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Open letter to Canadians says Religious Faith Must
Play a Role in Climate Change Talks
TORONTO, Nov. 26 /CNW/ -
"We believe the United Nations Climate Change
Conference is a place where faith and science must
intersect."
That's the message contained in an open letter to
Canadians posted on The United Church of Canada's
website (www.united-church.ca).
The letter was written by the church's Moderator Mardi
Tindal and former Member of Parliament and United
Church minister David MacDonald. Both will be
attending the UN Climate Change Conference as part of
an international delegation of religious leaders
organized by the World Council of Churches.
"Science tells us what is and, given certain
parameters, what will come to be. Spiritual values
teach us what ought to be. Only the two, working
together, can see us safely through this perilous
time," says Tindal.
In the letter, Tindal and MacDonald explain they
believe that religious faith offers a unique
perspective to the climate change talks. They write,
"Faith groups, perhaps uniquely among human
institutions, are predisposed to take a longer view.
In responding to climate change processes, which play
out over decades, if not centuries, these perspectives
are an essential counterpoint to the pressure of
thinking that can be dominated by the next quarter, or
the next election."
This is why the Copenhagen meeting is unprecedented,
says the letter. "It is where people of many faiths
and no faith must come to terms with the kind of world
we want for ourselves, our children, and our
grandchildren. Envisioning or creating the world we
want means we need to work out a grand bargain that
will allow life to survive in a hopeful and humane
fashion. We will need to be prepared to make
decisions, sacrifices, and gestures of good will
toward one another and the planet."
Adds MacDonald, "As people of faith, we believe
climate change requires not a quick technological fix
but rather a transformation in how we live our lives
on this fragile planet."
"These talks will almost certainly determine the fate
of coming generations. The future of our children is
at stake. Finding a way forward will require that we
attend to the best science available, so we are firmly
grounded in reality. But it also demands that we
recognize the spiritual values that have guided humans
for centuries so we can work toward a vision of
wholeness," write Tindal and MacDonald in the open
letter.
"Our climate change discussions so far have tended to
be dominated by economic and political considerations.
These are important, to be sure, but they are not
sufficient." MacDonald explains. "It is vital that
people of faith participate to ensure future-shaping
decisions are not determined only by short-term
considerations, such as what is least costly or most
expedient."
"Whether we are people of faith, or people of no
faith, we all have a stake in the climate change talks
taking place in Copenhagen," says Tindal. "We believe
Canada's responsibility is to demonstrate moral
leadership in the face of this global climate crisis."
For further information: or
to arrange media interviews, please contact:
Mary-Frances Denis, Program Coordinator, Media and
Public Relations, The United Church of Canada, Tel:
(416) 231-7680 ext. 2016, Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781
ext. 2016, Cell: (416) 400-7273, E-mail:
mdenis@united-church.ca |
