Faith for Earth Campaign - Religions for Peace delivers petitions at the UN Climate Summit #COP21 in Paris

Religions for Peace Delivers Petitions for the Protection of the Planet (Paris, France, 28 November 2015) On the eve of the UN Climate Summit in Paris, Religions for Peace (RfP) joined approximately 400 religious leaders, COP 21 delegates and climate campaigners from across the globe in delivering the petitions collected through the RfP Faiths for Earth Campaign. (L-R) Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town the Rt. Rev. Thabo Makgoba, Mr. Mithika Mwenda, Ms. Lotifa Begum, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, and Rev. Kyoichi Sugino 1,780,528 million people joined a collection of faith-based petitions urging political leader to take decisive action to curb global warming and help poor countries to adapt to climate changes. (L-R) Ms. Deepika Singh, Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Mr. Nicolas Hulot, and Ms. Lotifa Begum The petition was presented to UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Ms. Christiana Figueres and Special Envoy of the French President for the Protection of the Planet, Mr. Nicolas Hulot on Friday, November 28 at the 'Faith in Climate Justice' event. The event was organized by four international faith-based networks working together for a common cause:RfP, ACT Now for Climate Justice, Our Voices, and the Global Catholic Climate Movement. Several key individuals spoke at the event: from the Philippines, former COP negotiator Mr. Yeb Sano; from Brazil, Cardinal Claudio Hummes; from South Africa, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town the Rt. Rev. Thabo Makgoba; from the US, Rev. Kyoichi Sugino of RfP International; from Kenya, Mr. Mithika Mwenda, Coordinator of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance; and from Bangladesh, Ms. Lotifa Begum of Islamic Relief Worldwide. Dr. Din Syamsuddin Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General, RfP International said: "Meeting the challenge of climate change will help transform us into who we are called to be: one human family living in community with the earth and the Divine." "Climate change is an ethical crisis that needs each and every one of us to take urgent moral action," said Dr. Din Syamsuddin, Chair, Centre for Dialogue and Cooperation among Civilisation (CDDC) and Co-President of RfP at an official side event on the first day of COP 21. He then outlined the concrete actions taken by the RfP Faiths for Earth Campaign, particularly the one that he is leading in Indonesia, Siaga Bhuni (Earth Alert) that is educating people on climate change issues, promoting eco-friendly houses of worship and a clean, pollution free environment. Participants of the RfP Global Religious Youth Leaders' Summit More than 50 youth leaders representing diverse religious traditions from 35 countries also joined the delivery event. Prior to joining, these RfP youth leaders held a three-day summit on the theme: Welcoming the Other: Multi-religious Youth Respond to the Challenges of Violent Religious Extremism, Refugee Crisis and Climate Change. Joining the youth leaders were representatives of the United Nations and intergovernmental institutions, and experts and practitioners from civil society organizations. The Summit participants condemned the violence committed in the name of religion and rejected any attempt to fuel distrust and cycles of discrimination and violence to polarize and divide our communities. The youth leaders committed to further strengthen their effort to advance Peace. A two-year action plan was developed and a strong multi-religious statement was issued defining their future actions and their firm commitment to ensure its implementation. ### RELIGIONS FOR PEACE--the world's largest and most representative multi-religious coalition-advances common action among the world's religious communities for peace. Religions for Peace works to transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and harmonious societies, and protect the earth. The global Religions for Peace network comprises a World Council of senior religious leaders from all regions of the world; six regional inter-religious bodies and more than ninety national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global Interfaith Youth Network.  777 United Nations Plaza I New York, NY 10017 USA I Tel: 212 687-2163 I Fax: 212 983-0098 www.rfp.org  STAY CONNECTED

To-morrow, #Ballarat let's #Paris know it means business....

Picture from here

Think of it as pilgrimage - a #Ballarat pilgrimage - if you will.
The worldwide People's Climate March
comes to Ballarat to-morrow.
We gather at the corner of Sturt and Armstrong Streets
at 2pm Saturday 28 November.
Then we will walk the short distance
down to Camp Street where there will be speakers.
Let #Paris know that #Ballarat
is serious about getting a good deal for our planet,
a safe future for the people of the world. 

Faith Communities Council of Victoria - Statement on Climate Change : #Ballarat's Climate March on Saturday 28 November

Statement on Climate Change: 

Faith Communities Council of Victoria

(Please pass on to your respective networks)

The Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV) has issued the following statement on the eve of world leaders meeting in Paris for the United Nations climate summit (Nov 30-Dec 11), and the People’s Climate March scheduled in Melbourne @ 5.30pm Friday 27 November at the State Library:

From The Editor of  Beside The Creek:
Please note there is a march and rally in Ballarat on Saturday 28 November. Please go here for more information.

As representatives of many religious traditions and different faiths, we stand together in our moral obligation to care for sacred Earth, the most vulnerable people and all human life as a gift entrusted to our common care as we are confronted by the growing impacts of climate change in all corners of the world.

More extreme weather events disrupt food production and water security, exacerbate hunger, cause economic insecurity and forced displacement. We share a common concern for nature and for global social justice, and are deeply concerned that climate change is a threat to precious human life, and to the survival of humanity unless strong and urgent action is taken to address the causes.

We acknowledge the overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is human induced, and that the failure to address its root causes will result in impacts escalating in intensity and frequency, especially amongst the world's poor and vulnerable who are already bearing the burden disproportionately.

We want world leaders to listen and act decisively for a just transition to clean energy. Australia has the technological and economic capacity to deliver this life-preserving transformation, and it is an opportunity to play our part in addressing the common environmental challenge humanity faces.

