2nd International Conference: Climate, Sustainability, and Development

Invitation Letter

Call for Participation: 2^nd International Conference on Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-arid Regions—ICID 2010

Call for Papers, Panels and Round Tables

Linking Climate and Development Research, Policy and Action

We invite your participation in the Second International Conference on Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-Arid Regions—ICID 2010—in Fortaleza, Brazil from 16 to 20 August 2010.

What actions follow Copenhagen? How can negotiators, policy makers, scientists and practitioners translate global agreements into practice on the ground? By focusing on the links between policy, knowledge and practice, ICID 2010 aims to turn intentions into local development outcomes.

ICID 2010 will generate, consolidate and synthesize the policy-actionable knowledge on climate change, climate variability and development in dry lands. ICID 2010 will explore vulnerability, impacts, and adaptive societal responses, translating findings into effective public-policy recommendations and agendas for research and training in support of improved policy making, implementation, and sustainable wellbeing.

ICID 2010 is a global forum for:

· Climate and development scholars, policy makers, planners and practitioners to share hopes, aspirations, experience and learning;

· Representatives from the environmental UN Conventions—UNFCCC, UNCBD and UNCCD—to share learning on national action plans for dry lands of the world;

· National and local representatives (legislators and mayors) to inform and learn from each other and from activists, practitioners and scholars;

· Scholars and practitioners to share findings and establish new agendas of mutual interest;

· Policy makers and climate and development professionals to integrate insights from social and climate sciences into adaptation and development policy and practice;

· All participants to identify and promote South-South cooperation in research, education and experiences of adaptation and sustainable development; and

· All participants to inform priorities and agendas with recommendations for global, national and local policy processes.

ICID 2010 is organized around four ICID 2010 themes focused on arid and semi-arid regions:

· Theme 1: Climate Information—forecast, scenarios, and data use;

· Theme 2: Climate and Sustainable Development—vulnerability, impacts, adaptation, and wellbeing;

· Theme 3: Climate and Governance—representation, rights, equity, and justice; and

· Theme 4: Climate Policy Processes—formulation, implementation, monitoring and performance of public policies.

The products of ICID exchanges and deliberations will include the Declaration of Fortaleza, with policy and project recommendations from participants, a conference contribution CD, and multiple publications including at least one edited volume of ICID 2010 contributions.

Please submit proposals for individual papers, topical panels, posters, and roundtables; policy-oriented “thematic-streams” panel series; films, performances and art exhibits. Please submit all proposals by 30 January 2010.

Please distribute this call for participation to your networks of interested parties.

We look forward to your submissions and to seeing you in Fortaleza.

Sincerely,

Antonio Rocha Magalhães, Director, and

Jesse C. Ribot (University of Illinois), President, Scientific Committee

Executive Secretariat

Center for Strategic Studies and Management
Phone: +55-61-3424-9608
E-mail: contact@icid18.org

Web Page: http://www.icid18.org/

Dr. Brundtland speech

Former Prime Minister of Norway, Dr. Brundtland, and for whom we can thank for making "sustainability" and "sustainable development" common household concepts....gives a speech below:

Dear Amanda, As tens of thousands of you have been adding your messages of support to The Wall, here in Copenhagen countless meetings and first of their kind conversations are happening every day -- between heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs, media figures, NGO advocates and activists from all over the world. It's a great sign of progress, since it will take an unparalleled level of cooperation to forge global climate solutions and put them into action. We captured one of these conversations for you, between the President and CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection, Maggie L. Fox, and Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and a leader in the fight against climate change. As Dr. Brundtland makes clear, more than anything else it will take everyone working together to create meaningful action on a global scale. Dr. Brundtland and her colleagues from around the world are looking to the U.S. to take up the mantle of leadership this week on climate change -- all are eagerly awaiting remarks from President Obama on Friday. As American officials continue to address the world through the Conference this week, they're looking to us to show our commitment at home as well. People like you and me play a key role in encouraging our leaders to take action, and it's vital that we continue to voice our passion for solutions and action on The Wall. Let's send a clear signal to our leaders and to all those gathered in Copenhagen: Americans are ready to lead the way -- starting with what we do right here at home. We have arrived at the moment, the world is watching, and the opportunity to reach a global agreement is before us. Watch Maggie Fox's conversation with the former Prime Minister of Norway and show your commitment on The Wall. http://acp.repoweramerica.org/mfghb Thanks, Giselle Barry Communications Director Repower America

