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In the age of the Anthropocene, humans as the dominant species are driving significant and even irreversible environmental changes, thereby shaping the future of all living beings and our only planetary home. The complicated relationship between humans and ecosystems has often been mediated by economics and technology. Prevailing theologies and spiritualities have also molded these interactions.

Interactive panel focusing on the theme of World Food Day 2019.

Under the 2018 theme of "Know your status", World AIDS Day is an opportunity to remember the people who have been lost to the epidemic, to we give thanks for the progress made and make new commitments to ensuring no one is left behind.

The Global Day of Prayer to End Famine hopes to unite ecumenical partners and faith communities all over the world as a prayerful and spiritual movement to: encourage prayer, reflection and action with information and suggestions; bring awareness regarding famine’s impact on the most vulnerable children and families and to help address its root causes; connect with church-related and other humanitarian organizations that are currently working to bring immediate relief and positive long-term change so children and families can live out God’s aspiration for a dignified, peaceful and violence-free future; help communities and congregations to uphold each other in prayer and support, by sharing experiences, challenge and solutions.

The faith-based response to HIV and AIDS has become more visible and integrated because of the increased engagement and coordination of faith-based representatives over the past International AIDS Conferences. A range of faith-based activities are now being planned for AIDS 2018 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 23-27 July 2018.

On 23 February 2018, the World Council of Churches joins Pope Francis and the Roman Catholic Church in calling for a day of prayer, for peace in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On 1 December 2017, the World Council of Churches invites to a full-day event at the Ecumencial Centre in Geneva, featuring a commemorative service, an interactive exhibition and a panel discussion on the lives and rights of children and adolescents living with HIV.

On 16 June 2017, the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance in partnership with the Kenya chapter of the International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS (INERELA+ Kenya), along with many other organizations, is coordinating an event to highlight country-led action backed by global support. Religious leaders and leaders of faith-based organizations will remind governments of their commitments agreed in the June 2016 United Nations’ Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS that there should be “special emphasis on providing 1.6 million children (0-14 years of age) with antiretroviral therapy by 2018.”

At its first Eco-School on Water, Food and Climate Justice, the WCC's Ecumenical Water Network (EWN) along with its Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance will bring together about 20 young people from the Africa region. Over a period of 10 days, in an ecumenical setting, participants will have the opportunity to study the local, regional, and international manifestations and causes of the water crisis and food security affected by climate change. They will examine the situation and challenges from a perspective of faith and ethics, and search together for possible ecumenical responses to these challenges.

This interactive panel aims to build awareness and momentum within the Human Rights Community around the new targets for children and adolescents set in the Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free Framework, and in the 2016 Political Declaration on AIDS. In addition, participants will discuss how the rights of children living with HIV can be mainstreamed into the work of the human rights mechanisms.

In Southern Africa, around 28 million people are facing food insecurity due to drought conditions brought on by the strength of El Niño in 2015/2016. The World Council of Churches – Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is holding a regional consultation, hosted by World Vision International, to plan coordinated faith-based action in support of sustainable agriculture, agro-ecology and other climate-resilient methods, particularly targeting the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) discussion on the response to El Niño.

The International AIDS Conference (18-22 July) provides extensive opportunities for sharing and networking across all levels of care and response to the epidemic. It draws tens of thousands of people every two years. The WCC-Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is coordinating an Interfaith Pre-Conference to bring faith-based participants together to share good practices, networking, and discussion of the faith-based response to current challenges in responding to HIV.