NMIPL Blog

What do the circus and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have in common?  The answer is this is the week when a fundraiser called Circo for the Community will take place at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona St. NE (map), on Saturday, January 23, 6:00-8:30 p.m. 

The next questions that comes to mind is, “circus, really?” and “how do you fit a circus into a church space?

There is a simple answer. The event is not a full circus, but a series of trapeze and other aerial acts performed by the local non-profit group, Albuquerque Aerialist Collective. The performance will benefit the New Mexico Conference of Churches,  La Mesa Arts Academy, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, and the New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice, and of course, also the Albuquerque Aerialist Collective.

Purchase Tickets 

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased on the NMCC site or at the door (you can write a check for any of these organizations). The cost of the ticket includes dinner and a reception. Each of the organizations will make a presentation. This is a great way to observe not only the Week of Christian Unity in Albuquerque, but also interfaith unity and collaboration between religious and secular organizations.

By Carlos Navarro

By Joan Brown,osf

Young woman gathering money for climate justice finance.

Blessings this night, the last hours of COP 21 with everyone waiting for the final draft document that will be worked on all night, I am assuming. My blog tonight is in two parts. Part 1 is a synopsis of details of where we are at by Susan Stephenson, Director of Interfaith

Power and Light who is also here along with President and Foundress, Sally Bingham.

 — U.S. is vehemently opposed to “loss and damage” provisions for countries that face catastrophic impacts to their lands. Even though developing nations have agreed to keep this out of the agreement, US is aggressively pushing for a pre-emptive prohibition on loss and damage which is creating a lot of friction and resentment.

On Human Rights Day the issue of climate justice and finance was huge.

Thoughts of the moment

A creative OXFAM message for leaders to wake up to Climate Change Action.

As I reflect upon these days here in Paris, I have experienced such a difference in attitude and climate from the last major COP in Copenhagen five years ago. I believe the primary reason for a positive movement to a place where it seems almost certain that we will have an agreement is because the world knows we must act. Everyone is committed to as strong of an agreement as possible and this reality makes for an amazing moment.  The process of having nations submit a plan ahead of time (around 190 nations have submitted their plans to reduce emissions and move toward a clean energy future and others will follow) has led to a strong buy in and allowed the French to facilitate in an admirable manner.

While the final draft document, that will be worked upon throughout the night has not come out yet at his writing (8:30 pm), it seems that an agreement hovering around a reduction to keep temperature at 1.5 degrees will happen. In addition the very touchy points of: human rights and worker rights in a transitioning energy future; equal money for adaptation and mitigation;strong deadlines and targets to revisit country plans; issues of loss and damage compensation for vulnerable nations that have contributed little to the problem, differentiation understandings, and transparency are being worked upon in what seems to be a collaborative manner.  In the midst of the difficult discussions the poorer, small and vulnerable nations continue to hold strong voices.

Episcopal led noon prayer with singing and reflections inside the People’s Climate Zone.

By Joan Brown,osf

Hope for an agreement that can move the world forward in a strong way is growing with the latest document draft today, that is being hammered away at, even as I write. The basics are in place for a document, that for the first time ever includes some 195 countries committed to meaningful action on climate change in their countries. The issues being worked on for the final draft include: issues of finance, disaster and loss, human rights and worker transition, meaningful process to measure progress and whether we will have a goal of 1.5 to 2.0 degrees or less than 1.5 degrees. It is very positive that all countries here see climate change as a collective challenge that must be addressed now. The longer we wait the more people suffer and the costlier the solutions become.

Friends from Ghana Carbon Covenant Tree Project with Sally and Susan.

We are definitely seeing shifts and I believe that some of this is due to the high  level visibility of the moral imperative to act and to the hard grassroots work of education, inspiration, action and advocacy that so many around the world have been doing–including you! Today, after the latest draft was unveiled to the thousands gathered in the meeting halls, there was a briefing with the Interfaith Community by Daniele Violetti the Chief of Staff of the secretariat of the United Nations.

He was very positive in commending the religious community for their part leading up to and with COP21. He stated that the moral imperative has been critical and “That you are here and want to be engaged is essential.” The interfaith work is very significant in modeling the type of transformation necessary in working together amidst great diversity.

He further stated that after the agreement, the interfaith community and religious leaders and people will be essential in carrying forth the work of transformation of the society  because it requires a change of economy and how we live. I have heard over and over again that the place of the civil society is essential in the work ahead, in particular to set us on a strong path for the next 4 years. This is a historic moment of call to action for people and citizens of conscience.

John Fenton on panel addressing hydrofracking.

It is also important to relate stories as we work at the local level.  Several experiences today stand out. One was at the workshop co-sponsored by many religious groups on Keeping Fossil Fuels in the Ground. I was very touched by the direct simplicity of John Fenton, a rancher and farmer from Wyoming coming from a small community of 104 people who have been affected by fracking. Fracking not only fractures the land and pollutes the water but also fractures communities and relationships, he stated. But the power to cause change comes from the community and the stories of the people living in the affected communities, whether it is oil, gas or uranium.

