Author Archives: Judith Macleod

Disinvesting from fossil fuels

By News, Uncategorized
Could your church divest this Season of Creation?

As our scorching summer gradually begins to fade into autumn, Operation Noah is inviting local churches of all denominations to make divestment commitments during the Season of Creation (1 September – 4 October).

 
For churches without existing investments in fossil fuels, this would simply involve a pledge not to make such investments in the future.
 
By making a commitment to divest (disinvest) from fossil fuels, your local church can send a powerful message about the need for urgent action on climate change as well as keeping up the pressure for national Churches to divest.
For more information, please contact Operation Noah or visit the Bright Now website: http://brightnow.org.uk/action/divest-your-church-season-of-creation/

If your church would like to join the divestment announcement at the end of the Season of Creation, please email richard.collettwhite@operationnoah.org by 12 noon on Monday 1 October. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Salote – video resource form Operation Noah

By News
Sālote is a short animated video from Operation Noah which aims to help Christians around the world recognise the human cost of climate change, and particularly its impact on women and children.

The video has been designed for Christians of all ages and developed in partnership with the World Day of Prayer, and introduces the viewer to Sālote, a seven-year-old Polynesian girl who is already experiencing the devastating effects of a changing climate in her South Pacific island home.

As Sālote witnesses the impacts of climate change on three generations of her family, she reflects aloud on what has caused this change.

The story is inspired by real-life accounts of present-day climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, which hit poor and vulnerable populations, living in sensitive parts of the world like low-lying islands, the hardest.

The full video can be watched on the Operation Noah website, with an activity pack and factsheet for  church/home group: http://operationnoah.org/resources/salote/

Take One Action

By Edinburgh, Glasgow, News

TOA have just launched the programme for their September festival in Edinburgh and Glasgow.  Have a look at the programme – plenty of food for thought… and action.At a time when concepts of truth and democracy are being stretched beyond recognition, the tide of political upheavals, environmental threats and isolationism can feel overwhelming.  Our programme offers an antidote to despair and powerlessness. With community events, live musical performances and more than 40 films on offer, 60% of which have been directed by women, this year’s festival celebrates our common humanity and our ability – individual and collective – to bring about a kinder, fairer, more sustainable world.

We believe in the transformative power of film and are honoured to be sharing the stories of individuals and communities whose very resilience, tenacity and hope are radical acts of defiance. These include a Micronesian nation’s president’s urgent calls for climate action (Anote’s Ark), a young female Somali refugee’s historic journey to the US House of Representatives (Time for Ilhan), the unwavering strength of Spanish citizens demanding their country confront the brutal crimes of Franco’s dictatorship (The Silence of Others) and the Palestinian women whose grassroots organising was the unsung, beating heart of the first Intifada (Naila and the Uprising).

The films we screen and the conversations we foster do more than open eyes and minds: they are a direct invitation to reshape our world for the better – right here, right now.

Take One Action Website: https://google.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4649905fa6b3b959a29356c1e&id=5197023e68&e=4be6647e53

Download the PDF Programme: https://google.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4649905fa6b3b959a29356c1e&id=33e3e62f3c&e=4be6647e53

Screenings, events & workshops: https://google.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4649905fa6b3b959a29356c1e&id=6db706da16&e=4be6647e53

Interested in becoming an assessor?

By East-Lothian, Edinburgh, News, West-Lothian

Have you ever considered becoming an assessor for our new eco-awards?  Perhaps you would like to join our volunteer team.  Volunteer assessors work in pairs to read award applications, then visit a congregation to discuss the application in a friendly and supportive way.  It’s a great way to find out what other eco-congregations are up to.

If you are interested, why not come along to a no-commitment award assessor training workshop to find out what is involved?  The next workshop has been arranged for Wednesday 4th September, 7 – 9pm, in the Robertson Room, St. Anne’s Parish Church, Corstorphine, Edinburgh.

Places limited, so booking essential – please contact David Bethune, coordinator@ecocongregationscotland.org to book a place.

updated award documents

By News

Thinking of applying for an award?

Make sure you have the most up-to-date version of the application forms and supporting documents, uploaded to the website today.

We have made a few minor changes to the award criteria, to make them a little clearer for everyone.

Who will be next to apply for an award?

Central Borders network meeting

By Borders, News

The next EcoCongregation Central Borders Network meeting will be on Thursday 13th September commencing at 7.30 pm.  Kindly hosted by Hawick Baptist Church the venue will be The Well, Bourtree Terrace, TD9 9HN; it’s suggested that we park by Morrisons and walk up.

AGENDA

  1. Welcome, introductions and apologies
  2. New Members
  3. Greener Borders Winter Talks 2018/19
  4. Reports from Congregations
  5. EcoCongregation news
  6. “Ethical Finance and the Disinvestment Movement” – discussion led by David Bethune
  7. AOB
  8. Date/venue for next meeting

Borders group meet with MSP

By Borders, News

A group of 7 of us associated with Selkirk Parish Church arranged to meet with our MSP, Rachael Hamilton, at one of her surgeries last week.  We explained why we were concerned about climate change, and urged her to press for an even stronger Climate Bill.  She listened to what we had to say, and commented than “no constituent had ever raised the issue of climate change” with her before.  After half an hour of discussions with her, we left her (and her MP colleague, John Lamont) to ponder what we had said.

Some of us hope to continue the conversation with her at the Mass Lobby on 19th September.  We encourage you to do the same.  You can sign up at https://www.christianaid.org.uk/events/mass-climate-lobby.