Make Them Pay
Ruth Jarman was at the Make Them Pay demonstration on Saturday 20 September
There’s something quite beautiful about spending a Saturday surrounded by a complete mishmash of people with whom you would never normally spend time, but who are walking in the same direction, carrying the same placards, all with the same deep desire for justice. And even better, to be in the ‘Faith bloc’, so with the traditions and spiritual bases for that desire.
The Make Them Pay demonstration on Saturday 20 September was supported by a dozen or so Green Christian members and a wide variety of groups, all wanting to see the super-rich pay their fair share of taxes, for workers to be protected, and that polluters pay for the damage they have caused.
The day started quietly under the trees of Cavendish Square Gardens with an interfaith gathering with speeches, prayers and silence.
Joe Mishan, coordinator of Dharma Action Network for Climate Engagement in London, reminded me of Jesus telling people to “Consider the lilies of the field…” and then also our Joy in Enough project, when he said:
“Greed is one of the so-called poisons within Buddhism… From a Buddhist perspective the most immediate cause of happiness is not the accumulation of stuff, not fame and not power. It is generosity. Imagine an economics of generosity…A politics of generosity would be one which prioritises welfare rather than growth, one that distributes financial and resource wealth to promote flourishing for all …because in the end it is the cultivation of wisdom, of compassion, the recognition of our deep interconnection with each other, with all life on our living, breathing planet that promotes meaning, fulfilment and happiness in our lives. It is this, surely, that really matters.”
Andrea Speranza of CAFOD then read the words of the Kenyan-based Father Charlie Chilufya SJ,
“As a Jesuit priest, I speak from the wellspring of faith. And every faith tradition present today tells us the same truth: we were not made for greed or indifference. We were made for love, for justice, for stewardship. To every person gathered here – young and old, of every creed and conviction – know this: you are not simply protesting, you are prophesying. You are the moral wind behind the political will. You are the light in a time of confusion. And together, you are igniting a movement rooted in love, guided by justice and sustained by solidarity.”
In her first public speaking role, Nadia Minhas, Sustainability & Climate Action Officer at Muslim Charities Forum, spoke passionately about our joint call to care:
“We are all called together to care for the world. That is why the Koran starts with the beautiful world ‘Alhamdulillah’… Saying ‘Alhamdulillah’ is the way you show gratitude. So today as we reflect on what our governments and businesses are doing, let’s remember to be grateful, present and use our voices to safeguard our beautiful planet today”
Our own Churches Project Officer, Melanie Nazareth, reflected on our how there is meaning in what we are doing despite our small numbers:
“We are the drop of rain on the lake that send infinitely expanding ripples. We are the light on the water that reflects a new image of the world. We are the breath of air across the water that stirs the Spirit”
Tanya Jones, who is Green Christian’s book review editor and also the Climate Justice Lead at Quakers in Britain, spoke next:
“Our hearts cry out for justice, for those who bear the blows of climate chaos now in their bodies and in their homes. For those who need us today and all days to speak of what we know, with courage, grace and tenacity.”
After a time of silence, we joined the rest of the march with the colourful flags and placards, and found ourselves perfectly situated with respect to the Samba band – close enough for the beat to encourage us along, but thankfully far enough away to allow conversation. And our own chanting! I don’t always enjoy chanting, but there was something infectious about the fiery mixture of anger and humour from both the Director of Faith for the Climate, Shanon Shah, and the Chair of Operation Noah, Revd Darrell Hannah, that inspired all around to join in with passion and smiles. Yes, we want climate justice! And we want it now!
And so we walked to Whitehall where we were further inspired by a number of speakers including the economists, Faiza Shaheen and Gary Stevenson, musician Brian Eno, the new Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, climate justice activist, Dominique Palmer, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth, Asad Rehman, and our own Reverend Helen Burnett, who said:
“The extractivist corporations greedily desecrating the earth know what they are doing…Change will come from the grass roots, from those who will not turn a blind eye to the suffering of their neighbour. It is vital that we flow like a river of love more powerful than the sludge of soulless corporate finance to become a growing mobilisation of people demanding justice…Our story is more powerful than the hatred we saw last week. Our story places the blame with the billionaires and we need to tell it loud and clear.”
As always with these things, it was a shame there were not more people there. But then it is all the more important that we were there, calling for the proud to be brought low, and the humble lifted up; for the hungry to be fed, and maybe for the rich to go without a few things too.
Ruth Jarman is Green Christian’s Information Officer
Comments on "Make Them Pay"
Judith Russenberger:
It was certainly good to be there and good to be there as a group of people of faith - different faiths but the same objective of caring for the Earth and calling for justice for all. Do be encouraged to join in when a similar opportunity next arises. It is for people of any age - and there were both babes in arms and very elderly with sticks. It’s simple - turn up, join in the worship and then walk the assembly point. This is when you need patience as there can be a lot of waiting until everyone is in place - but that is also time to talk to your neighbours. The march itself is at a fairly slow pace that is within everyone’s capacity. When the march reaches its destination there is time to eat a sandwich share some thoughts and listen to a series of speakers amplifying the cause. See you next time!
Add your own comment to "Make Them Pay"
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Previous: Bee a Climate and Nature Champion!
Leave a Reply