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Sept 2007
Creation Challenge newsletter
Welcome to the September edition of Creation Challenge!
As the Church celebrates the season of Harvest we remember the gifts that God blesses us with. Tables will be laden with foodstuffs; from mainly cans and other shop bought items in towns and cities to the bags of vegetables covered in soil in villages. From whatever end of the production cycle they come, we bring these items as offerings back to God and many churches will then share them with the wider community. Whatever Harvest gift we bring, they are brought from what God has given to us to be shared with those with less. So particularly at Harvest we remember the generosity of God's Creation and accept the Challenge to do our part in maintaining its well-being.
Many thanks to all those that have contributed to this edition and as always we want to hear any other news, tips, experiences or questions that you would like to share where churches' and your own engagement with the environment are concerned.
Best wishes,
Dave Coaker
Creation Challenge, Coordinator
Network
We hope to shortly be able to share news about how, after both the United Reformed Church and the Methodist Church passed environmental resolutions at General Assembly and Conference, these will be implemented.
Revd Heather Walker from Stamford and Rutland Methodist Circuit has suggested we might all support this petition to charge 10p for plastic bags: http://www.green-england.co.uk/plasticbagpetition
Church Action
Church group takes lead on climate issue Read what the Chester Chronicle has to say about an initiative that Upton URC is involved in.
Crediton Methodist Church has gained an eco-congregation award.
Report from Sibiu (part 1) A group from Christian Ecology Link have returned on their epic bus journey back from Sibiu (Third European Ecumenical Assembly in Romania in early September) Isabel Carter tells of the bus journey and the Ecumenical Assembly.
Report from Sibiu (part 2) Ruth Conway gives her summary of the Issues raised in the Creation Forum that she prepared for presentation to the full Assembly.
Tips/Resources
RGS launches new climate change website for schools. The Royal Geographical Society has launched a new website for schools on climate change and how it affects all aspects of life. It supports the KS3 geography and citizenship curriculum and links to GCSE and A-level syllabuses. There are student worksheets to download, as well as teachers' notes. To view the site, go to http://www.yourclimateyourlife.org.uk
Online climate change gaming for schools. 'Operation: Climate Control' is a new online game to teach students about climate change. It's intended for use in schools (KS4), and players get the chance to create environmental policy for Europe for the 21st century. It is free to use and there are resources for teachers. http://www.operationclimatecontrol.co.uk/content/
The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century. Read it online and let us now what you think?
reality or rhetoric? green tariffs for domestic consumers from the National Consumer Council.
Christian Aid has produced in-depth reports about the price poor people are already paying for global warming.
Reviews
Changing Climate, Changing Church Rev'd Peter Doodes looks at this short book produced for CCC (Catholics for a Changing Church)
Have you read something you'd like to review for us?
A Moral Climate - the ethics of global warming is the latest book by Michael S. Northcott, Professor of Ethics at the University of Edinburgh and a priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Darton, Longman and Todd. A review will be available next issue.
Christianity, climate change and sustainable living; by Nick Spencer and Robert White SPCK, 2007. A review will be available next issue.
News
Sarah Hargreaves encourages us to have a look at this new project that has been set up at the Franciscan Friary at Hilfeld West Dorset. They have a programme of events and also accommodation for people who want to run courses for themselves, please visit the website if you are interested. http://www.hilfieldproject.co.uk/
Events
Sound of Many Waters - Catholics & Ecology - Join us in a wonderful year-long exploration of our need to care for our environment. The celebrations at Clifton Cathedral in Bristol draw on Catholic teachings, insights and networks - and are open to everyone. Together we can help restore the world, and fill it with the sound of many waters, flowing together.
Rally against carbon Christian Aid's historic Cut the Carbon is heading across southern England towards the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.
The Natural World: A Cause for Celebration & Christian Concern 6th October 2007 at Westfield United Reformed Church, Bridgwater from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
Helsby Methodist Church Eco-Fair, 5-6 October 2007
Animal Welfare Sunday 7th October - focusing on the issue of fur.
21-28 Oct - One World Week 2007 This year's theme: All Together Now. Now is the time to unite behind the belief that all people matter; all life matters; the world is abundantly diverse. Now is the time to act; to cut waste and share more equally the world's abundance.
Keeping the Ark Afloat Saturday 3rd November 2007 - A Conference on Environmental Justice at Lancaster University Chaplaincy Centre, LA1 4YW
Buy Nothing Day Saturday 24th November 2007
CAMPAIGN AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE 8th December 2007 National Climate March, Global Day of Action Join people all around the world to demand that world leaders take the urgent action we need to prevent the catastrophic destabilisation of global climate. The National Demo in London will be one of many demonstrations on climate taking place all around the world on the same day, midway through the UN Climate Talks in Bali . 10:00 am Cycle Protest assembles at Lincoln 's Inn Fields. More details here. 12:00 noon Assemble Millbank for main march [Westminster Tube] 2:30 pm Rally at US embassy. Speakers include George Monbiot and Caroline Lucas MEP.
Please get in touch if you have material you would like to submit for the next e-newsletter which will be distributed around the end of Nov 2007.
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