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Churches' response to Climate Crises - A report

A consultation on Climate Crisis, under the joint the auspices of the National Council of Churches in India and Costal Poor Development net-work was held at 10.00 a.m on April 17,2010 at the Faith Cathedral Church(ECI), Haddo, Port Blair, Andamans. It was the first of its kind in the Island of ANDAMANS which is historically known as the venue of patriotism manifested at its best in the history of India. The geographical location of the Cellular Jail in Port Blair and the existence of the aboriginals of the Negrito and Mongoloid races in Andaman and Nicobar islands have made the consultation memorable as both of them exhale the air of life and death.

The purpose of the consulataion as Dr.Felix Sugirtharaj, Chief co-ordinator of the Seminar, puts it :i)To create ecological awareness in a Tsunami- hit region of South East Asia ii)To enable the Churches to fufulfill their Christian responsibility in the global scenario of climate change and global warming.iii)To create a few ripples in the thinking process of the Island nation in preserving its natural resources such as trees and other treasures under the sea with a view to warning the people about the pitfalls of deforestation and eco-tourism.

Rev.Dr.M.J.Joseph, former professor and Principal of the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam and former Director Ecumenical Christian Center, Bangalore, was invited to lead the sessions. There were forty two people who participated in the Seminar. They were drawn from the Costal poor development net-work, the Zoological survey of India, the forest department of Andamans. Pastors and Church workers, Youth leaders, members of the local churches and others who are deeply committed to the environmental concerns.The interest of the people to participate in such a seminar was quite visible as many of them were also involved in the post- Tsunami restoration work in Andamans.. More than 50% of the participants were women which is indeed a sign of greater involvement in the environmental concerns of the Churches there. In the Seminar proceedings English, Tamil and Hindi could be used for effective communication. The services rendered by Mr. J.P. Jeyaraj, Ex-port officer in the translation of the speeches and sharing the gist of the Key note address in Tamil is deeply appreciated.

The Seminar began with the audio-listening of Jim Reeves Ecological song on the wonder of creation beginning with the verse, “ We thanks you, Lord … “The call to worship was set in motion with Jim Reeves’ song and the reading of Ps.24:1”The Earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it”.

After a brief introductory remarks by Dr.M.J.Joseph, an eco-friendly worship was conducted based on the theme “Spirituality of the trees”. The great ecological hymn, “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder” was sung by all followed by the reading of the Ecological Psalm 104.There were a few prayers and poetic meditations in the worship order. The poetic reflection on the trees began with a wisdom saying: “He who plants a tree is a servant of God; for he shows kindness to many generations and he shall be blessed by them in all seasons”. Dr.Joseph preached a brief sermon the Spirituality of trees based on Is.55.12: “…and shall the tress of the field shall clap their hands”. Dr. Joseph brought to the attention of the participants their environmental responsibility in preserving bio-diversity in the order of creation .He also said that the UN declaration of 2010 as the bio-diversity year is a step forward to preserve the web of life in the context of climate change and global warming. He also added: “As trees could also save the cost of air conditioning and pollution control boards, there should be local initiatives to plant trees in and around homes and public places”. He concluded his sermon with the following words: “The eco-spirituality is a divine necessity that is laid upon all people on earth to protect the earth from pollution and global warming. The spirituality of trees is a celebration of life for all without any divide”.

The service ended with the chant: Loka Samasta sukino bavanthu and saying an eco- benediction by the participants by holding their hands together. The interrelatedness in the web of life between humans and other living and non-human beings is silently affirmed when the participants said: “May we carry seeds of love, joy and peace in our hearts and sow them in God’s oikoumene for a better tomorrow.”

The second part of the Seminar was the keynote address on the topic: “Churches’ response to Climate Crisis”. In his address, Dr.Joseph has touched upon the environmental responsibility of the Churches and individuals. In order to achieve the goal, the Churches and civil societies have to initiate a plan of action based on political will, practical steps and partnership. Dr.Joseph also added that eco-challenges in times of Climate crisis such as climate change and global warming is to be encountered by living in harmony with God’s order of creation. After a theological scanning of the topic, Dr.Joseph said that environmental degradation due to abuse of nature by the human beings is an “undeclared war against the poor of the soil”. The awareness should urge all people to opt for a life-style which is less anthropocentric and more of eco- centric. He also maintained that ecological revolution should start locally and universally in the temples, churches, mosques, pagodas and all other places of human engagements.

