Religion News Service: Faith Voices for Ecocide Law is a remarkable collection of texts, drawing on the vast wisdom, teachings and practices of the world religions and indigenous spiritual traditions. Written at a time of ecological crisis, it focuses on the relationship between humans and nature in general, and on the need for a new international crime of ecocide in particular. The authors are recognized spiritual leaders in their faith traditions.
The book launches Nov 9 at the UN climate change conference COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The tone at the outset of the conference was one of great urgency. Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and added that “we are on a highway to climate hell”. Many religious traditions emphasize the responsibility to respect and protect the living world of which we are a part. The word ecocide – literally “killing one´s home” – conveys this understanding. Worldwide, more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group; there is great potential for faith leadership for new common rules for humanity, to move from harm to harmony.
“The concept of an ecocide law really resonates with Pacific peoples: from an indigenous perspective, from our connection with the land and the sea, and from a religious perspective, where we are called by God to be custodians of the world we live in. The role of faith in supporting an international law of ecocide is very significant,” says one of the authors, James Bhagwan, General Secretary, Pacific Conference of Churches.
“Protection of nature at the highest level is urgent for the transition to a sustainable society. Faith traditions carry the hope that we can agree to this fundamental piece of legislation in time. This book is a very engaging collection of voices and we hope it will be a useful resource for faith communities and others, to explore different perspectives and to unite in action and support for ecocide law,” says Pella Thiel from End Ecocide Sweden, editor.
Faith voices for ecocide law is published by End Ecocide Sweden and Stop Ecocide International with partners: Cambridge Mosque Trust, Centre for Applied Buddhism, Green Faith, Interfaith Centre for Sustainable Development, Parliament of World’s Religions, Pacific Conference of Churches, Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology and Azote.
More words from the authors:
“To me as a Christian, working for ecocide law is the most important thing I can do. All Christian theology now must be eco-theology, to be relevant in the times we find ourselves in.” — KG Hammar, former Archbishop of the Church of Sweden.
“This important and timely book has given us the opportunity to open up discussion and dialogue on ecocide across and within Buddhism as well as with other faiths. The chapters are all rich sources of inspiration towards opening up the treasure house of possibilities that lie within all of us.” — Jamie Cresswell, Director of the Centre for Applied Buddhism and the President of the European Buddhist Union.
“This is a vitally important book.” — Mary Evelyn Tucker, Co-Director, Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology.
The Faith for Ecocide Law initiative is an interreligious coalition gathering religious and spiritual leaders and voices to express support for an international crime of ecocide.
Our Comment:
Would this ecocide law become the basis for prosecution of Sabbath keepers under a universal Sunday law if it can be construed that they are the cause of continual large natural disasters?
Prophetic Link:
“Those who honor the law of God have been accused of bringing judgments upon the world, and they will be regarded as the cause of the fearful convulsions of nature and the strife and bloodshed among men that are filling the earth with woe. The power attending the last warning has enraged the wicked; their anger is kindled against all who have received the message, and Satan will excite to still greater intensity the spirit of hatred and persecution.” Great Controversy, page 614.3.