Hanks Cdn Envir Actions Dec18

Learning to integrate action on climate change with the activities of the Five Year Plan: A story from Canada Duncan Hanks

The Opportunity


The International Environment Forum (IEF) is a Bahá'íinspired non-governmental professional organization whose members from the Bahá'í Faith and the wider community promote the application of spiritual and ethical principles to the challenges of the environment and sustainable development. Founded in 1997, and now with over 150 members in 50 countries on five continents, the IEF maintains links with many more individuals and groups. The Forum was accredited by the United Nations to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg 2002) as a scientific and technological organization.

Shameless plug

For more information, and/or to apply for membership, visit the IEF website. Membership is free and open to all with an interest.*

www.bcca.org/ief

The invitation Bahá'í Community of Canada
Canadian Bahá'í International Development Agency
Office of Governmental Relations

Perspectives














John Stone, Adjunct Research Professor, Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University - The science of climate change, with a specific focus on the Arctic region John Crump, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, Polar Issues Coordinator - From the Arctic to the Small Island Developing States: Ethics and Adaptation Robin Anawak, Environmental Researcher, Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami (ITK), the National Inuit Organization - The impact of climate change on northern culture, people, and livelihoods Arthur Dahl, Coordinator of the UNEP / University of Geneva Environmental Diplomacy Programme, Switzerland; President, International Environment Forum - Ethical Challenges of Climate Change Heather Eaton, Associate Professor, Feminist Theology; Ecology; Contemporary Theology and Spirituality, St. Paul University, Canada. - The Spirit of Climate Change Michael Gerbis, CEO, The Delphi Group - An Inconvenient Truth: A multimedia presentation on climate change Ted Reeve, Secretary, Leadership and Theological Education, for the General Council of The United Church of Canada and Executive Director of Faith & the Common Good Network. - Faith-based NGOs and the Common Good






















Sylvia Karlsson, Finland Futures Research Centre, Turku School of Economics, Finland. Associate member of the Club of Rome, Secretary-General of the International Environment Forum - Governance of Energy from the Local to the Global – A Necessity for Climate Change Mitigation Tahirih Naylor, Representative to the United Nations, Bahá’í International Community The Bahá’í International Community at the United Nations: Global Focus on Climate Change and Sustainable Development Clive Doucet, Poet, Author, City Councillor, Ottawa, Canada Peter Adriance, NGO Liaison, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the U.S. Diana Cartwright, Environment Canada, Bahá’í Community of Canada Jessica Lax, Director, The Otesha Project Duncan Hanks, Canadian Bahá’í International Development Agency Gordon Naylor, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada, President and CEO of Hatt’s Off Specialized Services, President of Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute and Breakwell Learning Marty Quinn - The Climate Symphony David Chernushenko, Producer, the Living Lightly Project and member of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) - Living Lightly and Loving It: People Taking Action Because It Feels Good Victoria Thoresen, Associate Professor, Education, Hedmark University College, Norway; Project Manager, Consumer Citizenship Network - Learning to Make Responsible Choices: The Consumer Citizenship Network.

www.tyne.ca/ief2007












Dr. John Stone, IPCC

Audio and video recordings – YouTube Copies of each presentation PowerPoint Presentations Digital Documentation (photo gallery) International econference

Outcomes






Collaboration of presenters with BIC and other agencies Public space for exploring issues, mainly the moral imperative – welcomed by scientists Different perspectives – people of Faith, no Faith, science – religion, politicians, civil society Learning-centred -> realization of integrating action into our core activities seemed natural Personal action plans (unanticipated)

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada


24 March 2008 letter to all regional Bahá'í councils, local spiritual assemblies and registered groups

…The resulting conference report and recommendations stimulated the National Spiritual Assembly’s consideration of ways in which the day to day life of the Bahá'í community can better reflect the Bahá'í teachings on humanity’s sacred responsibility to safeguard the environment. As long ago as Ridván, 1989, the Universal House of Justice said that “Assisting in endeavours to conserve the environment in ways which blend with the rhythm of life of our community must assume more importance in Bahá'í activities.* * The Universal House of Justice, A Wider Horizon, p. 64

Far from distracting from the processes of growth underway in Canada, attention to environmental practices that respect the earth and the oneness of its inhabitants must support and sustain them. Thus, small initiatives should be undertaken to gradually increase consciousness of our “ecological footprint” and develop capacity for responsible action that responds to the challenges of global climate change. The National Spiritual Assembly therefore now raises a call for action, asking all

Councils, Local Spiritual Assemblies and Groups to consider ways to demonstrate ever-increasing sensitivity to environmental issues in the design and implementation of community activities. Larger communities with Bahá'í centres should give additional consideration to ways of managing and developing these properties in environmentally sound ways. As Bahá'í communities take conscious steps to introduce simple, ecologically healthy measures into a vibrant and dynamic

community life, they will increasingly demonstrate the truth of these words of the Guardian: We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reaction.

Some initial responses Bahá'í Ottawa, Might 165

9 Ways to Green Our Core Activities, Feasts and Firesides

The Universal House of Justice has stated that “endeavours to conserve the environment in ways which blend with the rhythm of life of our community must assume more importance in Bahá’í activities. With an ever increasing understanding of man’s organic relationship with the earth, seekers are searching for answers and for those adorned by action rather than talk. Here are just a few places where we can start to make a difference in our community life.

1)

Work locally. The International teaching Centre has found that decentralized core activities and teaching efforts that focus on our neighbourhood have been more successful and sustainable. This can also contribute to healthier, stronger communities that rely less on cars.

