Fasting for Climate Justice
Is this not the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
These words from Isaiah 58, one of our most powerful justice texts, urge us to examine what it means to be true to our Christian faith. The answer, we are told, is not to serve our own interests, but those of the larger community of which we are a part. A group of faith-based activists are taking that message to heart in a “Fast and Vigil for Climate Justice” on Parliament Hill from September 21 to October 2.
If you would like to support the group in their call for climate justice through ending subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, setting a price on carbon, and creating a renewable energy policy for Canada, then check out the website www.climatefast.ca. Options include solidarity fasting for all or part of the time (wherever you are in the country), supporting the group on the Hill, and participating in evening candlelit vigils, either on the Hill or in your own community. (Please note that food-fasting is a serious endeavour that should not be taken lightly. Check out the fasting FAQ on the climate fast website and consult with your physician before committing to such a program.)
In addition, the group will be hosting a screening of the film “Climate Refugees” in Ottawa on October 1 – see the climate fast website for details.
KAIROS continues to work on issues of climate justice. Check out the climate justice section of our website (http://www.kairoscanada.org/sustainability/climate-justice/) for news, analysis, and resources including educational and worship materials. We’d also be happy to talk to you about doing a climate justice workshop in your community.
