UK: Campaign to urge churches to disinvest from fossil fuels

Operation Noah campaigners

Operation Noah, the church’s ecumenical climate change initiative is launching a new campaign to urge churches to disinvest from fossil fuels. It will be launched after a short AGM on Saturday, 13 July, 10.30am to 4.30pm, St Aloysius RC Church Hall, 20 Phoenix Rd, Euston, London NW1 1TA. The official launch will be in the Autumn.

Guest speaker, Ann Pettifor, will be speaking about ecological justice and the economic and financial context of climate change. Ann Pettifor is Director of Policy Research in Macroeconomics, a fellow of the New Economics Foundation and Executive Director of Advocacy International, which advises governments and organisations on international finance and sustainable development. She is known for her leadership in the worldwide Jubilee 2000 campaign to cancel the debts of the poorest countries, and was also the campaigns director of Operation Noah. With her understanding of debt, the financial sector and campaigning she brings a unique perspective to the question of whether churches should continue to hold substantial financial stakes in the fossil fuel sector.

David Atkinson, Honorary Assistant Bishop of Southwark Diocese, will follow with a talk about the theological rationale underpinning the new campaign. There will then be small group discussions to explore some of the deeper questions, challenges and dilemmas. The morning will end with a panel discussion on the future development of the campaign.

The afternoon will focus on helping supporters communicate effectively both on the new campaign and on any other aspects of climate change. It will provide an introductory session for Operation Noah Ambassadors and any interested supporters. The Ambassadors will be at the fore-front of communicating information about Operation Noah and taking our campaigns forward across local communities. The session will be led by Paul Bodenham, and there will be time for personal action planning, identifying support needs and networking.

For more information see: www.operationnoah.org