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Thursday 22 October 2009

Faith & Climate Change (1)

Next week I'm taking part in a panel discussion on faith and climate change at a conference being organised by Faith Regen Foundation (FRF) , 3iG and the Commonwealth Foundation. The conference takes place over two days (28th - 29th October) at Marlborough House, Pall Mall, and is being launched with a reception at the House of Lords.

The conference will bring together stakeholders from all sectors of society, as well as representatives from communities globally, to produce a dynamic and creative arena for discussion. Among those contributing to the conference are: Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP (Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change), Keith Faulkner (Chair, Working Links), Martin Palmer (Secretary General, Alliance of Religions and Conservation), Martin Slaby (Coordinator, Earth Charter), and Dato' Mohamed Iqbal (FRF Special Adviser, Malaysia).

The conference is based on the premise that climate change will have a huge impact on communities, but communities also provide a way of addressing the issues. Raising awareness amongst communities can promote real change and real hope for the individuals that will be affected by this increasingly real threat for our global community.

Faith communities have both responsibility and power to address the issues, which is something they are increasingly acknowledging. Faith leaders are the gatekeepers to vast networks and already have a ready audience. What is more, the beliefs of the world's faiths revolve around a deep respect for nature, and a desire to integrate this respect into their social teachings. Faith provides a connection between the individual and the community, and between that community and the world. At this point in time it is imperative that we call on the unique properties of faith and the communities they inspire to tackle this global challenge.

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Lauryn Hill - His Eye Is On The Sparrow.

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