Environmental Action Group

The World Council of Churches has released an invitation to Congregations, Communities and Churches to be a part of a pilgrimage – an international and ecumenical movement of transformative faith.

"The way we interact with the economy and creation – not only as individuals, but also as congregations, communities, and churches – is strongly connected with our faith convictions."

A roadmap towards a just and sustainable community can be downloaded at:

https://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/roadmap-for-congregations-communities-and-churches-for-an-economy-of-life-and-ecological-justice-pdf-for-home-printing

The roadmap suggests simple, but effective, responses that may lead to our committing to make changes in the way we live, to share successful ideas and to encourage one another. It is an excellent...

Featuring eco-theologian, author, and TEDx speaker, Rev. Michael Dowd, ProFuture Faith is a dynamic eight-session DVD and internet-based course that bridges the gap between head and heart, science and faith.

The basic format for each 1 – 1½ hour session includes conversation around the readings, a 20-minute video presentation and guided discussion. Purchase of ProFuture Faith Curriculum Edition includes a one-year renewable license to use the downloadable/printable participant reader and facilitator guide.

Part 1 — Coming Home to Reality (4 sessions)

1. Un-Trivializing God — Reality as Thou — (20 min)

2. The Purpose of Religion and Necessity of Science — (20 min)

3. The Epic of Evolution — A Cosmic Timeline — (20 min)

4. Thus Sayeth Reality — What is Inevitable; What is Needed — (20 min)

Par...

Conserving the Natural World – for its own sake or for ours?

We have just returned from spending time with family on Christmas Island.  Two thirds of the island is a National Park, the responsibility of Parks Australia.  It's a small island (19km by 14km), most of which is covered by monsoonal forest and it is home to several endemic plant and animal species.  Since human settlement in the late 19th century some species have already become extinct.  Several of the animal species are on the endangered list.  One of these, the Christmas Island flying fox, the last remaining native mammal, is an important pollinator and rainforest seed-disperser.  Without the fruit bat, the forest may be endangered. They are the subject of constant monitoring. Two bird species are also endangered (Abbott's boobie and...

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Dr Deidre Palmer, has released a statement relating to the Global Climate Action on September 20, 2019, inviting 'members of the Uniting Church in Australia and all who share in our hope for the healing of the Earth', to participate.

The full statement (less than a page) can be viewed at: 
https://unitingchurchsa.cmail20.com/t/j-l-mdueyd-jtkujjhkj-a/

What if, when the Uniting Church in South Australia meets later this year, the Synod were to adopt a proposal that stated: “We accept that global conditions have now reached a state that warrants declaring a Climate Emergency”.  Just more words?  Or a stimulus for us to wake up and begin taking appropriate action?

In June 2019 the Pope declared a 'climate emergency'.  Sixteen countries have done it (including the UK, Ireland and Canada ).  World-wide hundreds of local governments have done it. In Australia more than 25 local authorities, including the Cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Wagga Wagga and the Australian Capital Territory have made such a declaration.

Why would we even consider bringing such a proposal to the Synod?  Isn't this the role of governments?  Why would the church do this?...

The EAG wrote recently to the major political parties outlining the issues we thought were important in this election.  The ALP has replied with a comprehensive summary of their policies covering all the issues we raised with them: carbon emissions,  transport and infrastructure,  waste and plastics,  drilling for oil and gas in the Great Australian Bight,  the Murray-Darling river system,  bio-diversity and disposal of radio-active waste.  As other parties and candidates respond, we will post summaries on this web-site.

A brief summary of the most important points from the ALP follows:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction

• Labor is committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 45% on 2005 by 2030 and that includes increasing renewable energy in our electricity...

Human beings alone are capable of disobeying God's laws, because they try to be wiser than God… Other creatures fulfil the commandments of God; they honour [God's] laws… But human beings rebel against those laws, defying them in word and action. And in doing so they inflict terrible cruelty on the rest of God's creation. Hildergard of Bingen 1098-1179

from the 'Just Earth' app.

Below is a list of questions for the candidates who are standing for political office in your electorate, drawn up by the Environmental Action Group. A much-simplified form of these questions will be sent to every party in SA that is fielding candidates. Each party is being asked for a response.

The complete list below is one from which you can choose according to your own sense of priorities. You are encouraged to ask each...

Letter from the international coordination group of the youth-led climate strike 

We, the young, are deeply concerned about our future. Humanity is currently causing the sixth mass extinction of species and the global climate system is at the brink of a catastrophic crisis. Its devastating impacts are already felt by millions of people around the globe. Yet we are far from reaching the goals of the Paris agreement.

Young people make up more than half of the global population. Our generation grew up with the climate crisis and we will have to deal with it for the rest of our lives. Despite that fact, most of us are not included in the local and global decision-making process. We are the voiceless future of humanity.

We will no longer accept this injustice. We demand justice for all past, current and f...

JUST EARTH  is a free App for your Smartphone. Having uploaded the App, you will be presented on each day of Lent with a short, inspiring  reflection with pictures, quotes, prayers and actions on the theme of Lamenting and Caring for the Earth. 

The App was launched on February 14th 2019 by the President of the Uniting Church, Dr. Diedre Palmer, and is now available for download onto Smartphones everywhere.

Download the free app in the Apple and Android stores:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/just-earth/id1451886485?ls=1&mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.earthapp

At a time when the natural eco-systems of our planet are under greater stress than at any time since the advent of humankind, JUST EARTH reminds us of  our responsibility and opportunity  to nurtu...

Dr. David Shearman is the Honorary Advisor to Doctors for the Environment Australia and Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Adelaide University.

His article published in ABC News responding to continued proclamations by climate change deniers supporting the coal industry is found at the following web address. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-07/climate-change-denialism-holocaust-david-attenborough-coal/10585744

A short excerpt from this article is as follows:
 

"Climate change denial prevents effective action on emissions, and leads to other lies and evasions by our leaders who support big coal and other polluters. Our government hit a new low point this week, by admonishing those who care."

"The collapse of our civilisations'

Climate change delusion is dangerous to humanity, for it overtly or devious...