Richard's Blog

green.tv

Thanks to Rosalie for the link to a new Greenpeace website showcasing environmental short films available for viewing online or downloading for free - some original and creative stuff here.

My favourite is Puffing Away, but Home Sweet Home is also rather good for kids and there's plenty by way of documentaries, features and thought-provokers to view and to pass on...

[Actually, I've found a new favourite - I'll not look any more: rather addictive! - Store Wars : a simply brilliant Star Wars rip-off extolling the virtues of organic food... "Use the Farm, Cuke, it's..." - no, really, it's very funny!]

London Challenge 2012

The Diocese of London is, I'd argue, one of the best places to be as an Anglican Church and the London Challenge 2002-2007 was a strong statement of vision and purpose that we were able to welcome with a full three cheers.

Launched this week was the London Challenge 2012 - both representing a commitment for the next set of five years and a reminder of our part in that global event coming to our city in 2012. Here's part of the Bishop of London's introduction:

"Since the launch of its first phase in January 2002, the London Challenge has helped us to see what we are already doing together as a Church serving eighteen boroughs north of the Thames. We made specific commitments to ensure the Church’s growth and it is now time to build on the success of the London Challenge by turning the attention of our Church resolutely outwards.

London Challenge 2012 is a kind of Diocesan Mission Action Plan. The intention is not to impose an add on programme on parishes, chaplaincies, schools and the other communities in the Diocese but rather to invite them to reflect on how to relate their own plans for mission to this overview of the period 2007-2012. We aim to add up our common wisdom and our efforts to be Christ’s faithful witnesses and servants in 21st century London and to play our part in building the Holy City."

There'll be more of it to come in All Souls in the coming months, but here's some links to the website associated with it that are worth a look:

• Introduction by Bishop Richard Chartres.
• The seven commitments that form the foundation for the Challenge.
• The four capital investments committed to.
• A downloadable brochure (link is direc to the pdf file).
• A 16 minute film viewable online.
• ...finally the full text of Bishop Richard's sermon from last night's launch service.

If you're a member of All Souls, then this stuff should be encouraging and invigorating stuff. Bishop Richard paints a challenging and exciting picture of how the future can look if the church of God gets on and does what it's meant to - and we're to be part of that!

I Count Rally - November 4th

Thanks to Katy, from our Soul Connections group, for this 'guest post':

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We voted a few weeks ago between three campaigns, trade, HIV and climate change. All Souls chose climate change. So, here's an opportunity to do something...

Saturday 4th November

12.30am - 1.15pm          Worship Service

St Martin-in-the-fields (just off Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ)

1.15pm - 3pm                 Rally

Join thousands of others at the main I Count event in Trafalgar Square to hear inspirational talks and live music.

3.30pm - 4.30pm            Refreshments and find out more Tearfund

Christian organisations will be hosting refreshments and the opportunity to browse more information about cimate change, just around the corner at St Paul's Church, Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED

It is all on the eve of the international climate change talks in Nairobi and we will be sending a message to Tony Blair and other world leaders that we share God's passion for justice, and care about climate change.

We'll meet at St Margaret's station at 11am. You will need to bring something for lunch, or be prepared to get something on the way. And obviously, you'll need a train ticket.

If you'd like to come, and it'd be great to get as many of us along, email me on [email protected] to let me know you're coming.

For more information go to the Tearfund website.

Katy

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How much do you care..?

At the risk of overloading the blog on environment matters, I came across this article on a site I often look at when my geeky desire to read about more gadgets and bits of "kit" overtakes me... TrustedReviews.com

For a site devoted to the latest and greatest computers, graphics cards, mp3 players and the like, it was rather refreshing/surprising to read a two-page piece on the environment, energy useage and ways we can change our every-day practices to make a difference.

Worth a read for some very practical (albeit IT-dominated) suggestions. The piece finishes with this:

Many of the behaviour changes I’ve suggested are simple, easy and free to implement. Some will save you money.

Some might mean giving up something you like, putting in that bit of extra effort when you buy new equipment and get rid of old and maybe even not getting the device you really want because while its features are great you can’t go along with its eco characteristics.

So what? In the long run this seems like a small price to pay.

The short-term pain for long-term gain is something we are fabulously awful at in our culture and society (perhaps human beings have always been grotty at "delayed gratification"?) - but of all people, surely Christians should be able to lead the way with our eyes on a bigger prize?

Ok - on to "nutty Christianity" tomorrow!

More on the film...

