(UN Millennium Campaign)
With the December climate change negotiations in Copenhagen looming, greenhouse gas emissions from rich countries continue to rise while poverty and inequality grow in the countries of the global South, whose people are already suffering the worst consequences of climate change.
This year KAIROS is marking two important days for Global Action: October 17 (Global Day of Action Against Poverty) and October 24 (International Day of Climate Action), by calling for a Global Week of Action that highlights the connection between poverty and climate change.
What Can you Do?
1. KAIROS' 4 page Week of Action Resource for faith communities draws the connection
between poverty and climate change.
2. SIGN THE KyotoPlus PETITION calling for a just and equitable climate deal at the Copenhagen climate meetings in December.
Download the KyotoPlus petition here,
or,
you can sign online at the KAIROS website.
3. MAKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND POVERTY THE FOCUS OF YOUR OCTOBER 18 SERVICE
* Use the bulletin insert on the last page of the KAIROS Week of Action resource.
* Provide opportunities after the service for members to sign the KyotoPlus petition
You can sign online at the KAIROS website.
* Commission the congregation to take the petition "into the world".
Challenge everyone to get at least 10 signatures.
4. JOIN OR ORGANISE A STAND UP/KyotoPlus EVENT!
From October 16 - 18 millions of people around the world will "Stand Up" against hunger and poverty in city plazas, schools, concert halls and churches. Stand Up & Take Action, coordinated by the UN Millennium Campaign and Global Call to Action Against Poverty, is a global event in which citizens urge their leaders to keep their promises to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Last year 116 million people participated in Stand Up - shattering the Guinness World Record for the greatest number of people taking action for a social cause in a set time.
KAIROS is coordinating the Stand up & Take Action event and the International Day for Climate Action by holding KyotoPlus petition signing events.
JOIN A STAND UP EVENT:
To join a local event, go to the global map http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/map and click on Stand Up events in your area.
ORGANIZE AN EVENT:
Stand Up events being planned throughout Canada and worldwide include concerts, silent vigils, tree plantings, campus rallies, even a pumpkin drop. The KyotoPlus petition signing is another way to hold a Stand Up event and be counted among the millions worldwide holding simultaneous events.
Go to Stand Against Poverty- register and describe your planned event.
It will be posted for others to find and join.
You must register your event online before October 18th.
Whatever you do, make sure you let us know: send an email to Sara Stratton at sstratton@kairoscanada.org.
(To know more about the Stand Up Against poverty campaign go to Stand Up Against Poverty.)
5. ORGANIZE OR PARTICIPATE ON OCTOBER 24 IN THE 'INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION'
Events are being organized all over the world to increase the pressure as Copenhagen approaches. Check out www.350.org to see if there is an event in your community. If so, join it; if not, start one! Not sure what to do? Why not start by ringing your church bells to get everyone's attention? Make sure you have the KAIROS KyotoPlus petition handy, and make sure you tell us about your event: send an email to Sara Stratton at sstratton@kairoscanada.org.
6. FOLLOW-UP IN YOUR OCTOBER 25 SERVICE
Have members bring back the petitions that they took with them the previous week. This could be done as part of the offering, or as part of the prayers of the people. Then send them back to KAIROS!
