The first 'Sacred People, Sacred Earth' day of action in Armidale was declared a success on Thursday when 60 people from various faith groups ( including no faith) gathered in the Armidale Uniting Church to 'sound the alarm' about the climate crisis.
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The Armidale group joined with people of faith worldwide in a 'day of action' drawing attention to the issue.
Each place of worship, faith-based, small group or household chose its own way to do this between 11 am and 12 pm, in association with Green Faith International and the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC).
The event was part of a major worldwide inter-faith campaign in response to the climate emergency, highlighting the lack of action being taken and suggesting means to make a difference.
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After ringing bells outside the Armidale Uniting Church, a 30-minute meeting was held, including a brief interfaith prayer, a moment of silence, a musical reflection, an address from two passionate and knowledgeable academics and finally, a call to action.
Annette Kilarr from Climate Action Armidale and Sustainable Living was the instigator of the local event and was the emcee for the day; she explained one of the local practical outcomes the gathering hoped to achieve.
"This is about community and connection - everyone is welcome," she said.
"In October 2019, Armidale Regional Council responded to the extreme drought, water shortage, scientific evidence and strong community call for action by declaring a Climate Emergency.
"A Climate Emergency working group with members from the community and council representatives was set up in March 2020.
"The group has prepared a Framework for Climate Action - a Council and Community collaboration, and we want to be reassured that funding for this will be on the agenda in the draft budget discussions, which are about to begin."
Dr Julie Hawkins of the University of New England, School of Humanities, is currently completing her doctoral research creating a framework for an Eco-Chaplaincy. She has been developing theoretical and educational materials and a website.
She spoke to the gathering about evolving our ecological consciousness and gave 10 examples of contemplative multi-faith readings ranging from Socrates' contemplation of beauty to ecospheric living.
"We can evolve our own ecological awareness by practising ancient Christian practices such as deep contemplation, nature meditation and contemplative prayer," Dr Hawkins said.
"These techniques are also used in other spiritual faiths, such as Hinduism, Sufi, Buddhism, Zen and Yoga.
"There is an emphasis at the centre of all traditional religious paths on meditating on one's own heart and reconnecting with the divine, and with nature, through consistent practice.
"While we are deepening our spiritual experience, we will also be discovering a more direct and evocative experience of the natural world.
"Through this type of aesthetic contemplation, we may find ourselves becoming more compassionate and feeling greater empathy toward all people, all life, and earth."
A fundamental belief united the events held worldwide on March 11 that all people, all living things, and the earth are sacred.
"If we behave according to this knowledge, we will see a positive change in our culture toward a more compassionate, earth honouring ethic," Dr Hawkins said.
Graham Maddox FASSA is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of New England, where he was for twelve years Dean of the Faculty of Arts. He is also a member of the Armidale Uniting Church and passionate about humanity's need to address global warming and climate change.
In his address on the 'extent of the emergency', he apologised to those gathered for running through information already known by them.
"But the lack of attention in the wider community warrants endless repetition till something begins to change," he said.
"It is a tragedy that Australia's political class has been seduced by the untold commercial power of the fossil fuel industries to conform."
Professor Maddox said Julia Gillard's Clean Energy Act dropped emissions by 7 percent while it lasted - even as the economy expanded.
"However, Tony Abbott, who thought climate change was rubbish, lied about the effects and the costs of the price placed on carbon, while our local member, Barnaby Joyce, announced the cost of a lamb dinner would rise to $100 because of the carbon price," he said.
"All Gillard achieved was dismantled when Abbott came to office."
Professor Maddox also had little regard for the current Prime Minister's approach to climate change or Mr Joyce's current stance.
He cited Scott Morrison's attitude to the recent bushfires and his refusal to meet with former fire chiefs, Peter Dutton's assertion that arsonists predominantly caused the fires, and Mr Joyce's putting it all down to a failure to clear undergrowth.
"The Prime Minister's particular faith may teach him to leave everything in God's hands, rather than have the faithful act as cooperators in conserving God's creation," he said.
"Yet the captains of fossil industries pour heaps of money into party coffers.
"Australia could be the world's powerhouse of clean energy, with our abundance of sunlight, wind power and other natural resources.
"If only we could find the political will to do it."
The ARRCC is calling for:
A formal commitment from Australia under the Paris Accord to achieving net-zero emissions by 2030. It follows that Australia should offer Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC's) that align with this goal.
The use of post-COVID recovery spending to boost renewable energy and low carbon industries rather than fund a "gas-led recovery".
Provision of substantial amounts of finance for the UN Green Climate Fund, additional to the aid budget.
Provision of support for an orderly, planned, just transition for communities currently dependent on the coal and gas industries.
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