I LEADERS RELIGIOSI SI FANNO CARICO DELLA DEFORESTAZIONE GLOBALE
Giugno 17th, 2017 by Luigi De Salvia
Dear Esteemed Colleague:
There is a growing consensus among the world’s religions that we–each according to her or his tradition–have a moral and religious obligation to protect the earth and its people from the ravages of climate change. Tropical rainforests, one of the planet’s most vital life-support systems, are threatened due to deforestation. This deeply undermines the global efforts on combatting the perilous consequences of climate change. Through multi-religious partnership, the wisdom of each religious tradition can be a resource to help us cultivate the values and virtues essential for harmonious interactions with each other and our common home, earth.
Religions for Peace (RfP) is delighted to be working in partnership with Vidar Helgesen, the Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University, GreenFaith, Parliament of the World’s Religions, REIL Network, and the World Council of Churches to reaffirm the multi-religious commitment to protect the earth. As part of this partnership, the first ever Interfaith Rainforest Initiative’s High Level Summit will be held from 19-21 June in Oslo. It will gather religious, indigenous and interfaith leaders, academics and experts to discuss the spiritual and ethical responsibility to end deforestation and to develop an action plan to protect, restore and sustainably manage tropical rainforests.
I welcome you to join me and other RfP leaders – H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel [Co-President of RfP], Chief Rabbi David Rosen [Co-President of RfP], Bishop Emeritus Gunnar Stalsett [Honorary President of RfP], and Dr. Din Syamsuddin [Moderator of Asian Conference of RfP] in this important summit through the webcast on 19 June starting at noon CET.
You can find quotes from the RfP leaders here.
See the conference media advisory for details.
Read the RfP EC Statement and Resource Guide on Climate Change.
Yours in partnership for Peace,
Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General
16 June 2017