MANCHESTER - 19 March 2008 - 320 words
Archbishop John Sentamu urges a new attitude to life
The Anglican Archbishop of York, John
Sentamu, urged a 450-strong audience to listen to the voices of
people living in poverty during an event to celebrate the work
of Livesimply this weekend.
A number of high-profile speakers gave talks and led debates on
faith issues and climate change during the two-day Liveit! event
in Manchester
- which also featured liturgies, live music and drama.
Livesimply is a network of 60 Catholic organisations and ecumenical partners - including CAFOD - which calls on people in the UK to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with those living in poverty.
On Saturday Archbishop John gave the key-note
speech during which he told the audience to think about the way
they lead their lives, putting
the emphasis on sharing with others.
"We're not denying living well," he said. "I'm
not trying to say: 'be very frugal'.
"No - God has graciously given everything on earth that we
might share it with others. What I'm talking about is an attitude
to life."
The Archbishop then produced a loaf of bread, broke it in two and invited the audience to share it, along with several other loaves.
On Friday, more than 350 students who
attended the sixth-form day had the opportunity to work out the
size of their carbon footprint in a climate change gym, watch
an eco-friendly fashion show and find out how to lobby their MP
about climate change.
During the day they pledged to become Liveit! leaders and share
the messages they had learnt with fellow students at their schools
and colleges.
Stephanie Clieve, aged 17, from Carmel College in St Helens, said:
"Today has been so informative because you always think:
'I can't make a difference, I'm just one person' but, actually,
today I have thought: 'I can do something'."
CAFOD director, Chris Bain, said: "Many people came to Liveit! wanting to share their experiences of the Livesimply challenge and they have been rewarded with an amazing, inspiring and energising two days.
"Fundamentally, they have begun to see Livesimply as a central part of their faith, underpinned by the generosity of God in making creation.
"They have realised through Livesimply that they need to look at how they live their lives in the future, in a world of poverty and potential climactic disaster."
Some 150,000 people die each year from the effects of climate change - and almost all live in developing countries.
CAFOD, which has seen first-hand the effect
climate change is already having on the world's poorest communities,
is calling on MPs to support a stronger Climate Change Bill when
it is debated in the House of Commons next month.
Liveit! organiser, Mark Woods, said: "Climate change affects
us all but those hit first and hardest are people living in poverty.
By changing our lifestyles and getting our politicians to take
action we can help protect some of the world's most vulnerable
communities."
© Independent Catholic News 2008
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