Saturday 28th April saw an eclectic group of concerned churchgoers
gather at Christ Church Cathedral for a workshop entitled Compassion for
Creation.
The day started promptly at 10am, with Dean Peter Elliott’s welcome. A
number of different faith traditions were represented by the 80 in
attendance.Anglicans for Eco-Justice Unit co-chair, Bob Worcester announced that one of the morning’s speaker – Rueben George – had cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. He then introduced Ben West, from the Wilderness Committee.
Ben, an energetic presenter, took us through a series of slides that
allowed him to illustrate the magnitude of the two proposals for the
Northern Gateway & Trans Mountain pipelines.
The Wilderness Committee believes that these two proposals will put the entire coast, from Vancouver to Kitimat, at risk. The increased amounts of crude being brought to the coast will require significantly increased tanker traffic out of both Kitimat & Vancouver. All this new capacity is for export.
In terms of a spill, they believe that it is not question of if, but when.
Ben also pointed out that the two pipelines cross the lands of many First Nations, & that any ruptures to the pipelines would have devastating effects on the land itself and the food supply. In a recent declaration, all First Nations have said that they will not export tar sands oil.
Ben was followed by Janette McIntosh, who is with KAIROS, Vancouver. She brought the group up-to-date, focusing on some of the initiatives being undertaken by groups opposed to the pipelines.
She recommended a documentary called On The Line.
The makers of this film travelled the 1170 km trip along the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline. The journey was made on foot, by bike, kayak & raft from Bruderheim to Hartley Bay.
Janette also gave details of a freedom train scheduled to leave Jasper on April 30th. After various stops & rallies along the way, the protesters should have arrived in Toronto, in time for the Enbridge AGM on May 9th.
According to Janette it is the view of KAIROS that this is the defining issue of this generation. Anyone interested in finding out more should check the website of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. A local writer, Robyn Allan, has written a pithy eleven page critique of the proposal. Check her website.
Click to link to the May 9th feature article in THE TYEE
After a short lunch break, it was time to hear from Sallie McFague.
She spoke with great clarity and honesty, leavening her presentation with humour. She made a direct connection between environmentalism and consumerism: seeing the tar sands as both an ecological & economic issue.
She was blunt about calling consumerism the new religion, saying that we are more attentive to it than to most other things. In her view we more than tithe to it. She went on to say that consumerism should be considered heresy, and that it be treated accordingly.
She pointed out that the rewards of the consumer society are over-rated, and that individualism is a false world view. She reminded her audience that the story of God is all creation fully alive: ALL creation.
Sally concluded her talk by offering a four-fold process from belief to action.
These steps are:
a) an embracing of “voluntary poverty”
b) focusing one’s attentions on the needs of others
c) gradual development of a “universal self”
d) the idea that the inclusive self should operate at both the personal & public levels.
In terms of a spill, they believe that it is not question of if, but when.
Ben also pointed out that the two pipelines cross the lands of many First Nations, & that any ruptures to the pipelines would have devastating effects on the land itself and the food supply. In a recent declaration, all First Nations have said that they will not export tar sands oil.
Ben was followed by Janette McIntosh, who is with KAIROS, Vancouver. She brought the group up-to-date, focusing on some of the initiatives being undertaken by groups opposed to the pipelines.
She recommended a documentary called On The Line.
The makers of this film travelled the 1170 km trip along the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline. The journey was made on foot, by bike, kayak & raft from Bruderheim to Hartley Bay.
Janette also gave details of a freedom train scheduled to leave Jasper on April 30th. After various stops & rallies along the way, the protesters should have arrived in Toronto, in time for the Enbridge AGM on May 9th.
According to Janette it is the view of KAIROS that this is the defining issue of this generation. Anyone interested in finding out more should check the website of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. A local writer, Robyn Allan, has written a pithy eleven page critique of the proposal. Check her website.
Click to link to the May 9th feature article in THE TYEE
After a short lunch break, it was time to hear from Sallie McFague.
She spoke with great clarity and honesty, leavening her presentation with humour. She made a direct connection between environmentalism and consumerism: seeing the tar sands as both an ecological & economic issue.
She was blunt about calling consumerism the new religion, saying that we are more attentive to it than to most other things. In her view we more than tithe to it. She went on to say that consumerism should be considered heresy, and that it be treated accordingly.
She pointed out that the rewards of the consumer society are over-rated, and that individualism is a false world view. She reminded her audience that the story of God is all creation fully alive: ALL creation.
Sally concluded her talk by offering a four-fold process from belief to action.
These steps are:
a) an embracing of “voluntary poverty”
b) focusing one’s attentions on the needs of others
c) gradual development of a “universal self”
d) the idea that the inclusive self should operate at both the personal & public levels.
The afternoon ended with the attendees breaking into three groups, to brainstorm strategies and solutions.
Images: Top, the plenary meet in the Parish Hall of Christ Church Cathedral. Middle right, Ben West speaks to The Reverend Canon Dr. Harold Munn, Lower left, Eco-Justice Unit co-chair Rev. Margaret Marquardt (seated) confers with Eco-Justice Unit member, Rev. Gail Newell.