One of three thousand!

At 11.30 am on a damp and windy Saturday morning on 24th October, 400 people made a human wave for Climate Justice around York Minster. The event led by CAFOD and supported by Christian Aid and other networks of people concerned about the impact of climate change drew people, of all ages from throughout the Diocese, together to send a strong message to world leaders when they meet in Copenhagen this month (December). Protestors called on world leaders to:

• Help people flourish in developing countries by supporting their right to sustainable development. The poorest have done the least to cause climate change, they should not be the ones who pay the price.
• Provide necessary support in developing countries who are hit first and hardest by climate change to adapt to the impacts of extreme weather. This includes additional aid for adaptation, as well as access to clean, green technology.
• Tackling the root causes of the problem by cutting emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Industrialised countries must commit to more than 40 per cent cuts based on 1990 levels, by 2020.

These aims reflect Pope Benedict XVI’s message in his latest encyclical Caritas in Veritate:

‘The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole. When nature, including the human being, is viewed as the result of mere chance or evolutionary determinism, our sense of responsibility wanes. In nature, the believer recognises the wonderful result of God’s creative activity, which we may use responsibly to satisfy our legitimate needs, material or otherwise, while respecting the intrinsic balance of creation’ (para 48).

The wave was started by The Lord Mayor of York, the Lady Mayoress, the Sheriff and her Consort and York MP Hugh Bayley. As the Minster’s bells chimed at 11.30am, a huge cheer went up followed by a Mexican Wave. Many people dressed in blue to signify the warming of the world’s oceans. Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, sent a short message of support ‘You are concerned for the future of our world, which is God’s world. God Bless you.’

Our event in York was one of over three thousand Climate events around the world on the same day, the International Day for Climate Action. We heard from keynote speakers just how important the Copenhagen talks are for the future of many peoples including ourselves. World leaders when they meet really need to show courage and leadership and work hard at securing a binding climate change agreement. People’s lives depend on it.

One passer-by said ‘I’ve never seen a circle of people stretching around the whole Minster before.’ Another said that he was ‘Surprised at how good natured everyone in the wave was and it was great to see the very young, and not so young coming together with the same message. I was just out shopping and people were shouting – come and join us, we need your help too – so I did.’ Many thanks to all those who helped in any way to organise the Wave Around the Minster and to all of you who turned out on a cold, damp Saturday Morning.

The United Nations Climate Change talks take place in December. Please pray for the success of the talks. Why not hold a Holy Hour or prayer vigil in your parish during December?

Visit www.cafod.org.uk for further information about our Climate Justice Campaign and about the WAVE in London on 5th December or contact David or Carol Cross on (01904) 671767 or e-mail middlesbrough@cafod.org.uk