PRESS RELEASE
Christians protest outdoors cathedrals throughout England and Wales over fossil gas funding
Speedy launch
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Images and movies out there right here
christianclimateaction@gmail.com
Christians protested in cathedrals throughout England and Wales right now over fossil gas investments held by components of the Church of England and the Catholic Church. These investments help the local weather emergency.
- In Southwark Cathedral, Judith Russenberger shaved off her hair throughout a Eucharistic service as an act of penance for the function that people and the church play in contributing to the local weather emergency.
- At Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire, Mary Smail wore sackcloth and had a cross manufactured from ashes marked on her brow on the finish of the Eucharistic service.
Individuals are calling for each the Church of England and the Catholic Church to divest from fossil fuels as shortly as potential, commit to not put money into fossil fuels once more sooner or later and as an alternative put their cash into investments that help a sustainable future, similar to renewable power. know-how.
In complete, members of Christian Local weather Motion (1) have visited 11 cathedrals and church buildings right now and are additionally as a result of protest at a night service in Salford Cathedral right now. To this point, they’ve additionally visited numerous cathedrals representing dioceses which have already divested themselves of fossil fuels to thank them.
Up to now 5 years, a lot of the principal denominations within the UK, together with the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church, have divested, or pledged to divest, from fossil gas firms as a result of they help the local weather emergency.
As well as, 18 Church of England dioceses have dedicated to divestment. Nevertheless, 7 dioceses are nonetheless investing and one other 17 have offered off for monetary causes, however haven’t dedicated to not reinvesting sooner or later (3). As well as, The Church Commissioners and the Church of England Pension Board nonetheless maintain investments in fossil fuels.
Each Catholic diocese in Scotland removed it. As well as, 10 Catholic dioceses in England have dedicated to divestment. Nevertheless, 10 English Catholic dioceses nonetheless put money into fossil fuels and two have divested, however haven’t publicly pledged to not reinvest sooner or later (3).
Caroline Harmon, 43, a self-employed coach who attended Southwell Minster, mentioned:
“It’s incredible that so many dioceses inside the Church of England have dedicated to divestment and we applaud them for his or her efforts and all of the arduous work that’s being put into the drive to realize Internet Zero by 2030. Nevertheless, it isn’t acceptable for any a part of the Church to proceed to speculate to fossil fuels. The Church offers legitimacy to firms that help the local weather emergency by increasing fossil gas extraction. This must be stopped.'
Karin Weetman, 64 years previous, who worships at St Charles Tudhoe, was current on the occasion at St Mary's Cathedral Newcastle and mentioned:
“You will need to acknowledge that many Catholic dioceses have already ended their investments in fossil fuels, however to make sure the required fast transition to inexperienced and sustainable power sources, every diocese should make it clear that the period of fossil fuels is over by saying publicly that it’s dedicated to that he is not going to reinvest.”
Martin Jarvis, who was current at Southwar Cathedral, mentioned:
“I need to emphasize the immorality of staying invested in fossil fuels as a result of we now know there isn’t any proof that coping with these firms has any impact. Fossil gas producers are overtly pushing forward with ecocidal habits.”
Paul Russenberger, Judith's husband, learn an announcement as her hair was shaved. This included:
“As we speak, Christian Local weather Motion is asking on the Diocese of Southwark to divest from all investments that fund the fossil gas trade and its harmful actions, and make investments as an alternative that can defend the atmosphere and profit our neighbours.”
Dave Mitchell, 62, an IT employee who worships at a Bristol metropolis middle church and was current at Clifton Cathedral, mentioned:
“I discover it appalling {that a} church that seeks to like and look after the world that has been created and will stand for justice and compassion is holding investments in gasoline and oil firms. These firms are progressively destroying our planet with greenhouse gasoline emissions, which is at the moment inflicting untold struggling within the international locations of the International South and critically affecting the lives of future generations.”
Susan Ward, 71, a grandmother of 4 aged between 5 and 11 months, was current at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and plans to be current in Salford:
“Each morning I get up petrified of what my stunning grandchildren must take care of. I joined Christian Local weather Motion as a Catholic. My fellow non-Catholic Christians envy us the management we now have within the Pope relating to our Widespread House. It’s unbelievable that 13 dioceses in England and Wales are nonetheless giving cash to those industries.'
In Could 2021, the Worldwide Power Company introduced that exploration for brand new fossil gas sources should finish this yr if we’re to fulfill the worldwide objective of internet zero emissions by 2050 (5). All main oil firms proceed to seek for and develop new reserves of fossil fuels.
As we speak's protest comes forward of The Huge One – a protest going down in Westminster from 21-24 April 2023 to demand a good society and a citizen-led finish to the fossil gas period. Christian Local weather Motion invitations everybody to protest The Huge One (6).
IT'S ENDING
christianclimateaction@gmail.com
Notes for editors
- Christian Local weather Motion is a group of Christians supporting one another to take significant motion within the face of looming catastrophic anthropogenic local weather collapse. We’re impressed by Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit. Following the instance of the social justice actions of the previous, we have interaction in acts of public witness, nonviolent protest, and civil disobedience to strain these in energy to make the required modifications. Now we have been right here since 2013. https://christianclimateaction.org
- Checklist of cathedrals and temples protested right now:
- Chichester Cathedral (CofE)
- Liverpool Cathedral (CofE)
- Sheffield Cathedral (CofE)
- Southwark Cathedral (CofE)
- Southwell Minster (CofE)
- Westminster Cathedral (Catholic)
- Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral (Catholic)
- Clifton Cathedral (Catholic)
- Newcastle Cathedral (Catholic)
- Salford Cathedral (Catholic)
- Shrewsbury Cathedral (Catholic)
- Wrexham (Catholic)
- Details about the Church of England and Catholic dioceses which have divested: https://brightnow.org.uk/get-involved/divest-your-church-map/
- Church funding in main oil firms: assembly Paris or defying Paris? (2020), Vivid Now Operation Noah Report: https://brightnow.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Church-Investments-in-Main-Oil-Firms-Vivid-Now-Report -web .pdf
- In Could 2021, the Worldwide Power Company introduced that exploration for brand new fossil gas sources should finish this yr if we’re to fulfill the worldwide objective of internet zero emissions by 2050: https://www.theguardian.com/atmosphere/2021/ could/18/ no-new-investment-in-fossil-fuels-demands-top-energy-economist
- Protest The Huge One: https://christianclimateaction.org/2022/10/22/the-big-one/
