Faith and Climate Change Out and About
On 2nd May, the Faith and Climate Change Project took over part of Cannon Hill Park alongside the Friends of the Park for the Family May Day Festival. Despite the chilly weather, the day was a success with people enjoying the stalls and activities our volunteers so kindly provided. Participating organisations included Northfield Eco-Centre, Birmingham & District Allotment Council, Jubilee Debt Campaign, Young People’s Arts Hub, Celebrating Sanctuary and OPAL.
One particularly successful aspect was Faith and Climate Change’s wall of peace. People were asked to ‘leaf a thought’ on peace and peace in the park. They were attached to a wall where people could wander through and read at their leisure. These leaves have since been made into a display for the reception at the Warehouse. If anyone would like to add to it, there is still space to do so, so feel free to pop in and ‘leaf a thought’. Some of the children had a great time playing BFOE’s food chain snakes and ladders game whilst learning interesting facts and information. The kids (young and old) also enjoyed planting seeds at Birmingham and Midland’s Allotment Council’s stall, which they could then take home to watch as they grow.
The team has several other fun days out planned in the coming months. 5th June is World Environment Day and there will be a climate change festival in the city centre with activities planned including an eco-carnival and various marquees. Our marquee will feature a display/multimedia area with displays from the six main faith groups of Birmingham on their work to aid the environment and energy efficiency. We will also include a multi-media element, showing a series of pre-recorded interviews with people of faith and their thoughts and messages. There will be a quiet vigil area welcoming all faiths to come forward and offer their thoughts and prayers. Another element of the marquee will be a recycled/craft area encouraging participants to visualise how faith and climate issues interact. The Muslim Youth Work Foundation has agreed to run some of their ‘Art of Junk’ workshops.
We are also beavering away planning for an eco fair event on 10th July in Solihull’s Mell Square together with the Solihull Faith Forum Eco Group and Solihull Friends of the Earth. It will feature stalls from eco-aware initiatives throughout Solihull and displays from local schools.
For further information or to get involved in any of these initiatives relating to faith and climate change, please contact sean@faithandclimatechange.org
Sean Howitt
