Care for Creation as a Common Denominator: Interfaith Approaches to Environmental Peacebuilding
The modern climate crisis is not only a signal of geophysical phenomena but also spiritual phenomena, revealing human tendencies for waste and greed. Therefore, the response to this challenge is not only technological but also relational, and should engage diverse communities for the global good.
The severity of the climate crisis calls for unified, global action. However, in many cases, local mobilization is the prerequisite for effective national or global action, and faith can be a powerful force for mobilizing diverse local communities to engage in environmental action. Faith education and leadership can have a great influence over people's personal lives and political stances, providing critical infrastructure for community engagement.
Many diverse faiths share a similar ethic of care for the environment. Coupling this shared environmental concern with interfaith dialogue can be a powerful example of community-based environmental peacebuilding, and opens up opportunities for creativity in programming and policy.
Panelists:
- Huda Alkaff, Founder and Director, Wisconsin Green Muslims
- Elena Cedillo, Program Executive for Climate Justice, Lutheran World Federation
- Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Founder and Director, Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development
- Gopal Patel, Director, Bhumi Global
- Moderator: Mahan Mirza, Executive Director, Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion and Advisor to Madrasa Discourses in Contending Modernities
This event is the first in a series of three events examining the role of faith communities in environmental peacebuilding. Additional events in the series include:
- February 18—Decolonizing the Land: Christian Grassroots Approaches to Environmental Peacebuilding
- February 25—Practicing what we Preach: Dialogue and Futurism in Environmental Peacebuilding
All events will take place virtually at 11:00 a.m. EST (U.S.).
This event is co-sponsored by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion (both part of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame); The Environmental Peacebuilding Association; and Young Evangelicals for Climate Action.