Religious voices in harmony over calls to tackle climate change - The Worcester Observer

Religious voices in harmony over calls to tackle climate change

Worcester Editorial 7th Dec, 2019   0

LEADING religious voices in the city have joined together to call on leaders in Worcester and around the world or action to tackle climate change and protect the planet for future generations.

Members of the Worcester Interfaith Forum issued their plea following a meeting where they welcomed to Dr Martin Hodson, operations director for the John Ray Initiative and Katy Boom, director of sustainability at the University of Worcester to speak on the subject of climate change.

Dr Hodson focused on presenting the alarming scale and significance of climate changes for both our natural environment and our civilisation.

He highlighted the links between human activity and the deepening climate crisis. Ms Boom focused on practical steps we can all take to mitigate the climate change by influencing policy and urging for behavioural change in how we interact with the natural environment.




Representatives from seven faith traditions also spoke regarding the relationship of faith to the Earth and the environment, all holding the planet and its creatures, plants and animals are beloved of the Divine.

In a statement following the meeting, forum chiefs said: “We are all deeply concerned about the state of our natural environment and poor stewardship of it which causes the deepening climate crisis.


“We therefore call upon not only faith communities, but the politicians, businesses and social communities of Worcester to do everything within their power to nurture and sustain the environment, for the benefit of all – both present and yet to come.

“The representatives of the Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Quaker, Sikh Faith traditions of Worcester, do state as Brothers and Sisters in both faith and common humanity, we uphold the sacredness of the Earth and all its dependent life, including its seas, forests, mountains and plains.

“We believe the words of the Great Native American, Chief Seattle, (Duwamish Tribe) are true – that ‘Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect’.

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