Enthusiasm for protecting the planet creates a powerful connection. It unites people from different parts of the world. It unites people from diverse religious affiliations. Sacred People, Sacred Earth Day of Climate Action is a powerful showcase of that unity. It’s global. It’s multi-faceted. And it’s focused on environmental justice.
No matter what your faith, on March 11, you’re invited to take action with others in your community and around the world.
“Events like this are important because they serve to invigorate us and remind us that we are not alone,” says Wendy Steffensen, co-chair of Environmental Action Team for Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Washington.
This work may be especially important for people of faith, to show us that we have a place in this dialogue. All of our futures, and those of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, rest on having a livable planet.” –Wendy Steffensen
Networking
GreenFaith International Network, which includes dozens of faith-based organizations, emphasizes grassroots initiatives for its Sacred People, Sacred Earth Day of Climate Action event.
Grassroots — with a wide reach. Some of the workshops, discussions, and other activities on March 11 are offered online. Interested participants from anywhere in the world can expect a warm welcome.
- Organizers: Register your event.
- Participants: Sign up to attend an event.
Near and Far
“We have over 100 organizations representing millions of people worldwide in over 40 countries,” says Sara Shore of GreenFaith.
The following are just a few of the people and organizations participating in Sacred People, Sacred Earth Day of Action.
- Vancouver GreenFaith, which opposes the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline, is hosting a livestream from outside the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
- Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation is hosting a Zoom event at 11:00 a.m. PST, (meeting ID: 899 8077 5923, passcode: 258381).
We hope to inspire people of faith to more action and to put our leaders on notice that people of faith demand that climate change be addressed fairly and quickly.” –Wendy Steffensen, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Washington
- Gunaketu B Kjønstad of Oslo Buddhist Centre – Triratna Buddhist Community is hosting online Zoom workshops.
- Waterspirit is working with Rumson Presbyterian Church on a video for Waterspirit’s and Rumson Presbyterian’s YouTube channels. “We will inform viewers about recent environmental successes and ongoing campaigns in New Jersey, as well as share inspiring earth-centered reflections,” says Blair Nelsen, executive director of Waterspirit, a nonprofit center for spiritual ecology.
As people of faith, we have a moral obligation to protect sacred water and to demand climate justice now. Events like this are important for sharing our stories, strengthening our resolve, and preparing the way to take action together …” –Blair Nelson, Waterspirit
- Caitlin Johnson Castelaz of New York City’s Baha’i community is participating in a virtual Baha’i Fast-breaking dinner with a discussion of agriculture and climate justice. “It is not enough to study or pray or speak kind words; we must act as well,” she says.
- Faith in Climate initiative of Institute of Studies on Religion (ISER): “Religious leaders are important communicators, and they have the ability to touch people in a way that the environmental issue also becomes a transcendental purpose. They encourage their communities to think of the environment as a moral, deep and spiritual issue,” according to a statement from ISER.
- Pedro Walpole of Forest Farm and Leadership in the Margins in Mindanao, Philippines.
We learn organic farming and regenerate the forest grateful for all we have received.” –Pedro Walpole, Forest Farm and Leadership in the Margins
- Angela Ngulube of Nyali Zambia, a faith-based youth-led organization in Zambia: “On March 11 as Team Nyali we will conduct an online protest where we will hold banners with messages calling on leaders and individuals to take responsibility and accountability of our planet which is our common home.”
Learn More and Join In
- Sacred People, Sacred Earth website
- Hashtag #faiths4climate on social media
- Sacred People, Sacred Earth Facebook group