Christian Ecology Link February 2010 News Email
1.
BIODIVERSITY
2. BIODIVERSITY ACTION SUPPORT GROUP
3. FEBRUARY PRAYER
GUIDE
4. NEW PAGES ON WEBSITE (GRASSES AND HYMN)
5. NEWLY LISTED UPCOMING
EVENTS
6. INVITE OTHERS TO SUBSCRIBE TO CEL NEWS
EMAILS
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1.
BIODIVERSITY
"Biodiversity" is a hard concept to get one's head round -
Often it is easier talking about "Protecting Nature" or "Protecting the
rainforests".
Mike Shanahan of IEED has written an excellent article,
explaining biodiversity. Do read it, then maybe you can write an article in your
own Parish Newsletter. http://www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/17037IIED.pdf
"His
briefing explains why biodiversity loss will be an increasingly important story
in the coming years. It suggests ways for journalists to improve their reporting
and make it mean more to their audiences."
Biodiversity is the variety of
Genes, Species and Ecosystems on the Planet. Because humans and our crops are
taking up so much space, the variety of genes, species and ecosystems is
reducing. For the sake of future generations we need to protect some of this
variety.
This year is "International Biodiversity Year"
See also Ruth
Jarman's parish magazine article on biodiversity, using some of the material
mentioned in this email http://www.christian-ecology.org.uk/m1003.htm
Thank you also to the CEL member who told me about the "Species of the
Day" picture and information from IUCN that one can out on one's web page - I
have put it lower down the CEL website index page for a little while. http://www.iucnredlist.org/
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2.
BIODIVERSITY ACTION SUPPORT GROUP
In spite of what I have written above,
it is actually hard to find other people in churches strongly caring about
Biodiversity as a Christian Responsibility. This may in part be because
"biodiversity" is such a wide subject.
I am offering to set up a CEL
"Biodiversity Action Self Help Group", by using the Internet, - for individuals
throughout UK or world - I anticipate it will have 8 to 12 people, we will
"meet" once a fortnight by "telephone conference" and have a Googlegroups or
possibly Ning system of communicating between times. (I have three volunteers
plus me so far).
.. I explain these ideas on http://bit.ly/b3JAss which is http://rainforest-save.blogspot.com/2010/01/ten-top-tips-for-saving-biodiversity-in.html
and especially on http://bit.ly/9GPn6k which is
http://rainforest-save.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-biodiversity-action-support-group.html
Please have a look at these and if you are interested in joining in, get in
touch.
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3.
FEBRUARY PRAYER GUIDE
www.christian-ecology.org.uk/p1002.htm
* Download pdf or doc versions to print out for your church
* Copy
sections (with acknowledgements) to print in your church magazine.
* Request
to have the prayers sent daily or monthly. (email me and I'll pass on the
request as relevant)
*Please tell other people about this very useful
resource - It is one of the most frequently visited sections of the
website
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4.
NEW PAGES ON CEL'S WEBSITE: (GRASSES AND NEW HYMN)
Grass of the month
section
www.christian-ecology.org.uk/grass1.htm
January - Reed Canary Grass
www.christian-ecology.org.uk/grass2.htm
February - The Common Reed
www.christian-ecology.org.uk/hymn10.htm
- New hymn by Audrey Bryant: Green Bottle Decade - based on 10 green bottles...
thought provoking. Again, if you wish to use it, please acknowledge
Audrey.
www.christian-ecology.org.uk/m1003.htm
- Article for parish magazine -on Biodiversity - by Ruth
Jarman
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5.
NEWLY LISTED UPCOMING EVENTS
Here are extra events in Feb, March and
April beyond those that I listed on 14 Jan. I will write another "complete list"
for the first half of 2010 as a separate CEL News Email shortly. So please send
in News of more events.
6 Feb Lincoln - The Big Footprint (a U2charist) -
St Mary le Wigford http://u2charistlincoln.wordpress.com/the-big-footprint-6th-february-2010
Church, High Street, Lincoln - 6.30pm - A post-Copenhagen U2charist Service to
explore the role Christians have to play in environmental issues. Speaker: Paul
Bodenham (Christian Ecology Links) There will be question time afterward. 01476
570207, u2charistlincoln@yahoo.co.uk
9 Feb - Milton Keynes - Milton Keynes
Christian Environment Group - meeting to plan the " launch of our own Carbon
Reduction Action Group. "-7.30pm at The Shenley Church Inn http://www.webjam.com/mkceg_profile/our_meetings
14 Feb Aldermaston - Overnight all-night candlelit vigil at the Tadley
Gate, Aldermaston, to support the Big Blockade at Aldermaston on 15 February.
