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The COP clips
EcoChaplain David Coleman was privileged to gain access as an ‘observer’ to the ‘Blue Zone’ of COP26 in Glasgow. He was also able to move around the city by bike, dropping in now and then at the EcoCongrgation Scotland Hub in Govan Linthouse church, the churches Hub at the Salvation Army, and various other locations including Glasgow Cathedral, which hosted a number of events during the days of the Conference. This page gives a few almost random video ‘snapshots’ of that experience.
Climate March: Faith Bloc
The huge march of celebration of COP – not much of it felt that much like protest, but rather a great encouragement of activism on the occasion of COP coming to our doorstep . I was with the ‘faith bloc’ which got rather holed up in a wet muddy park before we got going. The marshalling strategies in one way kept the different groupings from mixing as they night, but it was a full day, a joyful day and an encouraging day…
Save the bear : Follow-up: I spotted the Polar Bear from the Cycle Bloc of the march with a group of cycling protestors a day or so later:
Biblical Blurb: musings on Psalm 8. Who are the ‘voices of the disregarded’ who speak the Word of God. Things also reminiscent of the ‘steward of unjust wealth’ Luke 16 ( not the ‘unjust steward’) – is it possible, by re-stating values, to mobilise even capitalism on the side of conservation? It a whale, as an actor in carbon capture, has a value of several million dollars, will this change our attitudes and behaviour?
There was a less formal space for reflection and meeting in the Blue Zone. Each morning at eight, it appeared, some folk met for prayer and reflection. Somehow I didn’t quite get involved in this, though I noted that friends from the World Council of Churches and other faith organisations did.
COP does bring people together – and sometimes allows confrontations like this between a woman from the indigenous peoples and a man from the more ‘official’ side of how Brazil relates to the climate and biodiversity crises. I don’t know Portuguese, but the body language says enough.
To till and Keep:
Early each morning, the gardener came in to tend – to till and keep- the garden of the letters of COP 26 in the Action Zone,. I had the pleasure of saying hello.
“All these people here to help”.
Realising on the first day: COP really is an attempt by nations and NGOs and more, to do something for the common good. …. approach it with goodwill, and see what can be built on it!
During COP I was able to offer, ‘remotely’ the ‘Time for Reflection’ slot for the Scottish Parliament. The Liberal Democrats’ leader later came up out of the blue, and spoke about it in the Blue Zone. He said he ‘remembered the shirt’. I actually recorded the talk in a cupboard overlooking the parliament chamber.Look out in the long set at the beginning, for the figures of ‘the people’
A ‘Tinkle of cyclists”
-I joined in with a ‘cycle protest’ running from the COP Campus to George Square
Former Irish President Mary Robinson, enthusiastically welcomed by the Amazon Rainforest pavilion, to plug her book on Climate change
“Religion is for those who believe in hell, spirituality is for those who’ve been there”
“Uncle Ray Minicom” (?), speaking for Australian indigenous peoples. Location sound .
“One thing our churches can do is to say to the countries: “Get rid of your armies”
Unedited thoughts after the meeting chaired by Alok Sharma with indigenous people
Similar reaction to a meeting in the WWF pavilion, led by Inuit people.
“Transition is a must, but transition must be just. “Transition will not be possible without being conducted in an openly and obviously just way…. Which is also a problem where there is populist misinformation, misleading the people.
An assortment of views from a fly on the wall, in and outside of the Blue Zone.
I used some of the ‘magic’ of the indigenous groups in the Peoples’ Assembly’ in the video advent calendar December 2021
The most eye-catching pavilion, from perhaps the smallest nation : Tuvalu
More from the Pacific Pavilion ( which took a lot of locating) -From Rev James Bhagwan, Pacific Council of Churches , Methodist based in Fiji.
( Sound quality is as it comes, but what he has to say is worthwhile)
I joined the quiet Christians outside the gates, ands listened to some more noisy protests inside.
Prayer after COP
A first attempt as to -what to say, what to pray, after the experience!