Cultural Survival

Partnering with Indigenous Peoples to defend their lands, languages, and cultures Your support of Cultural Survival this past year has made an enormous difference for Indigenous Peoples around the world. Because of your help, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued precautionary measures calling on Panama to halt dam construction that would inundate Ngöbe communities living along the Changuinola River. Your support also enabled us to engage in a lobbying effort that led the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees to recommend quadrupling the amount of federal money to support Native American language programs across America. Our Guatemala Radio Project, which is growing towards a network of 260 stations throughout the country, introduced a telecommunications bill in the Guatemalan legislature that will ensure the security of network stations for years to come. Perhaps the most impressive advance this year has been our merger with Global Response. This extraordinarily effective Colorado-based organization has been advocating for Indigenous Peoples' land rights for almost 20 years. They have helped Indigenous communities block dozens of dams, mines, and logging operations around the world, protecting the people and the unique environments in which they live. They will continue that vital work as a program of Cultural Survival, dramatically increasing our ability to help Indigenous Peoples. This year's successes are a harbinger of even bigger things to come in 2010. We will be expanding Indigenous Community Radio across Latin America, continuing to collaborate with Native communities across the U.S. to gain support for their language programs; our publications and newly reworked website will bring Indigenous issues to even more people; and by taking on many more advocacy campaigns, we will spread our efforts to many more Indigenous communities around the globe. But to make all that happen, we need your continued support. Won't you please give as generously as you can to our Annual Appeal? Thank you so very much and Happy Holidays from all of us here at Cultural Survival. Photo: Ramiro Vargas, Schuar, in Cusco, Peru during summer 2009 protests. Photo by Lilah Greenberg

Cultural Survival is a global leader in the fight to protect Indigenous lands, languages, and cultures around the world. In partnership with Indigenous Peoples, we advocate for Native communities whose rights, cultures, and dignity are under threat. We are a membership organization whose board of directors includes some of the world's preeminent Indigenous leaders, as well as lawyers, anthropologists, business leaders, and philanthropists. For more information go to www.cs.org

Obama in Copenhagen Speech/ Alliance for Climate Protection

Alliance for Climate Protection wrote on December 18, 2009:

Wow. It was a truly dynamic convening of thinkers, leaders and activists here in Copenhagen this past week. And today, President Obama addressed this historic occasion and the full conference with a call for international cooperation and action.

Affirming the global impact of a clean energy economy and the urgency of the climate crisis, President Obama recognized the progress made here at COP15 and reasserted America's pledge to forward the work of the conference agenda back home in the United States.

With the steps taken in Copenhagen over the course of the last two weeks, our work at the Alliance is more important than ever -- and the President needs to hear about your commitment to clean energy and climate protection now more than ever before.

What the President asked of the world today we must now ask of our own nation -- to put aside the politics of the day and embrace a spirit of cooperation and bold action. For the workers who need jobs, our families who want security, and for our children who deserve the prosperity, safety, and health that a clean energy future will bring through American leadership.

Watch the speech and send your message about clean energy and climate solutions to the President and your leaders.

The United States needs to make these goals a reality. As the President himself said, he can't do it alone:

"We are ready to get this done today but there has to be movement on all sides to recognize that it is better for us to act than to talk. Better for us to choose action over inaction; the future over the past. With courage and faith, I believe that we can meet our responsibilities to our people, and to the planet."

With all the momentum we have built this past year, and the steps forward at Copenhagen, we can proudly state that we have established a foundation for global progress to address the climate crisis. The United States can and should be the cornerstone of these efforts. But the President is relying on us to keep up the pressure to make sure this happens.

Watch the speech and let the President and your leaders know you support bold action today:

http://acp.climateprotect.org/bocop15

Thank you for being a part of this historic climate meeting at Copenhagen. It has been a rewarding experience this past week, and I'm looking forward to getting back to the U.S. and to our work together building a clean energy future for our country and our planet.

