Jerusalem: Interfaith solar light gathering on Old City walls #LightForLima

#LightForLima in Jerusalem

Holding solar lights on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, people of many faiths gathered on Sunday, 7 December as part of a global interfaith climate action. Building on the momentum from the People’s Climate March in September that mobilized hundreds of thousands of people, faith groups held solar-lantern events in thirteen countries to call for progress towards an international agreement on climate change. The gatherings took place corresponding with the UN Conference of Parties (COP-20) climate talks in Lima, Peru.

The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD) organized the Jerusalem event as part of the project #LightForLima. Dozens of people gathered at the Old City's Jaffa Gate to walk together onto the ramparts of the Old City walls with solar lights. Interfaith discussions on climate change were then held at Jerusalem University College on Mount Zion.

“This event shows that people of many faiths can come together in Jerusalem to promote a sustainable future for us and our children. It also helps to show the possibility of interfaith collaboration to overcome tension in Jerusalem,” said Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Executive Director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development.

In a twist on the religious tradition of candle-lit vigils, many of the gatherings used solar lamps. For each solar lamp used in #LightforLima, SolarAid is delivering two lamps to African rural communities. The solar lamps will replace kerosene lanterns whose noxious fumes cause thousands of deaths annually.

#LightForLima was coordinated by OurVoices.net, a multi-faith, global climate campaign. Leaders from Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish and Christian communities, and people from a variety of spiritual backgrounds, led events in countries including Australia, Canada, India, Israel, Japan, Nigeria, the UK, and the USA.

Senior religious leaders from several traditions wrote prayers specifically for the campaign, with Imam Zaid Shakir, HH Radhanath Swami, and Archbishops Desmond Tutu and Thabo Makgoba encouraging their followers to pray for world leaders during the Lima meetings.

An international network of Jewish leaders, Rabbis and Cantors for the Earth, is planning an OurVoices.net Hanukkah initiative for soon after #LightForLima.