Religions for Peace Victoria / Tasmania Branches in collaboration with Greenfaith and Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, Cultural Infusion and United Relikgions Initiative presented the Third Living the Change event online, on Sunday 6 December 2020m from 3 – 5:30pm.
Faiths for Earth
The new EU peace mediation strategy: A step in the right direction on climate issues
With two new documents, the European Union (EU) has officially recognized the relevance of climate change to peace mediation. This is a welcome and timely development, but the language used still does not put enough emphasis on the human dimension of climate-related security risks.
The new Council Conclusions on EU Peace Mediation, published on 7 December, calls for EU peace mediation efforts to ‘take into account the effect of climate change on peace and security’, and for climate-related risks to be ‘consistently considered in conflict-prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding strategies.’
Gesher 2020 – Religion & Ecology: Community in a Time of Crisis
Gesher is the official journal of The Council of Christians and Jews (Victoria) Inc. The Annual journal Gesher 2020, Issue 3, Religion & Ecology: Community in a Time of Crisis is now online, along with the other issues from earlier this year and previous editions.
Interfaith Rainforest – Colombia Conference
The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative is conducting an online conference. The IRI Colombia 2020 National Conference, where national and global experts will discuss the vital importance of the Amazon rainforest and the work that IRI Colombia – Iniciativa Interreligiosa Para Los Bosques Tropicales is doing to mobilize action across the country to protect forests and the rights of indigenous peoples. Online on 3 December 2020. All interested persons are invited.
The Dalai Lama on Surviving the Climate Crisis Together
For the sake of future generations, the Dalai Lama tells journalist and activist Franz Alt, we must develop a sense of universal responsibility — for the earth and all humanity. Working together as one is the only way we’ll survive the climate crisis.
Cooler Earth – Higher Benefits
Celebrating International Children’s Day, the World Council of Churches has released a research paper “Cooler Earth – Higher Benefits: Actions by those who care about children, climate and finance.” The publication gives suggestions of how churches and other organisations around the world can respond to the climate emergency through investment decisions which are crucial to protect children from global warming.
River Above Asia Virtual Launch
Asia and Oceania share a common image in the ‘River Above’– the Pacific Ocean is the life, the river of Asia feeding all rivers, seasons and lives. The welfare of the lands and peoples is bound to the welfare of the seas.
The River Above Asia Oceania Ecclesial Network (RAOEN) seeks to serve the dialogue of integral living so that broader collaboration is possible and breadth and integrity of the ecology and territory are maintained.
The River Above Asia Oceania Ecclesial Network (RAOEN) are inviting you to the RAOEN Virtual Launch on 24 November, 3:00 p.m. (Philippine time)/ 7:00 p.m. (Fiji time) 18:00 Sydney (AEDT).
Climate Action – Greenfaith
Greenfaith – in collaboration with many faith and inter-religious councils has recently conducted online gatherings for climate justice. You are invited to sign the climate justice statement and participate in world-wide multifaith climate action in March of 2021.
Victoria: Understanding ecological threats, resilience and peace
To commemorate Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – and SDG 13 – Climate Action, the United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) Victorian Young Professionals are partnering with the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) to deliver a webinar on Thursday 19th November.
Sacred People, Sacred Earth: Statement
On 18 November, in six multi-faith TEDx events around the globe, people of faith and conscience at the grassroots are kicking off organizing for the biggest-ever faith-climate day of action – Sacred People, Sacred Earth. What follows is the statement of Sacred People, Sacred Earth.
Victoria, Tasmania: Living the Change
Join us to celebrate LIVING THE CHANGE on Sunday 6 December 2020 where we will be working together towards creating a flourishing world for all. We gather as members of diverse faith communities and those who care for our planet to share our stories of change, transformation, and regeneration. Living the Change is brought to you by Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, Religions for Peace Australia, Cultural Infusion and United Religions Initiative.
Sacred People, Sacred Earth – TEDx kickoff
On 18 November, in six multi-faith TEDx events around the globe, people of faith and conscience at the grassroots are kicking off organizing for the biggest-ever faith-climate day of action – Sacred People, Sacred Earth.
Stand with Pope Francis
On the eve of the Season of Creation, Pope Francis issued a profound prayer intention that the planet’s resources will not be plundered but shared in a just and respectful manner. He prays that today, not tomorrow, we will take care of Creation. Pope Francis’ leadership on the climate emergency and on the coronavirus has been unmatched. But he can’t do it alone. It’s time for the global community of people of faith to rally behind his message. For that reason, we are inviting all people of faith to sign the Petition for just action on COVID and the Climate Emergency, showing the Pope and the world that we care about creation.
Putting Our Values into Action for Nature
Faith for Nature: Multi-Faith Action is a global event designed to lay the foundation for inter-faith collaboration for sustainable and regenerative development to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
One of the Objectives of this Conference was to empower faith-based organisations in taking action for the Sustainable Development Goals and to cooperate for sustainable and regenerative development, with a view to endorsing the establishment of a global Faith for Earth Coalition. Religions for Peace Australia participated in this event, giving Report from the Asia and Australia Hub.
What follows is a presentation from Religions for Peace Australia to the Faith for Nature Conference 2020 – Asia Australia Hub Discussion C: “The way forward for Faith-Based Organisations to work for the Sustainable Development Goals”. The title of the paper is, Putting Our Values into Action for Nature, presented by Dr. Philippa Rowland, Vice-Chair Religions for Peace Australia, President Multifaith South Australia.
Global religious leaders call for ‘Faith for Earth Coalition’:
In a major livestreamed conference from Iceland, global religious leaders have called for a ‘Faith for Earth Coalition’ to halt environmental and climate degradation, insisting that “through hope, faith, empathy and reason we can build a better future”. “The time has come for people of faith to work together for the planet given into our care”, the coalition stated.
Book Launch: Towards a Just and Ecologically Sustainable Peace
This book addresses the need to develop a holistic approach to countering violence that integrates notions of peace, justice and care of the Earth. It will be launched online on Tuesday, 27 Oct 2020, 6:00 PM AEDT. You are invited to join the release of this important book, to be launched by Dr Vandana Shiva and Prof Richard Falk.
Divestment for individuals
For individual Christians and other people of faith in Australia concerned about the environmental impact of their investments, and who would like find out more about how the banks and Super funds invest their funds, assistance is available from Market Forces, an affiliate project of the Friends of the Earth Australia.
Pull investments from companies not committed to environment, Pope says
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Saturday urged people to pull investments from companies that are not committed to protecting the environment, adding his voice to calls for the economic model that emerges from the coronavirus pandemic to be a sustainable one.