Thanks,

Maggie L. Fox
President and CEO
Alliance for Climate Protection

Pachamama Alliance: New Moon Update December 2009

This Issue Updates Facilitator Trainings Upcoming Events New Moon Action Volunteer Related News Rainforest Trips Web Links Symposiums Rainforest Trips Take Action Support Pachamama

New Moon Update The Pachamama Alliance December, 2009 Updates from the Alliance Give the Gift of Pachamama for the Holidays! Gift a donation to the Pachamama Alliance on behalf of a friend, family member, or colleague Share your commitment to helping preserve the world's tropical rainforests and the indigenous people who are its natural custodians and help bring about a world that is environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and social just. A special gift has been donated by Pachamama friend John Gray for those who donate $1000 or more as an individual, or $1500 as a couple. Learn more... Pachamama Supports Cross Border Network Pachamama Supports Cross Border Network in Gaining Official Status The Cross-Border Network for the Protection of Ancestral Territories recently completed its second annual Meeting in Iquitos, Peru, bringing together 40 participants from 5 countries and representing 13 indigenous groups divided by national borders to share experiences, identify a common cross-border agenda, and develop a work plan for 2010. Pachamama has provided ongoing financial and logistical support for the Network, and developed the methodology and materials utilized in this event. Learn more: Youth Initiative Officially Launched The Awakening the Dreamer Youth Initiative was officially launched in November! Learn about the latest activities in South Africa, Ecuador, Oregon, Maryland and New Mexico. Learn more about the Youth Initiative and get involved. Symposium Facilitator Trainings The Pachamama Alliance's Awakening the Dreamer Program makes available Facilitator Trainings around the world for people who have the desire and commitment to deliver the Symposium in their own communities and beyond. For more information and upcoming Trainings... Upcoming Events January 22, 2010 7:00 pm, Corte Madera, CA State of the World Forum presents: Women’s 2020 Leadership Caucus: Facing the Climate Crisis Recently State of the World Forum (SWF) has partnered with Bioneers and Pachamama Alliance to create a bold ten-year campaign to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2020. This is a time for civil society to lead the way since our governments are not acting quickly enough. The Women’s 2020 Leadership Caucus is offering a feminine force for change that empowers the full potential of women (and men, too, who wish to explore this approach) to affect meaningful progress towards climate warming reduction goals and a more sustainable, resilient, and just global future. For more information about the January 22 Gathering or the February Conference in Washington D.C., please contact June Timberlake: jtimberlake@worldforum.org OR phone: 510.364.3226 Help Us Learn About You We'd be grateful for a few moments of your time... The Pachamama Alliance is conducting a survey to learn more about you - our valued friends who keep in touch with us through the internet. If you could take a few moments to answer some quick questions, it would help us out tremendously. Our online survey is available here. Thank you! New Moon Action Reduce the Footprint of Your Feast This season consider holiday entertaining for a small planet. Check out the following guidelines for creating a sustainable holidays. From food and decoration choices, to gifts and invitations, being sustainable doesn’t mean sacrifice. Season’s Greening! For more information, click here... Volunteer Volunteer Opportunities There are many opportunities to volunteer your skills, have fun and make a difference. We welcome your participation. Please visit our website to find out more, or contact Eve Libertone. Eve Libertone, Volunteer Coordinator phone: +1 415-561-4522 ext. 107 email: eve@pachamama.org Related News Follow Copenhagen Climate Change Talks Live 24/7 http://oneclimate.net/ Are You Brave Enough to Say No to a High-Stress Holiday? By Bill McKibben, Grist.org If you poll Americans this time of year, far more of them regard the approaching holidays with dread than anticipation. It has long since become too busy, too expensive, too centered around acquiring that which we do not need. The full story... Rainforest Trips Journey of a Lifetime The Pachamama Alliance offers the journey of a lifetime into the heart of the Amazon Rainforest in the pristine and remote Achuar territory. Experience a culture unlike any other in the most biodiverse and ancient forest in the world. Connect with a deeper sense of purpose and humanity through our one-of-a-kind program. Stay at Kapawi Ecolodge, one of the top 50 ecolodges in the world, and with Achuar families. Trips also include excursions into the mystic high Andes. For more information, please visit the website or contact Trip Coordinator, Pat Jackson, at trips@pachamama.org or 360-293-1806.

