Press release: Green Christian responds to Just Stop Oil’s protests
For immediate release – 31 July 2024
Green Christian has spoken out in support of calls for the new Government to urgently endorse the proposal for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty during a week of protests by the activist group Just Stop Oil.
This year’s Season of Creation resources encourage Christians around the world to engage with the call for this treaty to be introduced. This would catalyse the phase-out of fossil fuels while ensuring a just global transition for workers, communities and countries.
“As a charity Green Christian cannot and does not promote law-breaking,” explains Paul Bodenham, a Trustee of Green Christian. “We do not advocate Just Stop Oil’s tactics, but it couldn’t be clearer that humankind’s continued use of fossil fuels is wrecking lives, and that on our current trajectory there is much worse misery to come with whole ecosystems, our civilisation and billions of lives at stake. It’s immoral and irresponsible for businesses, governments and people to keep on with this behaviour.
“That’s why we’re also backing the call for everyone – ordinary people, faith leaders, companies and countries – to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative. Anything less is in effect condemning others to misery and death for the sake of corporate profits and our convenience. Those of us who hold to the Christian call to love our fellow humans must try to talk the talk (by signing the call for a Treaty) as well as walking the walk (which may involve refusing to carry on with ‘business as usual’, with the idea that someone else will sort out the mess we’re making of God’s precious world).”
Barbara Echlin, Vicechair of Green Christian, said, “Every fraction of a degree of warming that we can delay or prevent, is a little less misery caused to the living inhabitants of God’s creation. Our calling is clear: we must just stop oil, and all the other fossil fuels we’re reliant on. There are so many better alternatives, there’s really no excuse.”
While climate activists in many countries are demanding governments support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, Christian groups around the world are preparing to use the Season of Creation resources, which this year encourages churches to engage with this same campaign. The Season of Creation has declared 21 September a global day of action to join the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying, “This symbolises our unwavering commitment to accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels, uniting in hope and action for a fossil fuel phase-out.”
In the Season of Creation resource pack, Prof. Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, says, “We have to say STOP somewhere to the damage we are inflicting on purpose to the creation, blinded by our greed and lust for profit. We, who are aware of the gravity of the issue, should raise our voice in a relentless attempt to spread this awareness.”
Notes:
- Green Christian was formed in 1981 to share green insights with Christians, and Christian insights with the green movement. The charity produces resources, campaigns and events to help people relate environmental issues with their faith.
- The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is proposed as the mechanism the world needs to manage a global and just transition away from coal, oil and gas. Individuals and churches can endorse the call for the treaty by signing the petition and also the faith letter. A year ago, the Senior Vatican Cardinal, Cardinal Michael Czerny, endorsed the call for the proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
- The Season of Creation starts 1 September, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations. On 7 February, faith leaders launched the new Season of Creation material with a call on followers to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty proposal
- Pope Francis has said in Laudate Deum, “The necessary transition towards clean energy sources such as wind and solar energy, and the abandonment of fossil fuels, is not progressing at the necessary speed.” (LD 55). Pope Francis has also said “In the name of God, I ask the great extractive industries – mining, oil, forestry, real estate, agribusiness – to stop destroying forests, wetlands and mountains, to stop polluting rivers and seas, to stop poisoning food and people,”
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