The LWF launches a Climate Fast Day
On 1 January a monthly campaign of solidarity with those exposed to climate change began.
From 1 January, together with many other global organizations, the Lutheran World Federation is launching a monthly fast day for the climate, encouraging prayer and spiritual reflection in order to express solidarity with those most threatened by climate change.
The call to fast for climate justice offers religious communities an opportunity to address questions about climate change, in preparation for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 20) in Lima, Peru, in December 2014.
“We ask our member churches to heed this invitation and take part in the Climate Fast Day, to be active advocates in the context of climate change and justice,” said Dr. Carlos Bock, director of the LWF Department for Mission and Development.
Bock said that fasting is a way for Lutherans to express their shared faith, their spiritual and ethical values, to transform the Lutheran community, and to encourage national governments to be far more ambitious in the climate change negotiations.
“For people of faith, fasting means reflection on our lives, repentance, and the renewal of our commitment to live responsibly and for the long term ourselves,” said LWF youth secretary Caroline Richter.
Richter added that millions of people have already lost their homes and livelihoods in natural disasters, and that the Climate Fast Day is an affirmation of solidarity and a moment of remembrance for the many who have lost their lives.
“People of faith and people from various walks of life are united in order to foster a broad wave of support that would slow climate change,” she said.
Among the participants and involved organizations are several youth groups, the World Council of Churches, the Climate Action Network (CAN), the Global Call for Climate Action, Avaaz, 350.org, Friends of the Earth, Move On, 18 Million Rising, Forecast the Facts and the Climate Justice Network.
The fast will take place on the first day of each month until 1 December 2014, when the COP 20 meeting begins. The LWF delegation at COP 19 in Warsaw, Poland, which included seven young people, proposed the fast, which was supported by many representatives of various religions.
Climate change is among the LWF’s concerns. In the LWF’s 2012–2017 strategy it is named as an advocacy priority, and renewable resources were a key concern of the 2010 LWF youth pre-assembly.
The LWF’s 11th assembly in 2010 in Stuttgart, Germany, reinforced the LWF’s commitment to advocate for climate justice and “care for the environment that does not belong to us, so that future generations may enjoy the fruits of creation and live a full life”.
The assembly noted that the “window of opportunity” to reduce greenhouse gases is shrinking, and that those who would be most to blame for climate change are most likely to feel its effects the least. It was said that easily vulnerable communities have suffered greatly and that these processes have a great impact on food security.
Ralston Deffenbaugh, LWF assistant general secretary for international affairs and human rights, said that the LWF advocates for climate justice in climate adaptation projects within the programs of the Department for World Service, and by mobilizing young people at COP meetings.
In launching the Climate Fast Day, the LWF emphasized that fasting is an ancient spiritual practice found in many religious traditions. In the Bible, David fasted when his and Bathsheba’s child was gravely ill; Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights as He began His ministry.
“Fasting is at once an intense bodily, that is, physical, and spiritual experience,” commented Rev. Dr. Simone Sinn, LWF secretary for Public Theology and Interreligious Relations studies.
“The deepest meaning of fasting is to turn our attention to God, to let God’s presence touch our heart and mind, in order to be freed from wrongdoing and to return to God,” Sinn added.
She said that Luther called for a civic fast, “to teach people to live more moderately”, and for a spiritual fast before Easter, Pentecost and Christmas. According to Luther, fasting helps Christians to learn who they are in their relationship with God and with their neighbor.
The LWF offers literature on the theology and experience of fasting, and on engagement in advocating for climate justice. Those who fast by abstaining from food for one day are advised to drink water. Others may fast on the issue of “carbon emissions” by not using a car, not using electrical appliances, or using ecologically friendly products and food.
Reflections of COP 19 participants on the Climate Fast Day
Raquel Kleber, 24, an LWF advocacy intern from Brazil, noted: “I see the COP 19 experience as engagement in high-level advocacy with national governments and political leaders, by carrying out the fasting campaign and thereby raising awareness of climate justice.”
Martin Kopp, 26, France, said: “This conference taught me that advocacy is not only knowing the issue and publicizing it, but also speaking at the right time with the right person; making a difference is a matter of good strategy.”
For Pranita Biswasi, 23, from India, the COP 19 fast helped to give a voice to the voiceless victims of climate change. By engaging in the promotion of climate justice, people can achieve a good outcome. “Come on, everyone – let’s save the Earth!” she urged.
Iwona Baraniec, 29, an LWF Council member from Poland, who coordinated ecumenical cooperation during the conference, commented that COP 19 offered the Polish churches an opportunity to reflect on climate justice. “I think we should all grasp how significant our role and responsibility for God’s creation is.”
The director of the Polish Ecumenical Council, Rev. Ireneusz Lukas, said that COP 19 had awakened awareness of environmental issues and the urgent need for Christians to get involved in order to reduce activities that threaten the earth.
“I hope that COP 19 has built some bridges between the churches and the public sphere and that it will help to strengthen the mutual cooperation of various partners, which is crucial if we want future generations to inhabit a planet that is still fit for living,” said Lukas.
Finally, Mathilda Matsson, 21, from Sweden said: “We have managed to build something greater than ourselves, and, hopefully, it will continue to grow and grow and eventually lead somewhere.”
photo: Ieva Puriņa
Translated from English by Ieva Puriņa, Mag.Theol., LELBāL deaconess
Proofreader Mag. Theol. Milda Klampe