GENERATION 20/20: Agents for Change is the record of the young adults interfaith forum held at Square Edge/ Cafe Royale on 4 and 11 August.  Addressing the topic of Climate Change on 4 August were youth leaders:  Grace Fakahau, from Tonga who organised the Student Strike for Climate Change.  The panel also included  Jaspreet Singh, researcher at Crown Research Institute, AgResearch, born into a Sikh family.  Other panelists included:  Klem McJarrow-Keller from St. Peters College and the Catholic community, and Agha Wajeeh from Palmerston North Boys High and the Muslim community.  Moderating the panel on Climate Change was Teanau Tuiono, climate change activist, member of the Green Party and now Member of Parliament as of 17 October 2020.

On 11 August, 2020,  the Young Adults Forum on Racism was moderated by Jaspreet Singh. Panelists included:  Elza Gibu Joseph, who described herself as a service freelancer, a trained Indian Classical Dancer, and student at St. Peter’s College; Tessa Ma’auga from the Baha’i community, who is an art student  involved in the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Programme, Agha Wajeeh from Palmerston North Boys High and the Muslim community, and Jasmine Pai from the Baha’i community who is a graphic artist.

Editor Bob Skipp believed that the proceedings of the young adult forum provided the opportunity to contextualise this inaugural  young adult’s forum within the story of Interfaith Dialogue in Palmerston North, written by Mary Eastham.  The forum book was also an opportunity to showcase the major events of the Interfaith Group since 2015, which illustrate our commitment to raise awareness and take action against the devastating effects of climate change, as well as to celebrate religious diversity in Palmerston North.  The book is dedicated to the late Prof. Kevin Tate, distinguished climate change scientist and key note speaker at our 2015 Regional Interfaith forum, “Sharing Care of the Earth: Science-Faith-Action,” held at Massey University.

Read the book here.