Environmental Issues
Christian thinking and debate on the web about the environment.
In an article by John Allan in 'Christianity' magazine he introduces a few web-sites which should stimulate our thinking about the environment and the Christian response to the current situation. After all if we really believe this planet is God's cration, and that we are accountable to him for it, we have to care about our environment.
What do you think of Bishop James Jones' article in 'The Guardian', November 2004 http://money.guardian.co.uk/tax/story/0,1456,1356561,00.html where he floated the iddea that we should pay tax on the use of original resources.
The Church of Scotland have a Society, Religion and technology Project web-site with stacks of superb web resources. http://www.srtp.org.uk/envir01.shtml .
One of our biggest environmental problems is sheer waste, check out Reuze www.reuze.co.uk for advice on recycling anything from fluorescent tubes to vinyl records to computer printers.
John Allan finishes his article with:
"A century from now, when the world will be much worse off for trees, oil and unpolluted rivers, how will they look back on 21st century Christians? As good stewards whose faithfulness averted a potential catastrophe - or thoughtless wasters who threw away their granchildren's heriatge?"
There is a lot of discussion about climate change and carbon footprints.
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.
Goto www.carbonfootprint.com for more information and to calculate your carbon footprint.
Eco-Congregation is an ecumenical programme helping churches make the link between environmental issues and Christian faith, and respond in practical action in the church, in the lives of individuals, and in the local and global community.
Goto www.ecocongregation.org for more information and to do an environmental check-up on your church building.
Christian Ecology Link (CEL) is a multi-denominational UK Christian organisation for people concerned about the Environment.
Goto www.christian-ecology.org.uk for more information.
Operation Noah
Operation Noah exists because God’s creation faces the most urgent peril, which, to be averted, requires a rapid and radical transformation of our economy and culture - towards liveable, supportable lifestyles.
Operation Noah was founded by a group of Christians from Christian Ecology and is promoted by the Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and Christian Ecology Link (CEL).
Operation Noah's mission is to encourage Britain’s churches and government to lead a radical transformation in both our culture and economic systems; a transformation towards simpler, liveable and supportable lifestyles that will increase happiness and well-being, while safeguarding the whole of God’s creation for future generations.
Goto www.operationnoah.org for more information.
European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN)
Since it began in 1998, the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) has enabled the churches of Europe and Christian groups involved in environmental work to:
- share information and common experiences
- reflect a wide variety of church traditions
- engage in a broad range of environmental work
- encourage each other in being a united witness to caring for God's creation.
The ECEN Website is one of the key features of the network for sharing information. If you are unfamiliar with the site, start at the new visitors page. We especially encourage you to participate in the work of the network by contributing to the site.
ECEN is the chief instrument of the Conference of European Churches to address our relationship to the nature and environment from the perspective of Christian theology and Christian way of life.
Goto www.ecen.org for more information.
Practical Action has a unique approach to development – we don't start with technology, but with people. The tools may be simple or sophisticated – but to provide long-term, appropriate and practical answers, they must be firmly in the hands of local people: people who shape technology and control it for themselves.
These are just a few web-sites which give information and opportunities for action on climate change issues.
In addition see the Christian Aid, Tearfund and Cafod web-sites.
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