Paul Parker speaks at first church eco-conference
The recording clerk spoke at ‘A Future for All… Implementing the Christian imperative to care for our World’ on 14 July
The first ever ecumenical eco-conference took place this month, featuring a speech by Paul Parker, recording clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting. ‘A Future for All… Implementing the Christian imperative to care for our World’ on 14 July was organised by the Birmingham Anglican Climate Action Group and Central England Quaker Low Carbon Commitment Forum.
Paul Parker spoke at the ‘day of worship, speakers, workshops and conversations’ at the Priory Rooms in Birmingham about Quaker’s commitment to becoming a low carbon community and working for climate justice. He said tackling climate change is also about justice, pointing out that rich nations have benefited from fossil fuels at the expense of others.
He added: ‘It’s easy to feel powerless… But for Quakers, prayer means action. And whilst we may feel powerless, through the eyes of someone from the Global South we look powerful beyond measure. We have the voice, the money, the freedom of speech, the democratic structures and the access to government to make ourselves heard.’
The speech highlighted ‘global opportunities for engagements coming up’. These included the Global Climate action summit in San Francisco in September; the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Bali in October; and the COP24 talks to be held in Katowice, Poland in December, when the common rulebook for the Paris Agreement will be agreed.
Other speakers included bishop David Atkinson, scientist and author of Renewing the Face of the Earth: A theological and pastoral response to climate change; and Rich Bee, engagement director at Rocha UK.
Workshops included ‘Building and Land’, ‘Engaging with Politicians’ and ‘Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaigning’.
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