By Tejopala, Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
On Thursday 13 October 2022, faith communities across Australia and the Pacific will come together to send a clear message to the Australian Government:
Thank you for the good start, but to be serious about the climate crisis we need to stop all new coal and gas projects and put an end to public subsidies for those industries.
On the morning of October 13th, both in Australia and the Pacific, we will hold events including multi-faith services at iconic places of worship, to make it clear what people of faith want the new government to do. Together we will be calling on the Australian Government to:
- Stop approving new coal and gas projects
- End public subsidies for coal and gas projects
- Actively participate in creating a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
These issues are right at the top of the political agenda right now, both domestically and for Pacific nations. We we will also be pushing for the Government to:
- Fully respect First Nations peoples’ rights to protect Country
- Re-start contributions to the United Nations Green Climate Fund
- Help workers in extractive industries prosper with more sustainable jobs.
This will be big
We already have a number of cathedrals and other prominent places of worship saying they will host these services, such as St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne, St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta and St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane.
For the full list please see our website.
We are also in the process of reaching out to senior faith leaders to speak out on the day.
Rev James Bhagwan, Secretary General of the Pacific Conference of Churches and friends in Fiji for Faiths 4 Climate Justice 2021.
Be part of a global multi faith campaign
These actions will be part of a month of actions by communities of faith around the world as part of the lead-up to the UN’s COP 27 climate negotiations in November called Faiths 4 Climate Justice (F4CJ). Last year there were more than 500 F4CJ multi faith protest actions in 40 countries. All around the world this October people of faith will be calling for a Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty. Already, the Vatican has voiced its support for such a treaty.
Get involved
The first thing we’d like is for as many people as possible to come to the launch of Faiths 4 Climate Justice for Australia and the Pacific to hear about some practical ways you can pitch in. There are two options to choose from. Both are on Thursday, September 1. Each will cover the same ground.
Option One
Thursday September
NSW / QLD / ACT / TAS/ VIC: 10.30 to 11.45am
SA: 10 to 11.15 am
WA: 8 to 9.15am
RSVP here to get the Zoom link
Option Two
Thursday September 1
NSW / QLD / ACT / TAS/ VIC: 7 to 8.15pm
SA: 6.30 to 7.45 pm
WA: 5 to 6.15pm
RSVP here to get the Zoom link
And please ask others to come to the launch too – either from your own faith community or from another one. Together we can make this truly big and send a very strong message.
Geelong event
Venue: Christ Church Anglican Church, Cnr Moorabool and McKillop Sts, Geelong
First Part: Wednesday 12 October 2022
Overnight Vigil beginning at sunset: 7.30pm and finishing 7.00am Thursday morning.
Second Part: Thursday 13 October 2022
Interfaith Liturgy. 8.00am-9.00am.
More details to come following planning meeting Friday 2 September.
Sign-on faith letter, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
GreenFaith International has also integrated the essentials from the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty into a faith-inspired statement they are asking people of faith and faith-based organisations to sign. Please add your voice here if you agree: https://fossilfueltreaty.org/faith-letter.
Waddananggu Anniversary – Online
The Waddananggu one year of reoccupation celebrations are well underway. We encourage people of faith to deepen our solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from around the continent by tuning in to the Facebook Live from the Anniversary Celebration on Thursday 25 August at 4pm AEST. Hear firsthand from Cultural Custodians talking about their ongoing fights to protect Country and Culture. Updated speakers panel:
– Wangan and Jagalingou Senior Cultural Custodian, Adrian Burragubba
– Kuruma Marthudhunera Custodian, Josie Alec, from Burrup, WA
– Gwenda Stanley, Gomeroi Cultural Ambassador, Tent Embassy
– DK, Fresh water Yuggera man, Deebing Creek
– Uncle Judulu-Yarraba
– Plus lawyers from the Environmental Defenders Office.
Contemplative Tuesdays for climate justice
There are now 12 weeks until November 7th, the start of COP27. A multi-faith group meets weekly at 11 – 11.30 am AEST on Tuesdays, i.e. 9 – 9.30 Perth, 10.30 – 11 am Adelaide, to pray and meditate for an outcome of COP27 that brings us much closer to climate justice. See more here, including the link to join.
This is an open group and would warmly welcome anyone who would like to meditate in silence with like-minded supporters of climate justice.
Upcoming ARRCC Meetings
All people of faith are welcome to attend local ARRCC meetings, whether you’ve been before or not.
Geelong
Tuesday August 23
4 to 5pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86356124131
Western Australia
Tuesday August 23
5.30 to 6.30pm WA time
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83516945537
NSW South Coast
Wednesday August 24
10 to 11am
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87141480807
NSW / Sydney
Thursday August 25
1 to 2.30pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87024829268
South Australia
Thursday August 25
7 to 8.30pm SA time
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82272441910
Melbourne – state election meeting
Wednesday August 24
12.30 to 1.30pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83824629496
Melbourne – Faiths 4 Climate Justice meeting
Wednesday August 31
2 to 3pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86122708135
Queensland
Thursday September 1
1.30 to 3pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89445509134
Victorian Planning Group
Thursday September 1
12.30 to 1.30pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86281720852
Move Beyond Coal Official Public Launch
There are millions of people across the country who care about protecting a liveable future and are ready to help Australia move beyond coal. Over the last 12 months ARRCC has been part of deep conversations with the Stop Adani movement and other partner organisations to help build the foundations of this ambitious new movement to phase out coal by 2030 that is vibrant and focussed on justice. And it is almost time for the public launch! There will be ‘launch parties’ in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and online.
- Hear how Australia’s coal industry is unjustly threatening the lives, livelihoods, and homelands of people everywhere – from South Asia to the Pacific Islands.
- Kick off our bold community strategy to have the biggest, quickest impact by stopping the money that’s funding new coal expansion threats.
- Learn about the plan to take on one of Australia’s worst climate polluters – Whitehaven Coal.
Dates
Sydney Saturday 17th September 2pm, Petersham Town Hall.
Brisbane Wednesday 21st September 6pm, The Loft West End.
Online Thursday 22nd 6pm AEST.
Melbourne Wednesday 28th 6pm, 75 Reid St Fitzroy North.
ARRCC have tables booked at the three in-person launches. If you’d like to take a seat at one of our tables, please get in touch with Fahimah (fahimah@arrcc.org.au).
Electric Vehicle Information Forum
Cars are responsible for half of all transport emissions in Australia. So, switching to an electric vehicle (EV) sounds like it would be great for the planet, but how viable is it in Australia in terms of cost, availability and things like re-charging? To provide some answers to these and other questions, the Uniting Climate and Action Network has organised an on-line Electric Vehicle Forum. The main guest speaker will be Dr Jake Whitehead, the Head of Policy at the Electric Vehicle Council. All are welcome. Here’s more information and the link to register.
Many thanks,
Tejopala – ARRCC
www.arrcc.org.au