The Pachamama Alliance web: www.pachamama.org email: info@pachamama.org phone: +1 (415) 561-4522 fax: +1 (415) 561-4521

Environmental Defense Fund: Copenhagen

December 18th 2009:

Moments ago, President Obama reached an agreement with world leaders at the
climate conference in Copenhagen to limit global warming to no more
than 2 degrees Celsius and to require countries to list their national
actions and commitments to achieving emission reduction goals.

EDF President Fred Krupp issued the following statement in response:

"Today's agreement leaves the U.S. in control of its own destiny. We
have always known that the path to a clean energy economy goes through
Washington, D.C. As President Obama said today, strong action on
climate change is in America's national interest.

"It's the Senate's turn to speak next. Whether we move ahead with a
common-sense plan to create new manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and
reduce dependence on foreign oil is not up to other countries; it's up
to us. A year from now we can be further ahead or further behind, and
the Senate will make the difference.

"Today's agreement takes the first important steps toward true
transparency and accountability in an international climate agreement.
The sooner the U.S. speaks through Senate legislation, the sooner we
can set the terms of engagement for talks to come."

If it wasn't already clear, it is now: The 21st century will be a
clean energy century.

The question before us is what role will America play in
developing the technologies and clean energy solutions in the coming
decades?

It's up to us to urge our Senators to follow the leadership of
President Obama and seize this opportunity to cap our carbon
emissions, create millions of jobs and unleash our clean energy
future.

You can do two things right now to help:

1. Go to our Operation: Climate Vote hub page to find various ways to take action:
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=lxHvrfVwb6FJu92ajgf98Q..

2. Make a Year-End donation to help give us the resources we'll need to continue the fight in Washington and get us over the goal line:
http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=bjwF5uzrik_kspz-EAXbfA..

Thanks for your activism and support,
Environmental Defense Fund



Environmental Defense Fund
1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20009
1-800-684-3322

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Organic Food and Film Festival Sunday January 10, 2010

Food Matters: Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine

Organic Food and Film Festival

WHAT: Organic Food & Film Festival with screening of the film "Food Matters" WHEN: Sunday, January 10, 2010, 6:00-10:00 p.m. TICKET PRICE: $5/person in advance, $7 at the door Come and enjoy scrumptious organic food samples, expand your health-care choices by talking with integrative physicians, and watch the life-changing and encouraging film "Food Matters." Holistic practitioners, organic growers and providers, nutritionists, health-food stores encouraged to participate -- contact us to arrange for table space. Attendance open to all! $5/person admission. Order your tickets here: WHERE: Ocala Civic Theatre 4337 E Silver Springs Blvd Ocala, Florida 34470 Map & Driving Directions DIRECTIONS: From Interstate 75: EAST on Hwy. 40/Silver Springs Blvd. Drive 4.7 miles, then turn LEFT at the brown Appleton Museum sign. Once on the Appleton premises, make an immediate RIGHT into the Ocala Civic Theatre driveway. Park, come in and enjoy! CONTACT: Natural Awakenings Magazine, 352-629-4000. Call today to order tickets, or reserve online by clicking on the "Buy Now" link above.

Organic Food & Film Festival

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Free fruit

Craig, one of our founding members, planted a "Turkey Lake Persimmon" ( a native) outside of Dreamers Garden (corner of NW 10th ave & 4th st; right by Hyde & Zeke Records & the new Flashbacks location, very close to Hospice attic). If you have access to inside the garden btw, he also planted several Myer Lemons & Satsumas, both are fruiting now.
(picture here http://www.havenhospice.org/newsletters/VolunteerVoices/VolunteerVoicesSept08_FINAL.pdf )
map
http://events.gainesville.com/gainesville-fl/venues/show/481508-dreamers-garden


I was in town last weekend & noticed it had lost all its leaves, but had a ton of fruit dangling. Robby & I shook one & a several ripe & mushy ones dropped. They were very sweet. The native ones are astringent, meaning you have to wait until they are very mushy to loose that "funny" taste. Many people unfamiliar with Persimmons don't know this, as our grocery stores toss anything that becomes ripe (it's nice to actually finally see yellow bananas in the store because the economy!).