In his paper, Dr. Joseph touched upon global warming and suggested several remedial measures. He exhorted the participants to take steps to reduce the emission of Carbon dioxide and other green house gases in the atmosphere. The members were asked to look upon the problem globally and act locally. He has proposed 8 exist options in responding to the problem of climate crisis.

Two supplementary write ups on Noise Pollution in India (by Dr. Dulal Kumar Basu) and Ten Home Energy Conservation Tips (CMAI April-Sept 2009, pages 6&7) respectively have been explained and distributed among the participants.

Mr.Rishikesh, DST, Senior Officer, supplemented the paper with a few inputs by a brief talk on “Climate Crises and Andaman peoples’ responsibility”. Mr.Rishikesh has made three important proposals in tackling the problem People should remain vigilant and respond to the challenges of the Earth-net work, be it be Tsunami, cyclone or volcanic eruption by adopting precautionary measures individually and collectively. He had touched upon the question of disaster mangement. He exhorted the people in Adamans to carry a “Cyclone kit” with them near their pillow!. I)The challenge of a global village, be it through media or IT, be answered with positive action plans and change of traditional life styles. Use of public transport systems and natural energy sources be popularized. iii)The people should be asked to live by eco-ethics in exercising their environmental responsibility. The aquatic life should not be disturbed during the breeding seasons. People should be taught to love nature at its best for maintaining the quality of life on earth.

Mr. Madhan Chakkravarthy, JRF(ZSI) and Mr. Tamal Mondal, JRF(Global Warming) made their response to the paper. Mrs.Jeyaraj gave a gist of their speeches in English.

In his concluding remarks, Dr.Joseph touched upon the problem with action plans. He also made mention of the disruption of air traffic in Europe due to the Volcanic eruption of dust in Iceland. He also had mentioned the nature of Eco-stewardship and the participants were asked to create a few ripples in making ecoawareness at the grass roots level. Dr. Joseph asked the members to relate the environmental responsibility to human rights issues. He also added that the planting of trees particularly Mangroves be promoted for reasons such as sustaining fisheries, food chains, filter function and above all costal proection.All such measures will largely contribute to sustainable development with eco-justice.

The participants have taken a few decisions as action plans in the light of the following ecological impact of climate change

Impacts:
If the sea level rises due to the melting of the ice caps, Andaman islands will get submerged. If the sea water gets heated, sea animals may move to the hinterland and find their habitat with human beings!! God forbid!

If the trees are indiscrimately cut down by the Market lobbies, the birds of the island have no place for their habituation and consequently the biodiversity of the vast stretch of land in Andamans and Nicobar islands will be destroyed. If it happens, the original inhabitants of the islands such as Onges and Jarawa tribes will also face their toal extinction from the face of the earth. The eco-friendly values followed by the Islanders and later adopted by the migrant Indian population will be lost.

Plan of action

1.It is decided to take up the Eco-awareness among the Churches in Andaman Islands.

2.It is decided to give a wide currency of the Eco-awareness initiated by the Seminar among his colleagues in the Forest department and among children who undergo VBS training in the local churches.

3.It was further resolved to make the copies of the supplementary paper, Ten Home Energy Conservation Tips and distribute them among the Church members of Andamans and shops in the town for the conservation of energy.

The organizers thanked the participants for their leadership in the Seminar and urged them to initiate Follow- Up Actions in their respective places. The presence of Rev. Raju P.George,Vicar Mar Thoma Church, Port Blair, with a lay leader of the congregation was greatly appreciated by the orgainizers.Rev.Raju P.George, who invited Rev.Dr.M.J.Joseph to conduct services in his Church on April 20 , requested Dr. Joseph to share a few of the ecological concerns with the 500 members of the worshipping community at Port Blair. In his talk Dr. Joseph expressed his appreciation of the Eco-initiative of the Administration for banning Plastic in the Island with a heavy fine.

Dr. Felix Sugirtharaj thanked the NCCI particularly Mr. Christopher Rajkumar, the speakers and other local co-ordinators for making the Seminar a success in Andamans..

The Seminar came to a close with the prayer of pastor A.Jesuraja.

Report by:
Dr.Felix Sugirtharaj and Mr.E.Elisa in consultation with the main Resource Person.

Port Blair
Andaman