I’m writing to ask you if you’d like to be part of an inspiring new multi faith campaign, organised by the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) to address the climate crisis. It will involve people of all faiths both in Australia and around the Pacific.
On Thursday October 13th there will be an open letter to Prime Minister Albanese from senior faith leaders both from Australia and the Pacific 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 to phase out fossil fuels and support a just transition.
These issues are right at the top of the political agenda right now both domestically and when it comes to what Pacific nations have been calling on Australia to do.
In support of this open letter there will be multi-faith services in cathedrals and other iconic places of worship across both in Australia and the Pacific on the same day. I’ll be attending one of these. The full list of these is here.
- I’m wondering if you would invite your community to participate? Like many people who care about the climate, the potential of this new government to make a difference on the climate crisis gives me real hope. Yet I believe the government also neon-Proliferation Treaty to phase out fossil fuels and support a just transition.
Crucially, we will also be pushing for serious action on climate justice by calling on 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
These actions will be part of a month of actions called Faiths 4 Climate Justice (F4CJ) by communities of faith around the world in the lead-up to the UN’s COP 27 climate negotiations in November. Last year there were more than 500 F4CJ multi faith 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.
A treaty of this kind would be the first time governments would agree not only to stop burning coal oil and gas but to agree to a just plan to phase out digging them up in the first place. At the moment there is still no such international agreement on this.
What am I asking you to do?
Please, would you ask others in your congregation, community and network to come along to one, or both of the following two events:
- Multi-faith Vigil: from 7.30pm (sunset) Wed 12 October 2022
to 7.00am (sunrise) Thurs 13 October 2022
Acknowledgement of country to begin, then, during the night hours representatives of Geelong faith communities will present something devotional from their respective traditions. The faiths represented include Bhai, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Sikh. The multi-faith vigil is something new, so please come along and share in the rich diversity and in the silence. PLEASE, COME AND GO AS YOU WISH.
- Multi-faith Service: 8.00am – 9.00am Thurs 13 October 2022
The closest venue for Geelong Region people for these two events is:
Christ Church Anglican in Geelong
corner Moorabool and McKillop Streets, Geelong VIC 3200
Many thanks,
Fr Peter Martin