There is also so much Rosemary that it spills over into the median (thanks Jen, another founding member!).

Forum on Religion and Ecology: United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) News Clippings

United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) News Clippings

Dear Forum Colleagues:

Greetings! Below you will find the latest News Clippings from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). For your convenience, we include short introductions to each story and provide URLs for the full story.

Many of these news clippings feature significant developments regarding the growing concern of religious communities around climate change, specifically in light of the effort to frame a post-Kyoto Protocol on climate change at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen on December 7-18. It has been one of the most important meetings to take place to negotiate both mitigation and adaptation to climate change as a global community.

We have two news items to share with you regarding the Parliament of the World’s Religions, which was held in Melbourne, Australia on December 3–9. These articles discuss some ways in which speakers at the Parliament were addressing current ethical challenges, specifically challenges related to the abolition of nuclear weapons (December 8) and the development of religious responses to climate change (December 7).

An important development in recognizing the fundamental role of the environment in creating conditions for lasting peace is evident in Pope Benedict's World Day of Peace message on January 1st titled "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation" (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20091208_xliii-world-day-peace_en.html). Among responses to the message include the positive reaction of Hindu communities (December 16). One article describes how the message calls upon rich nations to assume more responsibility for their contributions to environmental destruction and social inequities (December 15).

We hope you will find these news items informative and useful in your work.

For the archive of past UNEP News Clippings, visit:
http://fore.research.yale.edu/publications/massmedia/index.html

Sincerely,
Sam Mickey & Elizabeth McAnally
California Institute of Integral Studies
Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale
Web Content Managers & Newsletter Editors

www.yale.edu/religionandecology
news@religionandecology.org

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December 19, 2009

Nations Seal a Deal on Climate Change at UN Talks

UNEP

Copenhagen - After a marathon all night session, talks aimed at injecting new and more wide-ranging momentum into the international effort to combat climate change ended with a positive outcome.

Countries attending the UN climate convention's summit in the Danish capital agreed to 'take note' of a document entitled the Copenhagen Accord.

For full story, visit:

http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=606&ArticleID=6430&l=en

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December 18, 2009

“The Way Humanity Treats the Environment Influences the Way it Treats Itself”

Vatican Radio

On Thursday Archbishop Celestino Migliore Apostolic Nuncio - Head of the Vatican’s Delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen - called for clear and firm political will to adopt common binding measures and adequate budgets for an effective mitigation of ongoing climate change.

For full story, visit:

http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=343131

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December 16, 2009

Hindus laud Pope for environmental stand

Merinews

Religion was the most powerful and far-reaching force in our society and could prove very influential in handling concerns like ecological responsibility. Faiths coming out together in support of the environment would be a remarkable signal.

Hindus have applauded Pope Benedict for connecting environmental protection with peace promotion in his message for the celebration of World Day of Peace, which falls on January one.

For full story, visit:

http://www.merinews.com/article/hindus-laud-pope-for-environmental-stand/15791213.shtml

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December 15, 2009

Ecological protection fits well with core Catholic values

Irish Times

RITE & REASON: The likelihood of a climate change deal at Copenhagen is, unfortunately, receding mainly because neither the US nor China is willing to make the required cuts. While President Barack Obama has agreed to attend, the US offer to reduce carbon emissions by 17 per cent on 2005 figures by 2020 is derisory, writes Fr Sean McDonagh.

For full story, visit:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/1215/1224260710693.html

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December 15, 2009

Rich nations must assume environmental duties: pope

By Philip Pullella
Reuters

VATICAN CITY - Industrialized nations must recognize their responsibility for the environmental crisis, shed their consumerism and embrace more sober lifestyles, Pope Benedict said on Tuesday.

