Amanda Gordon, Coordinator of Cumbria Agricultural Chaplaincy, writes about her experience of climate change amongst rural communities. Rural communities are an inherent part of the land – not only do they live amongst it, but also often derive a livelihood from it. It is inevitable, …
Environment
Reflections on Living Lent
(or 'The joys of a naked cucumber') Naomi and her husband Luke took up the challenge to go ‘plastic-free’ during Lent. Here, Naomi reflects on what might happen next. Since Lent began, nothing in our kitchen has been quite what it seems. Cake tins are stuffed with fusilli, jam jars are …
Real Hope for the Climate
Not just damage control: why we can have real hope as we act for our climate The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently announced that Governments must urgently increase their current pledges if we are to avoid a rise in global temperature greater than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial …
Can we talk about climate change?
Oh! We're having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave The temperature's rising, it isn't surprising... Irving Berlin Climate change is not only a challenge of the future. We are already observing changes in the UK climate, with average temperatures having risen by around 1ºC over the last …
Addressing climate change need not cost the earth
A church minister once commented that he always made sure he went to meetings of the church Finance Committee, “as that is where the most important spiritual decisions get made.” What we choose to do with our money – and other precious resources such as our time and energy – is a good indicator …
Drastic about Plastic
The End Of The Fast Is But A Beginning! Did you give up anything for Lent? And if so, what difference has it made? In the past I’ve given up various luxuries – especially in the food and drink department. I’ve committed myself to spiritual renewal through bible-study, prayer and reflection. …
Reconciliation with the Environment
At the end of last year I joined a two week pilgrimage to India led by the Revd Inderjit Bhogal. We travelled from Delhi to the Punjab, then drove up through the foothills of the Himalayas to a small town called Dalhousie. Our purpose was to explore reconciliation in the context of the Punjab …
The implications of Donald Trump’s rejection of the Paris climate deal
Yesterday President Trump isolated his Government from the rest of the world on climate change. Donald Trump’s reasoning for his action on Paris is clear; he does not believe that the agreement is good for American business. In terms of near-term profitability he may be right, although there are …
Fracking: A briefing for our Churches
Part of our work involves exploring the issues around fracking, something which is of concern to many people in our churches and communities. We have produced a briefing for our members to help facilitate conversations and thinking about fracking. The briefing argues that a policy that seeks to …
Personal and political action on climate change – World’s oldest Methodist Church goes green
Church members and their national church organisations are seeking to protect God’s creation for future generations through both personal and political action. Two programmes, EcoChurch in England and Wales and the Big Church Switch have been established to provide help. Both schemes are …