation.

Canon Linda Nixon and Nancy Harvey, Co-Chairs if the EnviroAction Committee in the Diocese of Huron

Green Certification 

Huron Church News Article Explaining the Greening Sacred Spaces Certification