We invite you to participate in No Faith in Fossil Fuels Climate Action Week from 3 May to 12 May.

No Faith in Fossil Fuels week is part of a global initiative from Greenfaith, a global, grassroots, multi-faith climate and environmental movement. Their focus is on supporting local communities to drive transformational change and build resilience to withstand the worst effects of climate change, and the Religious Diversity Centre’s Climate Action Group has been liaising with them and with local groups to organise and promote No Faith in Fossil Fuels week in Palmerston North.

Two events are organised:

Friday 3 May 10am-1pm

A Unity March at Te Marae o Hine, in The Square with with MP Teanau Tuiono speaking on behalf of our Pacific whanau, Emeritus Professor Ralph Sims CNZM, Jaspreet Singh from the Interfaith Group and Kaydee Zabelin from the City Council as guest speakers.   Speeches are planned from noon and will precede the march around the Square. The Unity March has been organised in conjunction with Extinction Rebellion Manawatu.  Participants are invited to carry banners that call attention to the urgent need for a just transition to renewable energy, a sustainable future, an end to fossil fuels, and a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.

Sunday 5 May 7:30pm 

A Multi-faith Prayer Vigil at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Broadway organised in conjunction with Palmerston North Interfaith Group with the theme:

“Hear the Cry of the Earth!  Hear the Cry of the Poor!”

The inspirational late Rod Oram said ”We won’t do enough until we care enough, and we won’t care enough until we have a spiritual relationship with the planet and its people”. This multi-faith vigil is an opportunity for people to explore deeper what this beautiful statement could mean for themselves and for their community, and we invite everyone of good will to come and participate.

No Faith in Fossil Fuels is a natural follow up to our immensely successful “E tū te Mana o Te Ao – Building a Climate of Hope’  Webinar Series and Palmy Climate Conversation Starters held in June last year, and to the signatures we gathered from faith leaders for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty which were taken to Parliament and to COP28. We heard the call from Pacific Climate Warrior Mary Moeono-Kolio who urged us to phase out fossil fuels, as a matter of both restorative justice and of survival of her Pacific Island homelands.

Now is the time for action to stop dirty energy and build renewable energy that works for everyone. Climate leadership relies on grassroots people’s power. No Faith in Fossil Fuels Climate Action Week is your opportunity to show your support. Our children and grandchildren depend on our advocacy now.

Nga mihi maioha.

Dr. Mary Eastham QSM and Robert Gibb
from the Religious Diversity Centre Climate Action Group