Photo: (c) GreenFaith.
Between 7th and 14th October, our friends at Living the Change brought people of faith together around the world, to celebrate the ‘Week of Living the Change’.
This globally-connected celebration was the first of its kind, as diverse faith leaders and community members — including high-level leaders from around the world — came together to make sustainable living commitments. For example:
- Bishop Efraim Tendero, Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance, which represents 600 million Evangelicals in 129 countries, committed to a vegetarian diet and to power his home in the Philippines with 100% renewable energy.
- Gretchen Castle, General Secretary of the Friends World Committee for Consultation, the international office of the Quaker community, committed to purchase 100% renewable energy to power her home in the United Kingdom.
- Tariq Al Olaimy, Co-chair of UNESCO’s Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development partner network, committed to adjust his thermostat 1-2°C (3-4°F) higher during the summer, minimize his air conditioning use, and reduce food waste in his home in the Kingdom of Bahrain by 50%.
- The Most Reverend Antje Jackelén, Primate of Sweden and Archbishop of Uppsala, committed to eat at least five vegetarian meals each week.
- Arthur Dahl, President of the International Environment Forum, committed to make his next car in Switzerland a hybrid or electric car.
- Marie Dennis, Co-president of Pax Christi International, committed to walk or use a bicycle for her repeated errands in the United States.
- Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black, Co-Founder of the Jewish Ecological Coalition, committed to a range of sustainable behavior changes, including, but not limited to: installing a solar array and purchasing renewable energy to power his home in Australia, eating meat only once each week, and planning to take only non-stop flights without layovers.
For more ideas and inspiration for how your faith community can get involved, please join us at Tread Lightly on this Earth: Exploring Food, Faith & Living Sustainably on 18th November. Organised by Footsteps with Guru Nanak Gurdwara (Smethwick) & Living the Change.