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Tuvalu, a Polynesian island nation in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Australia, is home to more than 11,000 people, whose very existence, which at one time was tied to the ocean and its bounty, is now threatened by rising ocean water levels.

By Mark Beach (*)

A team of church representatives will pay a solidarity visit to churches, ecumenical organizations and civil society movements in Tuvalu from 25-27 May 2010. The team will be travelling as " Living Letters " on behalf of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

The international tug-of-war over carbon emission thresholds and other instruments meant to limit the deterioration of the earth's climate has caused a big stir in recent months, but yielded little results. Therefore the international community must now get ready to take care of those who will be forced from their homes by climate change.

By Mark Beach (*)

As a wave of ringing bells embraced the globe, churches sent a strong message to world leaders gathered at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen: There is only one world and in order to preserve it, bold action needs to be taken now.

Church representatives from around the world will gather in New York City 15-20 November to press three issues within the agenda of the United Nations: peoples being displaced by climate change, indigenous people's rights and Colombia's protracted internal conflict.

At the 16-21 November United Nations Advocacy Week of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Christians from the Pacific islands have appealed for worldwide solidarity with regard to climate change, a question of life and death in their communities.

Straddling the equator in the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Australia and Hawaii, is the small island country of Kiribati.  The vast majority of its 33 coral atolls never exceed three meters above sea level, making Kiribati's 94,000 inhabitants vulnerable to a rare danger: their country is sinking. Â

Nearly 140 congregations and Christian groups in the United States are organizing public prayer events on the International Day of Prayer for Peace, on 21 September. Another grouping of churches from different countries around the world has committed to observe the day with a 24-hour prayer chain.

The World Council of Churches central committee issued a reminder on the pressing issue of climate change this week, urging member churches and others to "Be stewards of God's creation".

The WCC's Pacific Region is taking its opportunity to shine at these central committee meetings. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the WCC, the member churches of the Pacific presented a wood and shell plaque to the organisation and shell medallions to the moderator and other officers. "When we received the program for the 60th anniversary, we discussed it, and (the churches) asked me to present something from the Pacific", said Mr John Taroanui Doom, WCC president from the Pacific. "I like to show things from the Pacific"! The gifts are locally made, with special wood from the Marquesas Islands and glistening mother of pearl shell from Tuvalu. They were made at a factory that has provided work for local young people. The plaque and medallions note the anniversary and the years 1948-2008, with the WCC "Oikoumene" logo in gold and the motto "We intend to stay together" in English and French. Doom also presented the medallions to WCC staff and representatives at the Global Christian Forum held in Kenya this past November.