Thursday, December 16, 2010

Advent Hope: Helping Pacific partners adapt to climate change

Advent Hope: Helping Pacific partners adapt to climate change


"Preparations for eventual resettlement of South Pacific Island communities must begin now rather than later." -Pacific Conference of Churches Climate Change and Resettlement Program
With these words and the actions that follow, the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) is emerging as a leader in the ecumenical climate justice movement. As rising sea levels force migration and threaten the livelihoods of South Pacific people, PCC is increasingly sought after by regional and national churches and civil society groups to advocate for the rights of people marginalized by climate change. PCC's work in this area includes not only human and economic rights advocacy but also disaster risk reduction programs at the community level.

Friday, October 29, 2010

“Climate Change as a Moral Issue” Events

Dr. Mishka Lysack, assistant professor at the University of Calgary and Anglican priest brought together leaders of many different faiths in an ecumenical event in Calgary. The conference in April 2010 examined the issue ‘Climate Change as a moral issue’. Four events are planned in Toronto in November 2010. An Ottawa event is planned as well.

Dr. Lysack wrote “given the severity of today's environmental issues, simply changing your personal lifestyle isn't enough. That would have been enough if we had listened to David Suzuki talk about it in the ‘80s, but our world is too far gone now. Today, we need to focus on public engagement, education and community building”



The link for the Toronto event.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

London's Anglican Garden Project Update

The garden is now completed for the season and was very successful in the produce that was harvested. There were eight city churches involved in the weeding and watering of the garden during a very hot summer.
The churches involved were St. John the Evangelist, Church of St. Jude, St. Aidan's, Bishop Cronyn Memorial, St. Luke's Broughdale, St. John The Divine in Arva, St. Martin-in the-Field and St. Stephen's Memorial. Thank you to all those churches and particularly to St. Aidan's who I think had the hottest and driest week of the summer but did a commendable job.
The vegetables that were grown were lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli Swiss chard, cabbage (both green and red), beans, etc. The dinner program at St. John's benefited from lots and lots of lettuce for tossed salads with some broccoli, red cabbage and tomatoes.
The Friendship Centre at the Cathedral that provides healthy soup and sandwiches to about 200 hungry people daily benefited from the bushels and bushels of other vegetables from the garden.
Our very special "Thank You" to Murray Hunter who planted the garden in the spring and took produce to St. John's and the Friendship Centre all summer and then harvested the remaining vegetables in the fall. He and Rev. Don Ford hosted a delicious appreciation dinner for the helpers on October 15th at St. John the Evangelist Church.
Thank you for all your hard work and hopefully this program helped to fill an empty tummy or two these last few months.

Mary Anne Campbell

Hellman's Eat Local, Eat Real Campaign: Food-Driven Infographic Movie - information aesthetics

Hellman's Eat Local, Eat Real Campaign: Food-Driven Infographic Movie - information aesthetics

Monday, August 30, 2010

Liturgies for the season of Creation


What is the Season of Creation?
“Four Sundays in September, prior to St Francis of Assisi Day, we join in celebrating with creation. We celebrate Christ, the creator, and the wonders of creation...Four Sundays – four domains of creation e.g., Forest, Land, Ocean and River Sundays” 

The basic pattern for this calendar is:  

First Sunday: September 1 – Day of Creation (as in Orthodox traditions)  
Second Sunday: St Francis of Assisi Day, Blessing of the Animals  
Third or Fourth Sunday: Special Sunday – appropriate to the country or community  
Fourth Sunday: Second Sunday in October – Final Sunday of the Season

    Friday, July 2, 2010

    World Religions Summit final statement to G8/G20 leaders

    World Religions Summit final statement to G8/G20 leaders

    80 faith leaders from the G8/G20 nations including Archbishop Fred Hiltz meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from June 21 to 23, 2010 agree to monitor decisions made by government leaders . "In a spirit of positive collaboration, acknowledging that both political leaders and faith leaders carry tremendous responsibility for setting the parameters for our common life, we will monitor the decisions our government leaders take, including decisions made at the 2010 political leaders' summits in Canada. We expect follow-through on past promises. We expect bold new actions based on the values and recommendations outlined here. If we fail in these goals, we fail our children who look to us to secure a viable future for them. Our prayers and wishes for wisdom and compassion are with our political leaders at this critical moment."

