EARTH SUMMIT 2002

Environmentally a most important event in 2002 is the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) at Johannesburg beginning on 26August

Rio 1992 was the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development which adopted conventions on Climate Change, Biodiversity , Sustainable Development ( Agenda 21) The 2002 summit will assess progress on all these issues

Four Christian environmental organisations have produced material to aid the church's response to the Summit They are A Rocha, Christian Ecology Link, Eco-Congregation and the John Ray Initiative.

The aim is to inform churches throughout the country about the Summit and encourage them to respond in one or more of the following ways:

* Pray a common prayer in worship on Sunday 25th August

* Hold special services before or during the Summit - and following it - that make celebrating and caring for creation more central to church worship.

* Utilise the material provided so that living sustainably is seen as an essential part of Christian discipleship.

* Establish a local group of Christians to discuss the issues, take practical action, or both!

* Contribute to the public debate on sustainability that will take place during the Summit.

* Undertake an environmental audit of their work and keep a notice board with information about major environmental issues.

* Encourage church groups to take part in environmental activities, such as adopting a local area (e.g. churchyard, green, allotment) to look after.

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A Briefing Sheet about this project has been produced It will soon be available on the CTBI website and probably other church websites

CHRISTIAN ECOLOGY LINK

CEL’s twice yearly environmental news sheet , ChurchLink goes to all CTSN churches . Does yours get put on view or used in your magazine.? I wrote to church contacts asking about this, but not all replied. Did you?

CEL conference 6 July 2002 at Sheffield

“While Stocks Last? Christians, Consumerism and Creation”

ww.christian-ecology.org.uk

ECO CONGREGATION-

- the Churches’ Environment Programme , produced by Going for Green under the auspices of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland Holmesdale has signed up for this programme

I will be handing round some more details

Eco-Congregation Registration, Going for Green, Elizabeth House, The Pier, WIGAN WN3 4EX

email ecocongregation@encams.org.uk

Croydon Local Agenda 21

Website www.croydon.gov.uk/la21

Peter McDonald , LA21 community officer, is willing to do another presentation to CTSN .Can we fix a date now?

Farmers Markets

These are now being held monthly at New Addington Central Parade from 9.30 to 1.30 on the third Saturday

Next date 15 June.

GREEN FAIR

13/14 July Lloyd Park 1pm to 7pm

don’t choke bRITAIN

June 2002 sees the start of Don't Choke Britain; a month of events to encourage people to think about sustainable forms of transport. On Saturday 1st June there is the Public Launch, on the middle terrace of Crystal Palace ark, with a large exhibition open to the general public.

BAPTIST UNION
The Baptist Union of Great Britain has published a Vision Statement on the Environment.

Copies are available.

A new edition of ChurchLink will shortly be available and I will be sending this to the churches .With it or later I will be sending a copy of the Summit Briefing sheet mentioned above

I may be able to supply further information on some of these items -or you can use the contact details given. In any case please keep your congregation informed. Raymond Tringham 204, Beulah Hill SE 19 3UX Tel 8670 2964