I also had the privilege to talk with a representative from Bangladesh about utilizing adaptation money to install solar panels for free to the poorest in their country. Bangladesh is installing solar at an incredible rate of between 50,000-60,000 per month, thus creating what they would like to see as the first solar nation.  http://in.reuters.com/article/bangladesh-solar-idINKBN0KY0O220150125. Another story of adaptation comes from Central America, where climate change is implicated in the immigrant movement. Amidst pictures of reforestation at the Central American booth was the photo of La Beastia carrying refugees to the north.

Bangladesh woman working with solar in civil society.

On a final note, I have been pleased that the faith delegation has met with state department officials and also with the US Congressional delegation offering insights, posing questions and concerns during the process. Today the Congressional staff emphasized the importance of lifting up the positive movement forward, even as we push for stronger action.

Finally, I was able to connect with Sally Bingham and Susan Stephenson the President and Director of Interfaith Power and Light. We had a delightful meeting with friends from Ghana who are engaged in the Carbon Covenant tree project in Ghana.

Thank you for all your prayers, work and I am so grateful to be part of a community dedicated to life and caring for the Sacred Earth Community.

What is the Real Work of Paris?

Today is bracketed by two events in the courtyard of COP21, where some civil society members can hold public witnesses. As the sun was
still raising this morning Indigenous People held signs and chanted, “Mother Earth is not for Sale”.   As I left this afternoon the future generations stood with taped mouths shouting “Don’t Bracket Our Future.

This was gender equality day at the COP, where I listened to Ursula from one of the small islands of Bougainville, and probably the first island to relocate itself as a result of climate change.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainville_Island. She was honored by women today for her courage in organizing this difficult move and for efforts to create a new home by organizing the planting of 21,000 food bearing trees and 6,500 cocao trees to assist with the communities food and revenue.

I reflected on the many women dealing with climate change, including those walking miles for water, those wondering where food will come for their children in the droughts, or how they will escape the floods or where there migration will take them.  Ursula said that what they needed most was to have their voices heard in the negotiations and to have climate financing enhanced to assist with relocation and solutions.

“The time has come for the women not to lament, but to aggressively come out for their needs and get support. We are not going to wait for the men.” she commented.

Earlier, I sat in on a discussion with representatives of faith groups with the US State Department talking about concerns of human rights, financing and the 1.5 degree limit that is hoped for in a binding agreement.

Then I sat with thousands of people to listen to Al Gore, former Vice President and founder of Climate Reality speak. But, what spoke most loudly were the pictures of brothers and sisters suffering from floods and droughts around the world. Again and again he said, “The poorest suffer the most”. His talk was not the first that also implored people to listen to Pope Francis and the Papal Encyclical Laudato Si. “The Lessons of the encyclical should be remembered by negotiators as the final texts are worked on in Paris.” he said.

Listening, I sat in the delegate seat of Sao-Tome-Et-Principe, a country and people I had never heard of. It turns out they are a very small island country in Africa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_and_Pr%C3%ADncipe  They may very well be one of the small island nations to become displaced. It is all so much to hold: climate crisis; the diversity, beauty and sorrows of the 195 countries gathered in this small space; the disparity of the wealthy countries and vulnerable ones; the call to compassion and justice or to ongoing economic opportunity at the expense of Mother Earth, Humanity and creation and the future.

I found myself reflecting that perhaps the real purpose of COP21 is to come to know and understand what it means to be human at this moment on Our Common Home. If we were to come closer to this spiritual truth, the solutions for the climate crisis might be more possible. This means that we in the developed world really do need to grapple with and act on consumption, if we truly profess the call to Love.

There is hope as the trials and tribulations of the COP continue, especially around finance for adaptation and mitigation; whether compensation for loss an damage will ever make it into a binding agreement; how human rights and transition for the economically challenged to a new energy economy are addressed and whether we will settle upon 1.5 degrees or somewhere in between that and 2 degrees.

As I walked home from the train, it was raining. I remember the people in Chennai, India who on Dec 3 recorded 5 feet of rain within a few days and are now dealing with 2 million affected people and those in the UK who are experiencing the largest rain in history with more than 13 inches in 25 hours. Then I walked past one of the many art installations throughout Paris, this one titled “The tide ebbs and flows”. People of the flooding areas of the planet are depicted partly submerged in the neighborhood lake.

What does it mean to be a human person with a heart and soul in this moment of history? Can we hear the words of our indigenous brothers and sisters, “Mother Earth is not for Sale”? Can we see the children that we seem not to hear crying for a future? 

One last picture for today. At the COP 10,000 breads are baked each day to feed the heart and body. What a wonderful image of the meaning of being human. In the Catholic tradition, today begins a year of Mercy.  Mercy means “loving kindness”. May our hearts, our decisions and our actions grow in loving kindness as we learn to share bread.

