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Countdown to The Wave and a Copenhagen deal
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. Genesis 1:28-30
On Saturday, 5 December 2009, more than 100 organisations who form the Stop Climate Chaos coalition have organised an event called The Wave. This event begins with an 11am Church service at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster and ends up- after encircling Parliament, with warming tea and cakes. Tens of thousands of people will be attending to demonstrate to the UK government their support for an ambitious outcome at Copenhagen.
With a few days left before the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference on the 7th-18th December, I have looked further into what is happening to the world's climate and why there is a need for the 180 countries to gather together to join the United Nations meeting.
There is a biblical decree encouraging us to stand up for the poor, and across the world, it is precisely the world's poorest and most vulnerable people, those wo have contributed the least to the problem of climate change, who are currently sufferring the effects of climate change the most. And they will continue to suffer the effects of the change in our world's climate, a climate that Christ has entrusted to us all.
Countries such as Brazil, Uganda, Peru, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo are experiencing the effects of climate change on their crops. They are sufferring from both water and food shortages. We are all seeing more and more extreme weather, the rise of sea levels, water and food shortages and the extinction of many of the world's species. Alarming signs show that these changes are already well under way through storms, floods and droughts. Additionally, arctic summer sea ice is melting faster than previously predicted.
We are individually and collectively called to take action and we can do this in many ways:
- Campaigning: attend The Wave this Saturday, 5 December. Turn up wearing something blue! http://www.tearfund.org for further details.
Lord Jesus,
As the world leaders, scientists and other organisations come together for the climate change conference, we want to pray that there will be commitment and unity amongst those making the decisions that will affect us all and for a safe and fair deal to be made.
We pray for commitment to a rapid and significant reduction of greenhouse gases, with rich nations reducing missions by at least 40 per cent by 2020.
We pray that the $150bn needed will be made available, for poor countries to adapt to the immediate impact of climate change and to develop in a sustainable way and that rich countries take most responsibility for the problem they did most to create.
Thank you for this beautiful planet you have given us and help us all to take responsibility for what you have given us the authority to govern over responsibly. We pray this in your name Jesus.
Amen.
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
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MADELEINE JONES, 02/12/2009 |
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