The pope's call for more environmental commitments came in his message for the Roman Catholic Church's annual World Day of Peace, to be marked on Jan 1 and whose theme is "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation."

For full story, visit:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BE1UR20091215

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December 14, 2009

Faith Groups Build Giant Ark on National Mall

By Michelle A. Vu
Christian Post

WASHINGTON – A diverse group of religious people unveiled a giant ark on the National Mall Saturday to press world leaders in Copenhagen to create a strong, binding proposal to tackle climate change.

Organizers say the 19-foot-high ark is a warning that if world leaders do not come up with a strong plan to deal with the climate change problem, then the ark might very well be how individuals will have to live in the future.

For full story, visit:

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091214/faith-groups-build-giant-ark-on-national-mall/

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December 14, 2009

Copenhagen unites Anglicans hoping to combat climate change

By Matthew Davies
Episcopal News Service

As church bells rang throughout the world Dec. 13 to mark Christianity's commitment to combating climate change, Anglican leaders were making their voices heard about global warming in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference Dec. 7-18 in the Danish capital welcomed world and faith leaders, including Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

For full story, visit:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_117774_ENG_HTM.htm

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December 13, 2009

A religious perspective on climate change

By Stephen Scharper
The Star

Long before Al Gore blazed an inconvenient trail into our collective moral imagination, and two decades before the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, United Church of Canada theologian David Hallman was clanging the tocsin of climate change, often to an indifferent public.

For full story, visit:

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/737870

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December 13, 2009

Archbishop of Canterbury says fear hinders climate change battle

By Riazat Butt
The Guardian

People are so paralysed by fear and selfishness they cannot save the planet, the archbishop of Canterbury said on Sunday during a church service in Copenhagen.

Rowan Williams was preaching in the Danish capital as crucial UN climate change talks entered their second and final week.

For full story, visit:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/13/archbishop-canterbury-copenhagen-service

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December 10, 2009

Matt Frei's diary: Evangelical and environmental?

By Matt Frei
BBC News

Washington - If the green movement truly wants to convert America it needs to convert more evangelical Christians. Let me explain.

According to a BBC News/Harris Poll, the number of Americans who worry that carbon emissions are slowly heating our planet like a lobster pot has actually declined in the last eight years by 25%.

For full story, visit:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/8405108.stm

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December 9, 2009

Copenhagen 1943 and Copenhagen UN 2009

By Rabbi Warren Stone

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Sixty-six years ago, on October 2, 1943, when Jews were celebrating the High Holidays, Hitler ordered the arrest and deportation of Denmark's 8,000 Jews. Danish Christian citizens were outraged and courageously rescued almost the entire Jewish population. In an act of collective resistance, the Danes ferried their fellow Jewish citizens on small boats across the sea to safety in Sweden. Over 99% of Danish Jews survived the Holocaust.

For full story, visit:

http://blogs.rj.org/rac/2009/12/copenhagen_1943_and_copenhagen_1.html

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December 9, 2009

Stormwater solution: Rain gardens green a church parking lot

By Pamela Wood
The Christian Science Monitor

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — When Gerald Winegrad was a kid, he played baseball on grassy fields behind St. Mary's Catholic Church and School in downtown Annapolis. Over the years, as the church congregation and school enrollment grew, those grounds were paved over and turned into parking lots. Those parking lots serve as a highway for rainwater, sending it rushing into nearby Spa Creek, where it deposits chemicals, nutrients, and sediment and fouls the water.

For full story, visit:

http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Gardening/2009/1209/stormwater-solution-rain-gardens-green-a-church-parking-lot

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December 8, 2009

Inter-religious Forum Calls for Nuclear Abolition

By Neena Bhandari
Inter Press Service

MELBOURNE - For the global religious community, the use of nuclear arms is an overwhelmingly important ethical issue for the human family. Thus, nothing less than the immediate abolition of such weapons is needed from the highest levels, said speakers at the Parliament of the World’s Religions currently underway in this Australian city.

