Faith Resources
Christianity:
"Christian Ecology Link (CEL) was founded in 1981 to provide Christians of any denomination with information on green issues and the green movement. It has individual members and also encourages churches to join as corporate members. It publishes a magazine three times a year called Green Christians, newsletters, leaflets, resource packs and posters to promote green living. In addition to providing general information CEL runs some projects focused on particular environmental issues. These include Operation Noah that focuses on climate change and LOAF (Locally produced, Organic, Animal Friendly and Fair Trade), a project focusing on food. Its website is an excellent directory of church environmental events throughout the country as well as providing links to both religious and secular green groups and resources. Christian Ecology Link has some local groups across the UK. To find out where these are contact the Information Officer on 01524 33858 or online at http://www.christian-ecology.org.uk/whatcel.htm" (Extract from Change Your World, Friends of the Earth local groups magazine, Issue # 62, December 2006/January 2007 (p.23, "Meet the Neighbours", by Julian Kirby).
Other Environmental Christian Organisations (also members, like CEL and Operation Noah of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition):
– A Rocha: A Rocha is an international Christian environmental organisation, with projects in 16 countries across 5 continents. A Rocha UK runs projects and promotes Creation Care to churches and individuals.
– BMS World Mission: BMS World Mission is an international Christian charity. It "believes that Christians need to take seriously the risk posed by climate change, especially for the many developing nations in which we work".
– CAFOD: CAFOD is the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. CAFOD works with local communities in 64 countries across 5 continents to help them meet their own needs for development.
– Christian Aid: Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in more than 50 countries. We act where the need is greatest, regardless of religion, helping people build the life they deserve.
– SCIAF: SCIAF supports over 80 long term development projects helping people affected by issues such as HIV/AIDS, conflict and hunger. At home, SCIAF analyses the causes of poverty, encouraging action for change. SCIAF is the international relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland.
– SPEAK: SPEAK is a network connecting together students and young adults to pray and campaign on issues of global injustice.
– Tearfund: Tearfund is an evangelical Christian relief and development agency working through partners in developing countries and campaigning to address the underlying causes of poverty.
Another organisation involved in Interfaith dialogue and raising environmental awarness is the InterFaith Climate Change Network (based in the USA), a collaborative effort of the Eco-Justice Working Group of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. The ICCN’s goal is to pursue justice for the poor around the world and protect all life on Earth by taking action to address global climate change.
Islam
"Islam is the UK's second largest faith group. There are an increasing number of Islamic groups being set up across the UK to promote awarness and positive action on environmental issues, and last year's Islam Awarness Week (20-26 November 2006) had a One World theme officially supported by Friends of the Earth. See http://www.iaw.org.uk for more. One of the organisations helping to nurture and support this growing movement is IFEES – the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Friends of the Earth and IFEES have met to discuss how we can improve networking between our supporters and the Islamic community.
IFEES does not have the resources to act as a co-ordinator or contact point for the Islamic green groups it has helped to set up but has instead given Friends of the Earth a list of names and contact details which can be passed on to you. To find out if there is an Islamic group campaigning on green issues in your community, call FoE Local Groups hotline on 020 7566 1677. You can learn more about the work of IFEES and Islamic Teaching on the Environment by going to their website: http://www.ifees.org.uk" ((Extract from Change Your World, Friends of the Earth local groups magazine, Issue # 62, December 2006/January 2007 – p.23, "Meet the Neighbours", by Julian Kirby).
Jimas Conference August Bank Holiday Week-end 2007, University of Leicester: http://www.jimas.org/conf07/conf07.htm
Judaism
The Big Green Jewish Website
The Big Green Jewish Website is a joint venture by The Noah Project and The Board of Deputies of British Jews and provides a wealth of resources on Judaism and the Environment. http://www.biggreenjewish.org/index.php.
Other Faiths
An excellent website for the general informaiton on the wide variety of faiths in the UK is http://www.multifaithnet.org. This online resource, provided by the University of Derby, is an excellent repository of information on different religions and religious communities, and for tips on inter-faith dialogue and debate.
Other Links
http://www.creationcare.org/resources/sunday/adult.php (Evangelical Environmental Network &Creation Care Magazine)
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/discoveringwherewelive/index.shtml
http://www.arcworld.org The Alliance of Religions and Conservation, ARC is a secular body that helps the major religions of the world to develop their own environmental programmes, based on their own core teachings, beliefs and practices.