As a quick follow up to my post earlier today (see below) about the film An Inconvenient Truth, Tearfund have put out a press release along the same lines (read the news report of it here):

As Christians, we can no longer ignore the implications of human-induced climate change. ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is a powerful and challenging film which highlights the climate chaos that is increasingly undermining the livelihoods and security of the poor people Tearfund works with.

The damage that the West’s rabid consumerism is doing to the developing world is a justice issue that Christians must stand up and be counted on. Whether or not your political views are aligned with Al Gore’s, he presents the science in an engaging way that everyone can understand.

This is a vital issue that is going to affect us all. I would encourage everyone to watch the film, then join with Tearfund as we lobby the UK government and take action to cut down on our carbon emissions.
[Andy Atkins, Tearfund’s Advocacy Director]

An Inconvenient Truth

I rarely (ever?) recommend films here - tastes vary so widely it's a pretty risky business!

This time, though, I think I'm justified in saying that there's a film opening that every thinking adult ought to go and see - An Inconvenient Truth.

I've blogged about it before and it's finally arrived after a remarkably successful (for a documentary that is) season in the States. The reviews online are even more dazzling than back then (believe me, a score of 92% on that website is unheard of!), including this one from The Chicago Sunday Times:

In 39 years, I have never written these words in a movie review, but here they are: You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to.

The film's website, climatecrisis.net makes for sobering, but helpful reading - the real disappointment is just how few screens the film is opening in this weekend. The Odeon website, for example, lists just a handful nationwide, but that thankfully includes one not that far away from us at the Kensington Odeon from this Friday...

If anyone out there fancies taking on the project of seeing if we can hire a local screen for a showing in Richmond or Twickenham - let me know!

Old Phones...

Every year, some 15 million mobile phones are replaced in the UK - most are thrown away and add to the staggering amount of toxic waste being dumped in landfills.

We've just sent a couple of old mobiles off to Oxfam - you can see the details of their "bring bring"(!) scheme online. There are many other schemes to choose from - some you even get paid for! Whatever you do, don't just dump it!

An Inconvenient Truth

What do you if you're now the ex-Vice-President of the USA?

If you're Al Gore, you reappear after a few years in the wilderness as the latest champion of the campaign to get governments and individuals to act quickly on Climate Change.

His film has just launched at Cannes (to critical approval) and opens this weekend across the USA. The trailer is viewable online - although it's a bit over-the-top compared with the tone of the film (apparently) which is more documentary than feature film. It looks very good and those who blog about presentation skills are currently raving about his presentation - he's apparently aiming to train up 1000 people to take the presentation around the world...

The film is an environmental punch in the gut. Gore 2.0 is a revelation, and a critical smash. When asked at his press conference how he should be addressed, he replied "Your Adequacy." "Hanks himself could not have delivered the line more smoothly," gushed The Guardian. The Washington Post's Sebastian Mallaby labeled him "a hero." Time's Anne Marie Cox called him "a rock star." New York magazine touted his "amazing comeback." And even Fox News' Roger Friedman described him as "funny and relaxed." Talk about killer reviews. [The Huffington Post - online news and opinion]

Film-wise, the reviews are looking extremely positive. I hope they release it in the UK...

The website of the new charity ClimateCrisis he's set up/is behind has an interesting blog about the film and loads of interesting links to follow.

The bottom line is that there is no bigger issue for anyone on the planet than this at the moment - and Christians should be at the forefront, not just giving a few encouragements from the sidelines.

WWJD (that is, 'drive') ?

Quick link to a story on the BBC asking the question "What Would Jesus Drive?". Apparently:

...the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has changed his car to an environmentally-friendly Honda Civic hybrid.

It's mostly rather a non-story (a classic bit of 'publicity-by-survey' from an insurance company wanting news-inches for the Christian Resources Exhibition this week), but it at least keeps the issue on the agenda.

Are you buying a new car (or contemplating it)? Does its environmental impact affect your thinking? Should it?

JustShare - Sermon for the City

For those of  you "City" based, it might be worth putting this event in your diary for lunchtime on Tuesday May 2nd...

JustShare's annual May Day event will take place on the steps of the Royal Exchange on 2nd May. Dr Elaine Storkey will present a Sermon to the City, with a time of reflections and psalms. There will be a jazz band and Fair Trade stall from 12.30pm. This will be followed by a seminar "What can one person do?" with Sabina Alkire and Edmund Newell, of St Paul's Institute, at St Mary le Bow Church, Cheapside.