This will begin with a short service at 9.00pm on Sunday, 14th February, and
finish in the same way at 7.00am the next morning. The Prayer for Peace will be
recited on the hour during the night. Info: 020 7700 4200/2393 christians@cnduk.org http://ccnd.gn.apc.org/html/events.php
15-27 Feb - Preventing Portsmouth Flooding - Exhibition by Building
Futures and the Institution of Civil Engineers at Portsmouth (Anglican)
Cathedral, High Street, PO1 2HH 10am-5pm
17 Feb UK -
The Carbon Fast takes place during Lent ? from 17 Feb 2010. It is organised by
Tearfund. It provides simple prayers and practical actions to help people
respond to climate change by reducing their emissions and focusing on poor
people hit hardest by the changing climate. This will be the third year of the
Carbon Fast for Tearfund. It was created by Bishop James Jones, the Bishop of
Liverpool who first ran it in his diocese in 2007. http://www.tearfund.org
19 Feb -
Cheltenham - The Old Priory, St Gregory's Church, Clarence Street for 7:30 -
Cheltenham CEL: Learning to Tread Lightly in God - Tom Cullinan will be
reflecting upon his experiences at Copenhagen, where he is currently part of the
CAFOD delegation (having been with CAFOD on the Wave) . Tom was a monk of
Ampleforth Abbey for 50 years and is now a monk-priest of Liverpool RC
Archdiocese. He has been involved with Oxfam, CAFOD and Justice and Peace for
many years. www.christian-ecology.org.uk/tread-lightly-poster.doc
20 Feb - Bridge of Allan - The Stirling
Eco-Congregation Network meeting- 9.45am-4pm (not on 9th February, as previously
advertised), in Bridge of Allan Church Halls: 'Carbon Neutral Conference' . http://bit.ly/bdTUM0
27-28 Feb; -
London - Time
for Transformation - Speak Soundcheck 1 Mar 2010 weekend. and for the Day of
Action Mon 1st March. Sunday will concentrate on the Environment; SPEAK is
a
network connecting together young adults and students to campaign and pray
about issues of global injustice. Venue: Islington Arts and Media School, Turle Road, London
N4 3LS. Speakers incude
Ruth Valerio http://www.speak.org.uk/soundcheck10
3 March - Milton Keynes - MK Christian Environment Group - A
Presentation about Christian Aid Climate Change Alleviation Projects in Mali and
Burkino Faso –Speaker Catherine Loy http://www.webjam.com/mkceg_profile/our_meetings
6 March - Great Missenden:?Living Hope: Green Churches Green Schools" A
day conference for anyone connected with a church or school and interested in
how we carry out
our mission in an age of environmental change. "Reasons for
hope" with leading theologians Dave Bookless, Paula Clifford, Sean McDonagh, and
Chris Sunderland. Paul Chandler, CEO of Traidcraft, will help us celebrate the
"Big Brew" - St Peter and St Paul Church, Great Missenden and Great Missenden C
of E Combined School - Registration from 9:15 am, conference from 10:00 am to
4:00 pm Cost: £5, to include workshops materials and Fairtrade tea and coffee
throughout the day. Please bring a packed lunch. http://www.ccow.org.uk
15 March -
Glasgow - Glasgow EcoCongregation Network - Wellington Church at 7.30pm http://bit.ly/bu6qDb
18 March -
Edinburgh -
10.00 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. St George's West Church, Edinburgh Banking on Justice-
Churches investing for a fairer future Conference speakers: Ryan Brightwell,
Co-operative Financial Services Alex
Connor, Triodos Bank, Kathy Galloway, Christian Aid Scotland Doug Gay, co-author
Justice & Markets Jamie Hartzell, Ethical Property Company, Miles Litvinoff,
ECCR, Victoria Woodbridge, EIRIS Conference fee: £10 (£5 concessions) - 01325
580028 - helen.boothroyd@eccr.org.uk
http://www.eccr.org.uk/module-htmlpages-display-pid-76.html
17 April - York - 10am- 4pm - Annual Gathering - Quiet
Garden Trust -Christ Church Heworth, Stockton Lane, York
YO31 1JG . The cost of
£10 includes soup and drinks but bring a packed
lunch. Father Dominic Milroy
from Ampleforth Abbey will speak on Fractured Light - A random celebration of
some encounters where things grow. The Revd Philip Roderick, our founder, will
share something of the vision and play his drum! We will also hear from local
Gardeners. Booking required: quiet.garden@ukonline.co.uk.
20 Apr - Lancaster - Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Town movement is speaking at St Thomas CE Church Marton Street
Lancaster 7 for 7.30pm. as part of
the launch of
Transition
City Lancaster. Tickets £5 on the door or contact
01524 844162.
20 April - North
Church, Perth and Kinross The Perth & Kinross EcoCongregation
network meeting at North Church,
27 April Edinburgh -
Morningside United Church, corner Morningside Road/ Chamberlain Road,
topic: Climate Change & Carbon Footprint after Copenhagen - Speaker:
Adrian Shaw (Church of Scotland, Climate Change
Officer)
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6.
ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SUBSCRIBE TO CEL NEWS EMAILS
If you have found this
useful do encourage others to subscribe. Five people who subscribe in February
(picked at random) will be sent a free calendar if they send in their postal
address. www.christian-ecology.org.uk/email-newsletter.htm
-AND- If the people include the name of the person who told them about the News
Email, I will send a second calendar for the person
who recommended the
email. These calendars can be used as greeting cards
too.
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If
you do anything in your church about biodiversity as a result of reading this
email it would make me happy to hear from you!! (The Spinning Club that meets at
my church hall collected £24.60 and gave me it yesterday, to our Rainforest Fund
- it will go to half an acre of Rainforest through the World Land Trust. Every
little counts!)
Best wishes
Judith Allinson
Web Editor at
Christian Ecology
Link
____________________________________________________________________
*
CHRISTIAN ECOLOGY LINK - Support in greening our churches and world. Information
and Resources (leaflets) available from 0845 4598460. 10 Beech Hall Road,
Highams Park, London, E4
9NX info@christian-ecology.org.uk
Company Reg. No. 2445198 Reg Charity No. 328744. Visit CEL's website http://www.christian-ecology.org.uk
for: Daily prayer guide (produced monthly); UK Events List; Green sermon notes;
Resources list; Useful links.