For full story, visit:

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49579

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December 8, 2009

US religious groups urge strong action to reduce greenhouse gases

The National Religious Coalition on Creation Care
Press Release

Copenhagen, Denmark - As the climate summit opens in Copenhagen, a coalition of religious organizations will present a collection of statements to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urging strong action to reduce greenhouse gases. This will emphasize that climate change is a moral and ethical issue because it deals with lifestyle issues and choices that all people must face.

For full story, visit:

http://news.nsw.uca.org.au/2009/US-religious-groups-urge-strong-action_08-12-09.htm

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December 7, 2009

Hindu Declaration on Climate Change

Hindu Press International

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, December 8, 2009: Melbourne’s Parliament of the World’s Religions is proving to be the most influential of modern times, and the widest ever. Hindus have shown unity and extraordinary leadership releasing today the Hindu Declaration on Climate Change, marking a definitive stance of Hinduism as a religion that is aware of humankind’s role and responsibilities in Earth’s ecosystem.

For full story, visit:

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/xpress/hindu-press-international/2009/12/07/hindu-declaration-on-climate-change/

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December 7, 2009

Church bells to ring climate alarm as faith joins science in Denmark

By Peter Kenny
Ecumenical News International

Geneva - When church bells start ringing in Copenhagen, and all around the world, on Dec. 13, they will not be heralding an early arrival of Christmas. Rather they will peal out a call to action and prayer to respond to impending climate change.

For full story, visit:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_117571_ENG_HTM.htm

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December 6, 2009

Religious groups active in climate debate

By Brian Winter

USA Today

COPENHAGEN — Sunday started like any other day for Sister Joan Brown — with a period of prayer and meditation just before dawn at her home in Albuquerque.

Then, instead of going to Mass, the Franciscan sister boarded a plane to Copenhagen. When she arrives Monday, she'll join 20,000 other attendees at a United Nations summit on climate change, where she hopes to persuade leaders including President Obama to reach a worldwide agreement to cut pollution levels.

For full story, visit:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-12-06-climate_N.htm

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December 4, 2009

World religious leaders to gather December 7th to mobilize on climate change

Global Peace Initiative of Women
Press Release

New York, NY -A multi-faith delegation of key religious and spiritual leaders from around the world will gather in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7-13, 2009 during the UN COP-15 Summit. The delegation’s goal is to deepen the conversation on climate change by recognizing that this environmental crisis is rooted in a profound moral and spiritual crisis.

For full story, visit:

http://www.shambhalasun.com/sunspace/?p=13341

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December 4, 2009

Britain's chief rabbi calls for environmental Sabbath ahead of climate talks

By Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Britain's chief rabbi has called for a Sabbath devoted to the environment ahead of the climate talks due to be held next week in Copenhagen.

For full story, visit:

http://www.wgntv.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-eu-britain-green-sabbath,0,3177211.story

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December 3, 2009

Vatican delegation to join UN climate change conference

By Gustavo Solis

Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican's delegation to the U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, was being headed by an experienced diplomat and included experts on the environment.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations, was to lead the five-person Vatican delegation at the Copenhagen conference, Vatican Radio reported. Archbishop Migliore was scheduled to speak to the UN during the Dec. 7-18 conference.

For full story, visit:

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0905342.htm

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December 2, 2009

Canadian church-based group says Ottawa cut its funding for foreign projects

By John Cotter
The Canadian Press

TORONTO - A Canadian church-based group that does human rights and environmental sustainability work says the federal government has cancelled its funding for overseas projects without warning or reason.

Kairos, an ecumenical social justice group representing 11 different churches and organizations, said the decision by the Canadian International Development Agency will force it to stop operating in troubled areas such as Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, central America and the West Bank.

For full story, visit:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=cp_hf5hr5a4d89&show_article=1&catnum=2

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December 1, 2009

Hindus & Jews advocate inclusion of world religions in ambitious Copenhagen Climate Summit

Sampurn Media

Hindus and Jews have strongly criticized non-inclusion of world religious leaders in much-publicized and prestigious “COP 15—United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen” starting December seven.

Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu statesman; and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California in USA; in a joint statement in Nevada today, emphasized that for successful implementation at the grassroots level of environmental decisions coming out of this Conference, involvement of world religions and their leaders was extremely important.

For full story, visit:

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-2316.html