2)

Encourage sustainable transport. In promoting events, make sure you indicate the bus routes and bike paths that come to your venue. Encouraging car-pooling by connecting people from the same neighbourhoods.

3)

Study it. Prepare a children’s class lesson, fireside or talk on creation or environmental topics. Share a story about how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was “content with little”.

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Serve the community. Acts of service to the community are an integral part of the junior youth program. Possible endeavours are collecting trash in the local park, planting trees or a community garden, or speaking to environmental issues in your community. Show you care by using reusables. Do away with the plastic, paper and Styrofoam! Bring out the real dishes and cloth napkins, and build friendships while washing dishes. Did you know that our new Bahá’í Centre actually has a policy against using disposables? Serve local, organic and fair trade refreshments. Locally grown food supports local farmers and reduces green house gas emissions. Fairly traded goods such as coffee, tea and soccer balls ensure no exploitive child labour is used, farmers receive just wages and use environmentally sustainable practices. Pray about it. Provide a devotional program at your next Feast or devotional gathering using environmental quotations and images of nature as the embodiments of the names of God. Decorate right. Create an uplifting atmosphere with flowers and candles, but go for locally grown flowers (maybe from your own garden!) instead of imported flowers that are grown with very toxic pesticides and flown in. Beeswax candles are a more natural alternative to paraffin or scented candles, especially for those with environmental sensitivities. Go outside! A spiritual atmosphere is instantly created by reconnecting people with nature and fresh air. This is also an opportunity to give temperature controls and lights a break.

Letting action, not words… 1. Adopted roadside / highway for clean-up 2. Discontinued use of paper dishes, plastic cutlery, styrofoam cups 3. Participation in inter-Faith / Multi-Faith activities, like “Stewardship of Creation and Planting of Seeds”, Faith in the Common Good (national) 4. Community volunteers wash dishes at community Fall Fair so don’t use non-reusables. 5. Car pooling to community activities 6. Using cloth napkins at community events

More deeds… 7.

Participation of local junior youth groups in community environmental projects on a regular basis (Aurora, ON) – planting 10,000 trees, planting community gardens

8.

LSA appoints task force struck to educate community on environmental issues at every Feast

9. Support gardening project for local food bank 10. LSA sponsored draw – anyone who cycles or comes to Feast on mass transit will have name entered to win one of ten $10 gift certificates at local Bahá'í bookstore

And a few more… 11. LSA asking that proposals submitted for consideration include an environmental impact section.

12. Paperless administration and meetings (i.e., Post Convention conference) 13. Consultation at community activities that specifically invites and includes children and junior youth on themes related to the environment 14. Hosting environmental related activities – Roundtable on environment, UN Days, “Nature Day” 15. Devotional meetings with environmental themes

Eco Camp for children teaches respect for the environment, High River, Alberta

Television documentary featuring Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba, architect and designer of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, Israel. “Aesthetically and symbolically, these spaces are designed for celebration and worship, bringing people closer to the divine.” Recreating Eden will air on the following channels in 2008/2009. Please check the websites listed below for more information about airdates and times. Canada: VisionTV (www.visiontv.ca) and Knowledge Network (www.knowledgenetwork.ca)

Guidance “When the Universal House of Justice called on the Bahá'ís at the beginning of the Five Year Plan to open their study circles, children’s classes, and devotional meetings “to all the inhabitants of the locality,” that phrase signalized a change in the culture of Bahá'í communities, a change that is intimately linked with the efforts of the Faith to grow and to embrace humankind…. Building Momentum, p. 19

Guidance Having an “outward-looking orientation” also suggests that it is important for Bahá'ís to understand more deeply the forces operating on the world stage and the solutions offered by the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh. Our task is to convey to seekers that we are all living in the same world, facing common trials, and striving to fulfill similar, long-held aspirations for the human race. Our expressions of solidarity with our fellow human beings must be sincerely voiced and genuinely felt.”

Guidance “Central to the capacity of a Baha'i community to lead a process of transformation is the ability of its members and institutions to apply the Revelation of Baha’u’llah to various aspects of life and thereby establish consistent patterns of change. In fact, learning to apply the Teachings to achieve progress could be taken as the very definition of Baha’i social and economic development. Such learning has to occur locally, regionally, nationally and internationally and become the axis around which our development efforts are organized at all levels.” (Prospects for the Future, a message approved by the Universal House of Justice, September 1993)

Guidance “Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.” - Baha’u’llah

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation launches national campaign The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, Canada’s late-night talk show, and Cisco are partnering to spearhead a massive, nationwide environmental movement. This fall, CBC and The Hour will mobilize Canadians to commit One Million Acts of Green. In partnership with Cisco, and the power of their ‘Human Network Effect’ the collective goal is to change how we live and how we treat the planet, one act at a time. It’s not about overhauling your life; it’s about one act from each individual amassing to a million. Maybe it’s switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, making the decision to walk or bike to work, or to buy locally grown organic food. It can be as simple as recycling your cell phone or as ambitious as building a green roof space. One small thing can have a huge impact. Young and old, parents and kids, small towns and big cities, The Hour wants Canadians to take action for the sake of the environment. The campaign will officially kick off on Tuesday October 21, 2008 and will run to summer 2009.

Coherence “As you continue to labour in your clusters, you will be drawn further and further into the life of the society around you and will be challenged to extend the process of systematic learning in which you are engaged to encompass a growing range of human endeavours. In the approaches you take, the methods you adopt, and the instruments you employ, you will need to achieve the same degree of coherence that characterizes the pattern of growth presently under way. (Ridván 2008)