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This weekend, the world will see the largest climate march in history. Record numbers of people will be gathering the world over, and in New York City, as world leaders convene to discuss climate change at the UN, people will flood the streets and demand action.
Pax Christi USA is a partner organization in the People's Climate March, and we hope you will engage in prayer, study and action this weekend, whether you're able to be in NYC or in your local communities.
If you will be in New York City this weekend, we hope you'll join together for the march with other Pax Christi USA members, gathering under the banner of Pax Christi Metro New York. PCMNY's coordinator, Rosemarie Pace writes that they will be gathering with the peace contingent at 10:30am on Sept. 21 for a Peace, Justice, and Climate Rally. The location is Central Park West north of Columbus Circle. The rally will include speakers and musicians, including Bill McKibben of 350.org, John Dear, Medea Benjamin, Yoko Ono, Dar Williams, Holly Near, and Emma's Revolution. The March itself will set off from Columbus Circle at 11:30am. If you need more info, you can contact Rosemarie at info@nypaxchristi.org.
Wherever you'll be, we hope that the resources below will help you witness through prayer, study and action on the issue of climate change.
In peace,
Johnny Zokovitch
Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA
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PRAY: The St. Francis Pledge
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from the Catholic Climate Covenant
I/We Pledge to:
- PRAY and reflect on the duty to care for God's Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable.
- LEARN about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change.
- ASSESS how we-as individuals and in our families, parishes and other affiliations-contribute to climate change by our own energy use, consumption, waste, etc.
- ACT to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways we contribute to climate change.
- ADVOCATE for Catholic principles and priorities in climate change discussions and decisions, especially as they impact those who are poor and vulnerable.
Pax Christi USA is a partner organization in the Catholic Climate Covenant.
Click here to register that you or your group have taken the pledge.
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STUDY: An open letter to
Pope Francis on ecology
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by Jim Hug, S.J.
Dear Pope Francis,
Buona Sera! I hope you're feeling well - and are as healthy and happy as can be!
I'm writing you because I have been hearing all around these days that when you're not visiting South Korea, cleaning out the Vatican Bank, inspiring hope that the Church is starting to turn itself around in positive ways, or challenging the mafia (for heaven's [and Earth's] sake, please be careful!), you're writing an encyclical letter on our ecological mission as the human family. I was just part of a worthwhile conference at Seattle University (a Jesuit university I want you to know!) and it highlighted a number of things I'll be looking for when I get your letter.
First, I appreciate the fact that you haven't pulled any punches when you've spoken out on issues, but have said what you meant and meant what you said. That gives me hope. Keep it up. Your letter has to be honest and urgent, spiritual, and radical. It can't let people listen or read for a while, yawn, and then go back to their normal lives. Things have gone too far already. For example, we learned at the conference that a sea level rise of 4 feet this century is already guaranteed, unstoppable - with a 10 foot rise possible and even likely unless we cut our fossil fuel emissions drastically and in a hurry...
Click here to read this entire open letter.
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ACT: Three actions you can take
to help change everything
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1. Join the march in New York City on September 21 or a solidarity action in your local community. Click here to register that you'll be coming to NYC.
Click here to find an action near you.
2. 350.org has launched an effort to get the Vatican to divest from fossil fuels. Pax Christi USA is supporting this effort. Click here and ask Pope Francis to divest the Vatican from fossil fuels.
3. The Summer 2014 issue of Pax Christi USA's membership Newsletter, The Peace Current, focused on Human Rights and Global Restoration. In the issue, we promoted the Catholic Climate Covenant's new resource toolkit, "Creating a Climate for Solidarity." Consider using this resource in your school, parish, local group, etc. Click here to read more and register.
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