Across Victoria's faith communities, we share the call for Australia's and the world's leaders meeting in Paris in December for the United Nations climate summit to act with courage and compassion to address the fundamental drivers of climate change, to care for sacred Earth, and to protect the most vulnerable.

Faith Communities Council of Victoria is comprised of the following peak bodies: Baha'i Community of Victoria, Brahma Kumaris Australia, Buddhist Council of Victoria, Hindu Community Council of Victoria, Islamic Council of Victoria, Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria and Victorian Council of Churches.

Into very dark times, lights of hope can still shine .... this courtesy of a Sikh taxi driver

COURTESY THE TIMES OF INDIA( NOV 15)By my journalist friend Gurpal Singh Askh.Sikh's help tweet shines on a day of...

Posted by Nawal Moudgil on Sunday, 22 November 2015

The Interfaith Service of Remembrance for those who were killed in #Beirut and #Paris will be held at 6pm on Thursday 19 November 2015.

Could readers of Beside The Creek, please note. There was not an awareness of the killings in Beirut when this story was done. The candle lighting part of the service at the Cathedral will include 44 candles for those killed in the Beirut attacks in addition to the 129 candles for those killed in Paris. The condolence books will include one for France and one for Lebanon.

A poignant candlelight vigil and service will be held in the city this week to remember victims of the Paris terrorism attacks.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Ballarat Interfaith Network will hold a service for people of all faiths at the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral on Thursday evening. BIN public relations officer Margaret Lenan Ellis said it was a way to draw the community together in act of love and hope.

A candle will be lit for each of the 129 victims of the terrorist attacks. Anyone attending the event, will also be able write personal messages in a condolence book which will be sent to the French embassy in Canberra in the coming weeks.

 “People will be able to write their own messages for peace, hope and forgiveness in the book,” Ms Lenan Ellis said. “We want it to be a way for people to counteract any messages of hate... to stand together in solidarity and peace, in the name of humanity. People of any faith are welcome to attend the service. It is open to everybody in the community.”

Ms Lenan Ellis said it was also crucial recent events did not further isolate the city’s Muslim community.

“We need to try and dispel any prejudices which surround people of Islamic faith that could be further fuelled by these attacks,” Ms Lenan Ellis said.

Her sentiment was echoed by Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council chairman Dr Sundram Sivamalai who urged the Islamic community not to remain silent.

“This violence is not was Islam represents,” Dr Sivamalai said. “It is not what Islam preaches and I would urge the Muslims leaders to have a voice in this tragedy.”

Victims will also be remembered at the Interfaith Network’s Tree of Life – One Voice project which will be held on November 21 between 10am and 3pm at the Buninyong Town Hall and the Uniting Church. 

Blue, white and red balloons will be released into the sky at the end of the Tree of Life event to remember those lost and symbolise hope for the future 

 The vigil will be held on Thursday from 6pm 

at the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral 

at 49 Lydiard Street Ballarat.

Senator di Richard di Natale: #Paris, #Beirut, War, Fear, Hate, Challenges, Peace, War, Climate

The post below has been cross-posted from the blog, Advocacy.

A friend of mine as received the following letter from Senator Richard di Natale:

Dear Ian,

Our thoughts are with the people of Paris and indeed all the victims of recent tragedies brought on by war, fear, and hate.
The challenges facing our world are enormous. The events that unfolded in Paris and Beirut over recent days show just how much more work needs to be done to achieve lasting peace and democracy around the globe. 
The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must be brought to justice and we must redouble our efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. But we must resist the urge to lash out in anger or retribution because that risks making a terrible situation worse. Hate is the problem, not the answer. 
We are already seeing those who are trying to escape terror and violence in their homelands blamed for the atrocities of others. Now more than ever we need to stand up for people fleeing violence rather than turning our backs on them. If we don't stand up for the families escaping this cruelty and brutality, who will? 
We are a movement who believe firmly that there is hope for humanity and the planet. Now more than ever we must come together and not let these hateful actions divide us. 
Many of us are reeling from the events of the last week. Our hearts go out to the families and friends who have lost people they love, and whose lives have been irreparably changed.

When Senator Larissa Waters and I go to Paris in two weeks for the global climate talks, we will take messages of hope with us from Australia and deliver them to the French and Lebanese representatives.
I would love to take as many messages as I can from Greens members, supporters and friends around Australia.

I look forward to including your words when we deliver those messages in Paris.

Always with hope,

Richard Di Natale

Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV): Statement re #Paris and #Beirut

 

14th of November, 2015

Statement on acts of violence in Paris and Beirut

The Faith Communities Council of Victoria has issued the following statement in response to the recent acts of violence in Paris and Beirut: 

As leaders and people of faith, we offer our prayers and sympathies to family members and loved ones of those killed and wounded in Paris and Beirut. The loss of innocent life is senseless and we pray for the victims of these horrible attacks.

We unequivocally condemn these callous and senseless acts of violence - no belief, cause, or grievance justifies such acts of violence. We pray that the perpetrators are found and brought to justice.

We must remember these acts are committed by extremists, who although claim to be Muslims, do not represent the mainstream Muslim approach to religion or sanctity of life.

Faith Communities Council of Victoria is comprised of the following peak bodies:

Baha'i Community of Victoria, Brahma Kumaris Australia, Buddhist Council of Victoria, 

Hindu Community Council of Victoria, Islamic Council of Victoria, 

Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria and Victorian Council of Churches.