Churches unite to pray for political leadership and protest at inaction on climate change (Dec 6th)

PRESS RELEASE 6 DECEMBER 2007

For immediate release; photos and interviews possible on the day or by prior appointment (1)

On Saturday, 8th December Christians of all denominations will unite in London to pray for political leadership in protecting Creation, and will then join a national demonstration to demand that Britain’s representatives at Bali lead by example, by cutting Britain’s greenhouse gas emissions further and faster.

An ecumenical service to pray that British and world leaders act urgently at the Bali conference to avert the dangers posed by climate change to the whole of Creation, will take place in St Matthew's Church, Great Peter Street, Westminster on 8 December, at 11 o' clock (2).

The service will be one of a number of events that Saturday during the National Campaign against Climate Change’s rally and march.

Ann Pettifor, Campaign Director of Operation Noah (3), will address the meeting. Ms Pettifor said today,

“DIY Global Repairs will no longer do. Individuals cannot limit the impacts of climate change on e.g. the flooded homes of people on the coasts of Bangladesh or the plains around Tewkesbury, or the burnt- out homes of people in California and Greece. We need to work together, in community, at an international level and under government leadership. Britain needs to bring down emissions much further and faster than the government so far intends. For that to happen we need a powerful social movement, led by people of faith, for a transformation in government attitudes, in our economic policies and in lifestyles.”

“By coming together on 8th December, we can all help build the momentum to pressure politicians for bold, meaningful action to safeguard Creation.”

Following the service, Christians from all walks of life will join other groups and march from Westminster to the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square. They will demand that British and world leaders take the urgent action needed to prevent catastrophic climate change. The National Demonstration in London will be one of many demonstrations on climate change taking place all around the world on the same day, midway through the United Nations Climate Talks in Bali, where world leaders will be discussing the threat from global warming and co-ordinating responses to the threat. (4).

Operation Noah, Christian Ecology Link, EcoCongregation and the Student Christian Movement, joint organisers of the Service, encourage all their supporters (and all those concerned about climate change) to join in the service and the march.

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS
(1) Contact for more information Jean-Francois Mouhot, Campaigns and Communication Officer, Operation Noah. Tel: 020 7324 4761 mob. 07858 157839

(2) December 8th Climate Service. The Climate Service will take place before the London Campaign Against Climate Change March and Rally: Saturday 8th December, 11 am, St Matthew’s Church, 20 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2BU. Church open for coffee 10am onwards. Organised by Operation Noah, Christian Ecology Link, the Student Christian Movement and EcoCongregation. For a poster to download and more information go to
www.operationnoah.org/node/213
www.christian-ecology.org.uk/c
www.movement.org.uk
www.ecocongregation.org

(3) Operation Noah was founded as a joint project of two Christian organisations - Christian Ecology Link (CEL) - http://www.christian-ecology.org.uk/ - and the Environmental Issues Network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland(CTBI) - http://www.ctbi.org.uk/

(4) Campaign against Climate Change March and Rally:
12 noon Assemble Millbank for main march (Great Peter Street runs into Millbank).
1 pm March sets off.
2.30 pm Rally at US embassy. Speakers include Chris Huhne MP, Michael Meacher MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Zac Goldsmith, George Monbiot. See more information at: www.campaigncc.org