Report from Operation Noah's First General Meeting - 10 May 2008

Operation Noah held its first General Meeting on Saturday, 10 May at the church of Saints Mary and John in Cowley Road, Oxford. We had a wonderful group of about forty people in attendance ranging from age 8 to 70-something and representing geographic areas from Isle of Wight to Abergavenny to Yorkshire - and Australia as well!

We began the afternoon with a delicious soup and loaf lunch, the soup being made from fresh, locally grown ingredients and the bread, butter and cheese all locally sourced as well. After enjoying lunch together we began the programme with singing directed by new Operation Noah board member Ruth Jarman and poetry read by supporter Edmund Matyjaszek.

Operation Noah board chair David Pickering opened with prayer and then he, board member Paul Bodenham and director Ann Pettifor each shared part of the story of Operation Noah’s founding and history thus far. After sharing a “compost prayer” from Per Larsson, Ann also gave a more detailed director’s report and updated those gathered on campaign activities, fundraising, legal status, etc. The report was followed by a question-and-answer session in which much was discussed about what Operation Noah should be pressing for in terms of carbon reductions in light of the ever-evolving climate change science.

Following the Q&A, board elections took place. The original eight members of the Operation Noah board were all re-elected and an additional four members were voted on to the board. In addition, two members – a secretary and treasurer – were added to the board via co-option.

After a break for fair trade tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits and more singing, we heard a presentation from David Wasdell of the Meridian Institute in which he made a very compelling case that because feedback mechanisms, we are approaching the point of no return when it comes to climate change much faster than most people want to admit or accept. Ruth Jarman followed with a very inspiring talk about the moral imperative to push for carbon emission reductions that will actually make a difference to rescuing the planet rather than simply what is politically feasible. The text of her talk can be found here.

Mark Dowd closed the programme with a report on campaign activity thus far in 2008 and what is being planned for the rest of the year including Operation Noah’s presence at the Lambeth Conference and the Advent consumption-cutting campaign that will kick off in earnest in the last three months of 2008.

Those who attended very much enjoyed the food and fellowship and opportunity to contribute to the future of Operation Noah.