Road to Paris—Monday, Dec 7, 2015, Blog 7

Joan Brown, osf

I am inside the Blue Zone this week, an official NGO observer with Franciscans International. Because I lost my voice yesterday, I took it slower today, but made it to the COP by noon to get oriented and attend several important sessions.

This photo is of the entrance to the zone where all of the national flags are represented. 

The deadlines are looming and hopes are high for an agreement with teeth, but there is much work to do. The presence of the faith community is important and tomorrow we will have a meeting with State Department Representatives and we will have points to address. There will also be an inside event with the million signatures on the Catholic Climate Covenant and in the evening an interfaith service at the American Cathedral of Holy Trinity from 7-9:30….oh my.

I carried the blessings of children in My COP of tree into COP today.

UNEP Emissions Gap Assessment Report

A panel composed by UNEP of the UN reviewed the meaning of this important report in light of the commitment that some 190 nations have put forth to reduce carbon emissions to keep temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius.  There is growing agreement that the nations will work to have 1.5 degrees in the final document. The image of a light house was used to explain that a boat does not head to the lighthouse because they would hit disaster. A lighthouse leads a boat away from the lighthouse like a guardrail.  2 degrees is the lighthouse and 1.5 is the guardrail. The aspiration is to be at 1.5 degrees to protect island nations, the vulnerable, and future generations.

It is important to know more numbers than I care to write about here, but civil society must be aware because they are needed in this important work. Here are several numbers (I hope I have them correct, but close):

*52% of emissions reductions can be met by the collective work of the 190 plus nations who have submitted commitments

*20% of reductions comes from existing policies

*this leaves a gap that must be met somehow

The panelists stated there is a 66% chance of meeting the projection of 1.5 degrees and closing the gap; however not without locking in assessments for the nations pledges. They were hopeful that unknowns such as new technology and undiscovered technology can assist the work; but again NOT WITHOUT THE HELP AND BUY IN OF ALL CIVIL SOCIETY.  After Paris, we all have very important work for ourselves for the next critical 4 years while we have an eye for very long term goals to 2050.

Issues of the Moment

US Climate Action Network offered a very good overview of where the negotiations stand with the help of OXFAM, Sierra Club and Service Employee Union that includes health care workers, low income workers in service industry and first responders. While all are hopeful there are deadlines and a lot needs to be accomplished.

Finance with a huge push for money for adaptation is needed by Wednesday

What is needed:
*Clear finance goals for pre 2020

*More funding for adaptation trying to balance adaptation and mitigation

*$100 Billion commitment by 2020 with a scaling up

*Collective country finance targets with evaluation every 5 years with clear political will by nations to follow through

Actions need to be strong now because delay means more money, more people at risk, more deaths, and more difficulty in addressing climate change at local levels.  Action must be ramped up now. It is also important to have Social inclusion language of workers, indigenous, women and those affected by transition into the body of the document. Currently human rights language is in the Preamble and this is non-binding. Climate Justice groups are fighting for inclusion in Article 2.

Keep praying, this is so important.  Blessed goodnight.

Road to Paris—Sunday, Dec 6—Blog 6

Joan Brown,osf 

This post will be mostly pictures of Sunday at the People’s Climate event that was moved to a neighborhood in Paris. The colorful citizen event held many tents with local food, transition town initiatives, clean energy, fun for children, art, and much theatrics. I was at a booth with Franciscans International, trying to stay warm and nurse my LOSS of VOICE (it is much better).  There were also presentations in a school location.  Many, many people, young people, families attended….great energy.

Artistic depiction of Statue of Liberty holding 

a sign that says “Freedom to Pollute” as the economically poor and displaced from climate change huddle about.

Young person carrying a chair for an event where many chairs formed a circle of those not represented to offer an alternative COP.

The tree of life with prayers for earth healing for climate change with ribbons attached. Some of the ribbons were those gathered at the Parliament of World Religions in November. Many people on site were writing prayers and attaching to the tree.  I found the French people so open to doing various activities throughout the day. They were most interested in the Franciscan booth and many wrote prayers there also. Children loved the tree.

Many theatrical displays were very funny, including this one about a world promoting plastic with a giant shopping card carrying a dumpster full. The theatrics engaged the children to come up with solutions to using plastic, which of course the masters of plastic found disturbing.  The French humor and theatrics were marvelous to get the message forth.

Franciscans gathered in a circle of silence around a globe to meditate and prayer for healing of the Earth and for the negotiations at COP.  Many people are praying.  Everyone counts on the spiritual energy to move us closer to climate justice.
All needs were taken care of at the gathering in alternative ways, including sister bodily needs with dry composting toilet that will eventually become soil.  I found this amazing and never would be allowed in the US. So many young people helped with the entire event and were on hand for this event to brush any saw dust into the appropriate spot after each use.  Glorious!