Seeking to join efforts with those committed to ensure a just and sustainable future for the continent, representatives from World Council of Churches (WCC) member churches in Latin America gathered at the WCC central committee in June to identify common concerns.
Burundi recently witnessed a significant event aimed at fostering inclusivity and addressing the impact of climate change on persons with disabilities. During the National Dialogue on Disability-Inclusive Climate Change Policies and Programs last week, the Friends Church in Burundi embarked on a mission to support and uplift women and girls with disabilities in Nyabihanga, Gitega Province.
Thirteen-year old Ellyanne Chlystun-Githae has a serious message for the adults in the world: “While you are worrying about whether you have enough money to retire, people my age are worried about surviving in a world that is rapidly warming.”
Following three years of severe drought, in 2018 the City of Cape Town faced an unprecedented water crisis, known as “Day Zero.” Severe water restrictions were introduced to avoid Day Zero, the day in which the city would run out of water.
Alexandra Masako Goossens-Ishii works for an international Buddhist grassroots network, saying her advocacy work increasingly centres on agroforestry and agro-ecology, which meshes with her World Council of Churches (WCC) links.
Right Livelihood is known for its awards, sometimes viewed as alternative Nobel prizes, but it came to different prominence when it teamed up with the World Council of Churches (WCC) on a quest to create a global movement to re-green the earth. Ole von Uexkull, executive director of Right Livelihood, based in Geneva, spoke at the 12 May meeting titled “Caring for the Earth, Transforming Lives: Linking Faith & Natural Regeneration.”
At a young age, Tony Rinaudo got angry at some of the environmental destruction while growing up in an agricultural region of the Owens Valley in Australia's Victoria state and, driven by his faith, did something.
Below, Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, World Council of Churches (WCC) director of Public Witness and Diakonia, reflects on the relevance of ecumenical diakonia and public witness today.
According to the fifth mark of the Anglican Church's mission, the church aims to protect and renew the earth's creation and sustain it. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa environmental network is dedicated to helping churches and dioceses fulfill God's calling to be earth-keepers and to care for creation.
On the occasion of the upcoming World Interfaith Harmony Week 2023, which is observed annually from 1-7 February at the United Nations, my thought goes to the urgent call for biodiversity protection from the COP15 held in Montreal, from 7-19 December 2022.
COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh is over. Numerous reports have all pointed out that if we don't cut the emissions of greenhouse gases radically and immediately, we will not keep the global average temperature rise below 1.5 degrees. Therefore, the emissions must drastically decrease in the coming decades if we want to avoid severe consequences for our home, planet Earth.
Neddy Astudillo, who coordinates work with Latin American communities for the organization GreenFaith, based in Florida (USA), reflects below on her role at COP27, and why she believes churches have the power to make a difference.
Paul Belisario, from the Philippines, took time during COP27 to speak about some of the issues he sees as part of the international Indigenous People’s Movement for Self Determination and Liberation.
Lindsey Fielder Cook, representative for the Human Impacts of Climate Change Programme for the Quaker United Nations Office, shared the ways in which ecumenical work gives her strength in her work for climate justice.
The sun was just setting over Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt when hundreds of protestors turned towards the main plenary hall of COP27 – the United Nations climate change conference – to raise their fists into the air, shouting ‘Pay up! Pay up! Pay up for loss and damage!’
Below, Christian Brooks, from the Presbyterian Church (USA), reflects on her work at COP27, and how faith informs her sense of unified advocacy for the climate.
