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Religions helping China care for its environment


The Director of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) is a keynote speaker at a major Catholic conference on China in July where one issue will be the contribution of religions to promoting sustainable development in the country. In collaboration with WWF International, Martin Palmer from ARC is developing a major programme on Traditional Chinese Medicine and especially the illegal importing of Asian big cats' bodies to China for medicinal use.

China has awoken to the threat of environmental degradation in ways unimaginable just a few years ago. It invests more money than the whole of the EU on alternative energy, for example. Yet, the government finds itself with a nation hell bent on growth and consumerism and with a corresponding loss of a sense of community and responsibility.

The Chinese government is now asking religions to help reinstate a sense of purpose beyond just self and consumerism. Aided by ARC, Daoists and Buddhists have also reviewed their sacred mountains and documented the importance of an active presence at these sites, such as monasteries.

Around 300 Justice and Peace campaigners from across England and Wales will gather in Derbyshire 20-22 July for their annual conference, which this year focuses on China. The title of the conference is 'A NEW WORLD ORDER? - CHINA TODAY AND OUR RESPONSE'. It is the 34th annual Conference of the National Justice & Peace Network and is organised in conjunction with Cultural Exchange with China (CEC) and Leeds Justice & Peace
Commission.

The conference will seek to: raise awareness about the economic, environmental and military role of China in the world; understand about the Church in China; and learn about the culture of the Chinese people. The conference will be chaired by Fr Eamonn O'Brien, the Columban Director of Cultural Exchange with China. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who has visited China with Cultural Exchange with China, will celebrate Mass during the conference.

SPEAKERS

Xinran was a radio journalist in China before moving to London where she wrote The Good Women of China (2002). Her new book, Message From an Unknown Chinese Mother (2010), is a collection of stories from Chinese mothers who have lost or had to abandon children. Xinran often advises the media about western relations with China, and makes frequent television and radio appearances.


Fr John Baptist Zhang is a diocesan priest from Hebei Province, China. He and his team have been dedicated to the works of media evangelization, social services and academic studies, so as to promote dialogue, reconciliation and cooperation within the Church in China, and between the Church and society in China.


Martin Palmer is Secretary General of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation. Martin has worked in the field of religions and the environment for more than 30 years and is a regular radio and television commentator, invited to speak on religious, ethical and historical issues.


Li Bingqin is a lecturer in Social Policy at the London School of Economics, a research associate of The Centre for Analyses of Social Exclusion and member of the Cities Program, both at LSE. Her current research projects include migrant housing in Chinese cities, intergenerational support in Chinese cities, and social inclusion of rural to urban migrants.


CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE


Children and young people are a vital part of the NJPN conference. There will be a specially designed Y-KIDS Programme for 5 to 11 year olds. 12 to 18 year olds will explore the conference theme in an active and thought provoking weekend. ** A special price for young people (14-16 Years) is available - Only £58 (standard) or £78 (en suite) for the weekend


Booking forms downloadable from website www.justice-and-peace.org.uk. NJPN Administrator Ann Kelly admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk tel:020 7901 4864

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