St Margaret's News February 2016 | Page 11

The Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) is a multi-faith network taking action on what it considers to be the most pressing issue of our time. In the face of ecological damage and social injustices, it affirms love for this planet and its inhabitants and deep reverence for life. ARRCC’s plan for 2016: After Australia signing the Paris Agreement, we have a clear and public set of promises, goals and processes by which to hold our Federal Government accountable and pursue stronger action that is needed to deal effectively with the climate change problem. In the lead-up to the election, ARRCC will be making public the extent to which the policies of various parties, members of parliament and candidates measure up to the Paris yardstick. We will be facilitating a more public stand by prominent religious leaders on policy issues relating to global warming. As we campaign in collaboration with other organisations, ARRCC will be especially oriented to the social justice dimensions of the work, e.g., keeping us all mindful of the rights of traditional owners of country and of communities in transition. We want to strengthen ARRCC as an organisation. In particular, we want to offer opportunities for supporters in various parts of Australia to meet each other, encourage each other and develop their skills in animating their own communities. ARRCC plans to outreach to Interfaith networks and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities. We want to publicise the five Climate Action Kits, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu. Through talks, articles, radio interviews, cooking workshops and so on, ARRCC will continue to encourage people to reduce their meat consumption. We plan to continue to encourage individuals to switch to a fossil free Super Funds and faith-based organisations to switch to fossil free Banks and Funds (or at least question them about risks associated with climate change and stranded fossil fuel ‘assets’). We would like to make public the fossil fuel divestment decisions of particular faith-based organisations to divest from fossil fuels. For further information about the ARRCC see www.arrcc.org.au/. St Margaret's News 11 February 2016