i feel so overwhelmingly sad about the state of the planet and the climate crisis. this beautiful world, our home is being pushed to its limits by us. and heads have been in the proverbial sand for a long long time. today began two weeks of action around the world to try and highlight this state of emergency. extinction rebellion have three demands in the uk which are
- The Government will declare a climate and ecological emergency,
- specify a 2025 target date and
- will establish a Citizens’ Assembly to determine the wide-ranging policy changes needed to transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions and halt the extinction of species.
if you are in london go offer your prayers, protest and support if you can. there is a faith bridge at lambeth bridge for example if you are wondering where to head. you will have read of arrests in the news probably but those getting arrested are arrestibles which is amazing but you don't have to be one to get involved.
i went to listen to extinction rebellion at greenbelt festival and was so impressed with their plans, their passion and their non-violent approach. their handbook this is not a drill is really worth getting and i had a wry smile when i saw rowan williams has written the afterword – what a legend! the anglican church thinks about mission through what it calls 5 marks of mission and one of those is creation care – this is a huge issue in mission today.
i was reflecting that 24 years ago, in 1995, jon birch and i recorded an album 'whose earth' lamenting what was happening and celebrating the wonder of planet earth. it is so hard to fathom how we have done so little as an international community. it's time to change. the music will sound dated so i'll spare you that but i have had the words of a song i wrote in 1995 in my head recently and confess to being depressed at how they are still so resonant…
there’s a hole in the sky
oil in the seas
the desert is increasing
and we’re burning down the trees
species are extinct
acid rain is in the air
we’re destroying the creation
entrusted to our caresorry lord
show us your mercytoxic waste is in the ocean
sewage on the shore
environmental destruction
in the wake of every war
resources are depleted
the poor are still in need
we’re abusing the creation
to satisfy our greedsorry lord
show us your mercywe have sought salvation
through technology
and backed up uninvolvement
with our theology
yet this is your world
you hold it in your hand
help us turn creation
into the promised landsorry lord
show us your mercy
