From The Catalyst, Spring 2016
by Michelle Nieviadomy
The earth provides everything we need: food, water, clothing, and shelter. For Indigenous peoples, she provides cultural and spiritual fulfillment as well. The earth is our source, not a resource.
“Growing the Middle Class” is the title of the first budget presented by Canada’s new federal government. The Liberals hope that citizens will find “sunny ways” inside these pages – and in several ways we should. But this budget also raises some important, longer-term challenges for Canadians.
“My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!”
March 2, 2016 marked a turning point for federal-provincial cooperation on climate policy in Canada.
Federal and provincial leaders, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representatives, and a wide range of civil society organizations are gathering in Vancouver to discuss the future of climate change policy in Canada.
Canadians prayed for 296 consecutive hours during Paris climate negotiations. Concerned kids, parents, farmers, musicians, scientists, grandmothers, ministers, national churches, and friends, all across Canada (and beyond!) participated.
Last winter, my nine-year-old son accompanied me to a climate talk at our church. But rather than bored, Oscar was captivated and took to writing about climate change, flooding and drought, and the significant oil and gas reserves that must stay underground.
Then I began to worry. How much did he understand about what the world might look like when he’s my age? And did he (as I do) have faith that we could muster the ambition necessary to take action?
By Randolph Haluza-DeLay, PhD
Demanding action on both climate change and poverty, the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) has released On Promoting Climate Justice and Ending Poverty in Canada: Faith Communities in Canada Speak Out. Citizens for Public Justice helped to draft this inter-faith statement, which also adds a call for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
In the lead up to COP21, CPJ launched Prayers for COP21 in Paris, a suite of worship materials, advocacy tools, and a nation-wide prayer chain designed to help people of faith engage with climate justice.
Here are five citizens across Canada that are joining CPJ in Prayers for COP21 in Paris.
Justice group urges Canadian Christians to pray and act for climate justice during UN Conference
For Immediate Release
Ottawa, ON, November 3, 2015 — World leaders are working to forge a new international climate agreement at the UN Climate Conference (COP21) in Paris from November 30 to December 11, 2015. COP21 has the potential to be a real turning point for the fate of creation.