The Christian Churches around Birmingham are facing the challenges of Climate Change, together.
On Saturday June 29th 72 people gathered at the Quaker rooms in Bull Street under the theme of “No Planet B”. They included Baptists, Methodists, URC, Quakers, Catholics, Anglicans, Unitarians and Franciscan brothers; much of the organising and training was provided by Christian Aid and CAFOD working together. Many had earlier that week taken part in the mass lobby of Parliament and petitioned Birmingham Council to declare a Climate Emergency. Now they were to plan and train for their own part in the action.
Here are some of the opportunities which came out of the workshops and plenaries:
- The provision of solar home packs and flood proof housing for those in the Philippines rendered homeless by the tsunami,
- A network of climate champions among the 18 to 35s,
- Commendation of vegan food from Iceland and elsewhere,
- The campaign for the divestment from fossil fuels in churches and pension funds,
- Support for the Jai Jagat climate march from Rajgat in India to Geneva beginning in October 2019 and taking a year,
- Encouragement to connect with councillors and MPs and hold their feet to the fire,
- Training activists in relating their own stories of involvement to the experiences of others so as to prompt action now,
- Lots of quizzes, posters and cartoons to make learning fun,
- The joy of all ages, churches and faiths working together not in competition but sharing and learning from one another.
There is no Planet B. The challenge is to work together with those of all faiths and none in the care of our common home; and, as a bonus, to bring us all together!
Photo courtesy of Louis Reed @_louis reed; www.unsplash.com