The 2010 London Climate Service

It was, perhaps, divine intervention, that cleared the unusually early snow and ice and made the going easier for the annual Climate Change March in central London on Saturday 4th December 2010.

With UN delegates meeting in Cancun, Mexico, to hammer out a deal to cut global warming, thousands of campaigners marched through London.

As in previous years, Christian Ecology Link and Operation Noah held a church service as part of the Campaign against Climate Change proceedings – this time in the Church of the Annunciation in Bryanston Street, Marble Arch in the heart of London’s West End.

A copy of the serivce sheet can be downloaded here >

The key speaker was Edward Echlin, author and ecological theologian who spoke about the need for Christians to be both prophetic and hopeful.

"We’re here to be humbly prophetic. Humble because we are of the earth, right but not self-righteous. As prophetic, we challenge the assumptions of China, India, America and the EU, of infinite economic
growth on a finite planet. As prophetic, we live our message. In our lives we try to be negative feedback, stabilising climate !" said Edward.

"After Copenhagen and Cancun people need hope. As humbly prophetic we offer seeds of hope...Advent is a time of hope. We offer hope, we sow and plant, and are negative feedback. In the words of our closing
hymn, "We’ve work to do, me and you"".

He said: "We need hope and the Earth needs hope. Earth and climate are God's gifts." Echlin added that despite the cold weather, this was a good time to plant broad beans, and gave out some Crimson flowered broad bean seeds.

Paul Bodenham, chair of Christian Ecology Link, said the Road to Emmaus reading was chosen because the disciples were going home dejected - as after Copenhagen - but their spirits are lifted by the presence of the Lord. The Bidding Prayers asked that we meet the challenge of promoting a zero carbon Britain by 2030 and that we appreciate biodioversity in thi sthe United Nations Year of Biodiversity.

At the end of the service, Revd Chris Brice, who is Priest in Charge of St Martin’s Anglican Church, in Gospel Oak, and our chair here at Operation Noah, put on his rucksack, picked up his walking stick, and before the final blessing, ready to go out to the march said: "We've done the praying - now the acting.."

Among protestors present were Sr Louisa Poole, a member of the Sisters of St Louis and Convenor of the Environment Committee of the National Board of Catholic Women; Sr Breda Maddigan of the Infant Jesus Sisters; Ellen Teague of Columban Justice and Peace; Richard Solly, Director of the London Mining Network, and others.

Below  journalists in Hyde Park after attending the service - left to right -Josephine Siedlecka, Paul Donovan and Ellen Teague.

Young and old attended the service, where prayers were held for the United Nations climate conference in Cancun, Mexico; calling on God for guidance for the UK Government to play its part in achieving zero carbon emissions; for encouragement for local sustainable community projects; and for action to halt extinction of species in this year of biodiversity.

Thousands of Climate Change campaigners and activists  took part in the good-natured march through the streets to a rally at Parliament Square, where the assembled crowd was addressed by Caroline Lucas of the Green Party, Michael Meacher MP, Phil Thornhill of the Climate Campaign and others.

One marcher remarked, "Very tiring, but wonderful to see so many supporters on the streets...people not involved in the march were applauding us as we walked by, and that felt good."

Worshippers left the service singing and joined the other marchers in Hyde Park where they formed a giant “2030” figure – the date by which the UK could achieve zero net carbon emissions, with careful planning, good leadership and strong national policy for clean energy and green jobs.

During the service and march the song God’s Counting on Me, God’s Counting on You – by Pete Seeger was sung and chanted, slightly adapted to fit the occasion.

You can watch a live version of the song here >

Below are the lyrics adapted for the 4th December from the song by Pete Seeger & Lorre Wyatt.

When we look and can see things are not what they should be
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
When we look and can see things are not what they should be
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Come on, there's work to do
God’s gon’er see it through
Come on we’ve work to do
Me and you.

It's time to turn things around, trickle up not trickle down
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
It's time to turn things around, trickle up not trickle down
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Come on, there's work to do
God’s gon’er see it through
Come on we’ve work to do
Me and you.

And when drill, baby, drill turns to spill, baby, spill
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Yes when drill, baby, drill turns to spill, baby, spill
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Come on, there's work to do
God’s gon’er see it through
Come on we’ve work to do
Me and you.

And when science says “get real, what we need is a green new deal”
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
And when science says “get real, what we need is a green new deal”
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Come on, there's work to do
God’s gon’er see it through
Come on we’ve work to do
Me and you.

Stand with me, take a vow, to push for zero carbon now
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Stand with me, take a vow, to push for zero carbon now
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Come on, there's work to do
God’s gon’er see it through
Come on we’ve work to do
Me and you.

What we do now – you and me – will affect eternity
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
What we do now – you and me – will affect eternity
God's counting on me, God's counting on you
Come on, there's work to do
God’s gon’er see it through
Come on we’ve work to do
Me and you.

 
We have also produced produced a study guide on Climate Change and the Church's Social Teaching called, 'Between the Flood and the Rainbow'. It is downloadable here > or available for purchase.

For more information click here>