'How are we shaping the future of our planet?' Study day in West Yorkshire

Barbara Butler

'How are we shaping the future of our planet?' was the title of a day held on Saturday at the Mirfield Centre in West Yorkshire, and in collaboration with Christians Aware. The ecumenical event involved talks from Ellen Teague of the Columban JPIC team, worship with the monks of the Community of the Resurrection, and discussion over lunch in a 19th century dining hall by around 25 participants.

Ellen has produced several study programmes for Christian groups, including, 'Paint the Church Green', 'Our Earth, Our Home' - Green assemblies for primary schools, and contributed towards the Columban study programme on Laudato Si'. She spoke about care for creation in the Anthropocene Era, an age when there is significant human impact on the Earth's geology and ecosystems, including, but not limited to, anthropogenic climate change. Specific topics were 'Climate Change', 'Care of the Earth', 'Lifestyle' and 'Love for the Poor'. The challenges of the Pope Francis encyclical, 'Laudato Si' were examined and various movements which Church groups have supported: the international movement to divest from fossil fuels, the Church lobby and nearly two million signatures on a faith petition to urge an agreement at the Paris Climate Talks in 2015, the Global Catholic Climate Movement, the anti-fracking protests around England, initiatives to support refugees, and the eco-congregation and lifesimply parish awards.

Participants from around Yorkshire and from as far afield as Birmingham were interested to learn about inspirational Christian environmentalists. Some had given their lives towards promoting sustainable development in the global south: Chico Mendez (Brazil), Dorothy Stang (Brazil), Wangari Maathai (Kenya) and Berta Caceres (Honduras). The call of Pope Francis to hear the cry of the Earth and the cry of poor as interconnected issues was looked at. Copies of the Environment Policy of the Anglican Diocese of Leeds was handed out. It said, "Caring for creation is an essential part of Christian ministry and mission" and made a commitment towards reducing the diocesan carbon footprint and promoting the award scheme 'Eco-Diocese' run by A Rocha. The diocesan environment officer ensures that the policy is implemented.

Being a witness to sustainable living was thought to be important - to review personal energy use, transport, food and water. Virtual water and the role of corporations in promoting water as a commodity rather than a human right were discussed at length. There was concern about corporations taking control over local water supplies, for example in the Mexican State of Chiapas. All made a commitment to fairtrade, support allotments and appreciate biodiversity such as wild flowers and bees. The Laudato Si' theme of 'Integral Ecology' was looked at in relation to extractive industries where large-scale destructive mining has destroyed communities and local environments throughout the global south. The mining of Coltan for our mobile phones in DR Congo has led to child labour, violence and terrible human rights violations. One image shown was from the Southern Philippine island of Mindanao where a Columban priest moved the daily parish Mass to a picket line to support the local Subaanen tribal people who were trying peacefully to block machinery doing exploration work in advance of gold mining.

Barbara Butler, the Executive Secretary of Christians Aware, brought copies of a new book she has edited: 'Just Food? Food and farming for a sustainable future. It hopes to increase support for more sustainable family farming over industrial farming. Small Farmers are described as the stewards of landscapes, field boundaries and hedgerows, the guardians of fertility of the soils, the pastures and biodiversity. Joining Green Christians was highly recommended at the day, to keep in touch with events, resources, and the 'Joy in Enough' programme.

Links:

www.mirfield.org.uk/mirfield-centre/course-and-event-calendar/

www.christiansaware.co.uk/New_books_2018.html

www.greenchristian.org.uk/