PREPARATIONS FOR THE CLIMATE SUMMIT MEETING IN PARIS
The Churches of Rochester Deanery are keeping Advent Sunday (29 November 2015) as a Meat-free Sunday. 29 November is a doubly significant date, as it marks the beginning of the penitential season of Advent and is also the date on which climate pilgrims from around the world will converge on Paris, where Global Climate talks begin the following day (COP21 : 30 Nov - 11 Dec 2015).
Marches are being organised in other capital cities, including London (starting at 12 noon on 29 November): http://www.campaigncc.org/29novdemo
Giving up meat for one day is a symbolic action because the large-scale production of meat accounts for 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions. "The biggest intervention people could make towards reducing their carbon footprints would not be to abandon cars, but to eat significantly less red meat" – Prof Tim Benton (University of Leeds).
Churches in other Deaneries of the Diocese are being invited to join in praying and fasting or taking some other action on this issue.
Creator God,
You have called us to be keepers of your Earth;
through greed, we have established an economy that destroys the web of life.
We have changed our climate and drown in despair.
Let oceans of justice flow,
May we learn to sustain and renew the life of our Mother, Earth.
We pray for our leaders, custodians of Mother Earth;
as they gather in Paris at the climate talks
May they negotiate with wisdom and fairness,
May they act with compassion and courage,
and lead us in the path of justice for the sake of our children and our children's children.
Amen.
(adapted from a prayer of Desmond Tutu)