    Saturday, June 12, 2010

    General Synod to set up database of eco-friendly parishes

    The Anglican Church of Canada is setting up a national database of parishes trying to set and meet targets for reducing the “carbon footprint” of their church buildings.

    Support for KAIROS continues to pour in

    Not only are people, churches and groups responding with letters of support and making visits to MPs to correct misinformation, but they are also making donations to KAIROS’ work. Most recently we received a legacy gift from the congregation of the former Deer Park United Church.

    These generous donations enabled KAIROS to provide small one-year solidarity grants to its Global partners and to carry on its work with Indigenous communities at home, its network of volunteer local committees across Canada and with civil society partners working on ecological justice and human rights. However, in order to implement a Global Partnerships Program, the government must change its position.

    General Synod 2010 passes new Climate Change motion

    "As Anglicans, our fifth Mark of Mission calls us to “strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” This resolution empowers General Synod to live more fully into this Mark of Mission in the next triennium. By advocating for more significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, offering worship resources for our communities, and examining our own ways of being through the lens of caring for creation, we are being responsive to God’s call to care for creation.

    We, as Christians, cannot rely on government alone to sound the warning bell and challenge us to examine our current lifestyles. The gospel calls us to radical discipleship and an ethic of care of all creation."

    Tuesday, June 8, 2010

    Prevent an Oil Spill in Canada

    "You can help protect our oceans. Tell our government leaders that we need stronger management plans and conservation measures for our oceans. That includes marine protected areas – places where critical marine life is protected, and dangerous industry is regulated"

    Anglican Communion Environmental Network

    Anglican Communion Environmental Network - Home Page

    "In many parts of the world local Anglican Churches have given leadership:

    * by being advocates for responsible environmental stewardship
    * by providing support & leadership to local initiatives to protect the environment
    * by seeking to educate Anglicans as individuals and as communities to become better stewards of creation.

    In 1998 the bishops gathered at Lambeth expressed their concern that efforts to address such issues be given greater visibility and be better coordinated across the Anglican Communion. The Network is an attempt to do just that. After some initial work following ACC-11 in Dundee (1999), the Network received recognition as an official network of the Anglican Communion at ACC-12 in Hong Kong (2002)."

    Tuesday, April 20, 2010

    Sacred Space Stewardship--a Resource

    "Good stewardship of our sacred spaces...involves ecological stewardship, fiscal discipline, and social justice responsibility.Good building stewardship includes, but isn’t limited to: Energy efficiency and conservation, Reducing toxic materials and products, Water conservation and Land and habitat conservation"

    Thursday, March 4, 2010

    COP16 in Mexico: World church leader urges other faiths to join Christians on climate change

    World church leader urges other faiths to join Christians on climate change
    "Climate change is a longstanding commitment of the World Council of Churches. Since 1983, we have been discussing how to respond to climate changes," said Tveit, a 48-year-old [Lutheran] who succeeded the outgoing general secretary, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, on Jan. 1.

    Saturday, February 27, 2010

    Climate Change Refresher

    Refresher Course as to what comprises Climate Change

    "A multitude of measurements show that the planet is warming, just as the greenhouse theory predicts" says Peter Sawtell, Executive Director of Eco-Justice Ministries

    Sunday, January 17, 2010

    Climate Change a Crisis of Conscience for All Canadians

    Climate Change a Crisis of Conscience for All Canadians

    Mardi Tindal, Moderator of The United Church of Canada,wrote "Our moment of opportunity came and then went, and here we are now, the fate of civilization and of millions of the planet’s life forms hanging by the frayed thread of inaction"

    More preparation needed for climate change, says Phillips

    More preparation needed for climate change, says Phillips

    “climate in Southwestern Ontario will be like that of Kentucky, which has more severe tornadoes than anywhere else in the United States”