IPLog

Hawaii’s Faith Community Responds to Climate Change

Environmental, political, economic – these are the words often used to describe the complicated issue of global warming. But Hawaii’s diverse faith community, led by Chuck Burrows, adds “spiritual” and “moral” to the list. Hawaii’s island ecosystem is especially vulnerable to climate change, creating a strong need for the kind of voice that Hawaii Interfaith Power and Light offers.

The stage is set and all the final preparations are being made for tomorrow’s first public event hosted by Hawaii IPL. Burrows, one of the founders of the newest affiliate of the national Interfaith Power and Light campaign, believes the event will bring religious and Hawaiian spiritual groups together with secular environmental and political organizations to energize the response to climate change on the Hawaiian islands.

The Rev. Sally Bingham, President and Founder of Interfaith Power and Light, with affiliates in 29 states and growing, will be giving the keynote address at the Dedication Ceremony, scheduled for 6:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, September 18 at Church of the Crossroads in Honolulu.

In the news:

• Religion Briefs: Campaign to fight global warming launches
• On Faith: Spiritual beliefs urge us to address climate change

Image: “Honolulu, Hawaii, Waikiki,” by absolutwade, licenced for public use through CreativeCommons.org

Priest Addresses Climate Change at Rock Festival

On Saturday, September 6, Sally Bingham (Canon for the Environment, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco) participated in a panel about climate change, including speakers from various perspectives. The forum was hosted by Stanford climatologist and Nobel Prize winner Dr. Stephen Schneider.

Sally oftens speaks at forums, but a unique aspect of this event was that it was held at a rock festival in Golden Gate Park called Power to the Peaceful. Performers included Michael Franti and Spearhead, Ziggy Marley, Warren Haynes, Rebelution, Martin Luther, King Britt, Cheb i Sabbah, and a variety of renowned DJ’s and other international acts. The entire event was dedicated to educating attendees on issues of social justice, non violence, coexistence and environmental sustainability.

Priest Addresses Climate Change at Rock Festival

The Rev. Cn. Sally Bingham speaking at The Action Forum

Last Saturday, Sally Bingham (Reverend Canon, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco) participated in a panel about climate change, including speakers from various perspectives. The forum was hosted by Stanford climatologist and Nobel Prize winner Dr. Stephen Schneider. The unique aspect of this event was that it was part of a rock festival in Golden Gate Park called Power to the Peaceful. Performers included Michael Franti and Spearhead, Ziggy Marley, Warren Haynes, Rebelution, Martin Luther, King Britt, Cheb i Sabbah, and a variety of renowned DJ’s and other international acts. The entire event was dedicated to educating attendees on issues of social justice, non violence, coexistence and environmental sustainability.

Don’t Give Up: A Plea to the World from Tuvalu Reverend

An article from Ekklesia published yesterday puts a human face on the science of climate change caused by greenhouse gases.

Rev. Tofina Falani, president of the Christian Church of Tuvalu, is seeing firsthand the early effects of global warming all around the tiny island in the Pacific, the world’s fourth smallest country, home to only 12,000. He is thankful to God for the island that he calls home.

Rev. Falani describes all the visible signs that changes are happening: coastal erosion, salty pools and ponds, coconut trees washed into the lagoon by rising tides. The lower supply of freshwater on the island is beginning to cause problems.

Recent research from the University of the South Pacific shows how dire the situation is: Tuvalu will only exist another 30 years unless something is done.

Tuvaluans do not even want to think about giving up and moving to a new land.

This is our land, we call it ‘fanua’- our home … We love Tuvalu. While I can eat Tuvaluan food in another country, speak the Tuvaluan language somewhere else, see my Tuvaluan friends elsewhere, I want to be in Tuvalu. Not someone else’s land, but in these little atolls – the land God gave us.”

Falani’s message to the world is this: “Don’t give up on us.”

Don’t Give Up On Us: A Plea to the World from Tuvalu Reverend

An article from Ekklesia published yesterday puts a human face on the science of climate change caused by greenhouse gases.

Rev. Tofina Falani, president of the Christian Church of Tuvalu, is seeing firsthand the early effects of global warming all around the tiny island in the Pacific, the world’s fourth smallest country, home to only 12,000. He is thankful to God for the island that he calls home.

Rev. Falani describes all the visible signs that changes are happening: coastal erosion, salty pools and ponds, coconut trees washed into the lagoon by rising tides. The lower supply of freshwater on the island is beginning to cause problems.

Recent research from the University of the South Pacific shows how dire the situation is: Tuvalu will only exist another 30 years unless something is done.

Tuvaluans do not even want to think about giving up and moving to a new land.

This is our land, we call it ‘fanua’- our home … We love Tuvalu. While I can eat Tuvaluan food in another country, speak the Tuvaluan language somewhere else, see my Tuvaluan friends elsewhere, I want to be in Tuvalu. Not someone else’s land, but in these little atolls – the land God gave us.”

Falani’s message to the world is this: “Don’t give up on us.”