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We are a Eco-congregation

See   Eco-congregation website for scheme details

The Green Corner

    10 Commandments for Climate Justice

At our Environment Sunday Service on 13 June Rev David Haslam MBE led our worship. The previous weekend he had been in Edinburgh attending the International Missionary Conference marking the centenary of the ecumenical movement. The National Council of Churches in India brought some posters for their Campaign for Climate Justice and David showed us one with
10 Commandments for Climate Justice. They are:

1.  Thou shalt not 'warm-harm' the God-created earth by any of you're greedy actions.
2.  Thou shalt not make a graven image of 'Burning Globe' and worship the fuel economy.
3.  Thou shalt not take the name 'Globalisation' as like a name of God or pay it reverence.
4.  Thou shalt campaign for increase of energy efficiency by  promoting 'Alternative Energy Systems" such as installing "Solar Panels' in your premises.
5.  Thou shalt live longer by honouring God's Creation - by'planting trees' in order to decrease tropical deforestation.
6.  Thou shalt turn-off your electronic and electrical equipment one day in each month.
7.  Thou shalt preach, practise and promote 'Rain Water Harvest' Systems.
8.  Thou shalt exchange regular light bulbs with 'CFL and LCD bulbs'in order to save energy and prevent'Global Warming'.
9.  Thou shalt cut back on driving, maintain zero emission vehicles and sequester carbon dioxide.
10. Thou shalt be a Climate Justice Promoter.

This does not mean that we neglect the original 10 Commandments but it is good to be reminded that ethical living in the 21st century involves much more concern for how we treat the planet. It is also good to be challenged by our fellow Christians in India, a country which is already feeling severe effects of global warming.

The following is the 1st verse of one of the hymns we sang on 13 June;,written by Revd Haslam & sung to 'We plough the fields..'

We drive our cars and damage the air that's all around;
and use up all the water that gathers in the ground.
We throw away what's useful and use up more and more
of all the earth's resources and make our planet poor.

Lim & Evelyn Ho.

Stratford Climate Action Network

Stratford Climate Action Network was established in 2006 to bring together all the groups in Stratford District that are taking practical action to combat climate change in their own community. It brings together village groups in Henley, Bidford and Snitterfield, Church groups such as the Eco Congregations and others like the Green Team  of the South Warwickshire Housing Association. It is also supported by the local Friends of the Earth group and is linked to the Stratford Local Agenda 21 committee.

We have had several public forums, starting with a debate between the political parties where 70 people attended. This was followed by an excellent talk from Gary Charnock from Ashton Hayes a village near Chester that is aiming to become the first Carbon Neutral Village in Britain.  Other subjects covered have ranged from Sustainable Energy, Transport, and Local Food. After a recent talk from Dr Tina Fawcett of the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford on Personal Carbon Rationing a CRAG group has been set up to monitor their own carbon emissions over the next year.