Green Christian responds to Just Stop Oil protest

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Source: Green Christian

Green Christian has spoken out in support of calls for the new Government to urgently endorse the proposal for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty in a week of protests by the activist group Just Stop Oil.

This year's Season of Creation resources encourage Christians around the world to engage with the call for this treaty to be introduced. This would catalyse the phase-out of fossil fuels while ensuring a just global transition for workers, communities and countries.

"As a charity Green Christian cannot and does not promote law-breaking", explains Paul Bodenham, a Trustee of Green Christian. "We do not advocate Just Stop Oil's tactics, but it couldn't be clearer that humankind's continued use of fossil fuels is wrecking lives, and that on our current trajectory there is much worse misery to come with whole ecosystems, our civilisation and billions of lives at stake. It's immoral and irresponsible for businesses, governments and people to keep on with this behaviour.

"That's why we're also backing the call for everyone - ordinary people, faith leaders, companies and countries - to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative. Anything less is in effect condemning others to misery and death for the sake of corporate profits and our convenience. Those of us who hold to the Christian call to love our fellow humans must try to talk the talk (by signing the call for a Treaty) as well as walking the walk (which may involve refusing to carry on with 'business as usual', with the idea that someone else will sort out the mess we're making of God's precious world)."

Barbara Echlin, vice chair of Green Christian, said: "Every fraction of a degree of warming that we can delay or prevent, is a little less misery caused to the living inhabitants of God's creation. Our calling is clear: we must just stop oil, and all the other fossil fuels we're reliant on. There are so many better alternatives, there's really no excuse."

While climate activists in many countries are demanding governments support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, Christian groups around the world are preparing to use the Season of Creation resources, which this year encourages churches to engage with this same campaign. The Season of Creation has declared 21 September a global day of action to join the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, saying, "This symbolises our unwavering commitment to accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels, uniting in hope and action for a fossil fuel phase-out."

In the Season of Creation resource pack, Prof Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, says, "We have to say STOP somewhere to the damage we are inflicting on purpose to the creation, blinded by our greed and lust for profit. We, who are aware of the gravity of the issue, should raise our voice in a relentless attempt to spread this awareness."

LINKS

Green Christian: https://greenchristian.org.uk/

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty: https://fossilfueltreaty.org/

Season of Creation: https://seasonofcreation.org/