Bournemouth Reform Hosts Signing of Historic Agreement
The Big Green Believers' Agreement was ratified by representatives from faith communities from across Dorset and beyond at Bournemouth Reform Synagogue on 29th November.
The Agreement, which is an initiative by IDEA: Interfaith Dorset Education and Action, is the largest interfaith endeavour Dorset has ever seen. 28 communities, institutions or groups and 41 individuals of faith committed to measurable action and education regarding sustainable living.
Between them, it has been calculated that around 10,000 people will be affected by the Big Green Believers' Agreement, which is to be highlighted in next year's National Climate Week as an exemplar of how faith communities can work together to become significantly more sustainable. The Big Green Believers' Agreement is different from all other faith-based sustainability initiatives worldwide so far in that it was written locally for local implementation as opposed to being a top-down agreement written by select individuals.
Chair and Founder of IDEA, Rabbi Neil Amswych, explained about the agreement: "Anyone can sign up – individuals, groups, communities, schools, universities – so long as there is a faith component in their commitment. Since it has become absolutely apparent that governments are incapable of agreeing how to create a sustainable society, the responsibility falls upon us, the public. All faith traditions have at their core messages of responsible living on the Earth so it must be up to people and institutions of faith to take up the challenge. Where the politicians continue to fail, we continue to surge forward, working towards the most sustainable society we can create."
People and communities can still sign up to the Agreement. Rabbi Neil said: "This historic agreement focuses on seven key aspects of sustainability – biodiversity, buildings, consumption, food, social justice, transport and waste. These are all things that we should take very seriously today. So the question that we’re asking people of Dorset – particularly those of faith – is, 'If you care about the future of our planet and our society, why would you not sign up?'"
Faith communities and individuals sign up to the principles of the Agreement – which can be downloaded via IDEA's website and then representatives of IDEA work with them to create and implement realistic commitments for the future. Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr. Chris Rochester, opened the evening signing ceremony with words of encouragement about the importance of the initiative. Environmental campaigner, author and policy advisor Dr. Mayer Hillman spoke about the challenges of climate change and in particular the need for significant action to stop runaway climate change, noting the need for an overhaul in behaviour and the responsibilities we all have for generations to come.
Find out more about IDEA
Find out more about Bournemouth Reform Synagogue
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