Quaker concern for the effects of climate change

Quakers believe our earth is the gift of a Creator God who entrusted its care to human beings.   Recently we have become more conscious of the damage we are doing to this precious planet through our own thoughtlessness and carelessness; this has come about through the dissemination of the results of scientific research quantifying in many ways, the extent of the damage we are doing and the high price we are already paying for our neglect.

We further recognize our responsibility to future generations to leave an environment, which will cater and care for the health, security and well-being of all life on earth.

Since we can no longer take basic environmental commodities such as clean air or water for granted, we need more sustainable development and appropriate farming practices as well as alternate sources of energy.  To this end we should devote major financial resources to developing wind, wave and solar powered generators, which could be a solution to our energy needs.  Pollution caused by coal powered generators and the hazards of nuclear waste disposal for generation to come, make further expansion of both coal and nuclear power unthinkable for our times.

Our faith leads us to live more simply.  Greed is devastating our nation and the global environment in which we live.

We need a change of heart and mind, not only the contribution of scientists, to put right the wrongs we have done in the name of economic progress, to our home, the earth.

Our prayers will be with faith community leaders who attend the gathering, for the good of humankind, all creation and the earth, which gives us life, as we wait for the outcomes of COP17 in Durban from 28 November to 9 December 2011.

– Gillian Hawkes and Bridget Nomonde Scoble for Quakers
Cape Western Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends