Photocredit: Owen de Visser (please click each image for a high resolution version)
PRESS Release 29/11/2015
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
BIRMINGHAM FAITHS JOIN WITH CLIMATE PILGRIMS ACROSS THE WORLD
This Saturday evening, members of faith communities from across Birmingham came together to walk and gather together in support of a low carbon future.
The walk, from the church of St Martin in the Bullring to Bull Street Quaker Meeting House was one of many taking place across the world to coincide with the start of the COP21 UN Climate Conference in Paris, with footage being screened to world leaders as they arrive on Monday. Members of the many faith communities in Birmingham took footsteps together to call for genuine action to stop climate change at the talks, presenting Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe with a letter to deliver to Amber Rudd MP (Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change) expressing their collective concerns.
On arriving at Bull Street, the walkers took part in a gathering with leaders from the local Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities, who reflected on the challenges of being good stewards of the Earth & its resources, and the footsteps we will need to take to a more hopeful future. Multifaith prison chaplain Patricia Bradbury, compereing, said “We were particularly inspired to hear the voices of Birmingham’s young people, who challenged us all to work for the low-carbon future they hope for when they are older.”
Archbishop Bernard Longley introduced the Lambeth 2015 Declaration on Climate Change. Originally made on 16th June this year by faith leaders from across the UK, the declaration stresses the urgency of the challenge of global warming, expresses the teaching across all faiths about care for our common home, and pledges commitment to a low-carbon future. Those taking part in the gathering joined with people across the globe to (as the declaration states) “urge our Government to use their influence to achieve a legally-binding commitment at the international Climate Change talks in Paris, and with the continuing programme beyond. Through our various traditions we bring our prayers for the success of the negotiations.”
Peter Doubtfire (coordinator of Peace Hub, which hosted the planning of the event) said: “It’s fantastic to see people of all faiths and no particular faith gathering in support of the safe and sustainable world we all want. We are standing in solidarity with people taking action for climate justice across the world this weekend. This event is not the end, but the start of something bigger, with faith communities in Birmingham continuing to work together for a more sustainable world.”
ENDS
COMMENTS, INTERVIEWS OR MORE INFORMATION please contact Peter Doubtfire: 0121 238 2869 office@peacehub.org.uk