Recognizing that climate change is a threat to the existence of all of humanity and that it requires immediate action from people of all faiths, the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council organized a Virtual Forum titled, “Faiths’ Call for Climate Action,”which took place the week before Earth Day on April 16th. We chose to hold the event even though we are in the middle of a pandemic because of the seriousness of the climate change and the many interconnections between the covid-19 pandemic and the climate crises. In addition to many other disastrous impacts, climate change is a serious public health threat that scientists believe exacerbates the emergence of new infectious diseases and can multiply their risks.
The pandemic has reminded us of the indisputable truth that viruses and climate disruption recognize no borders and no class (though they impact marginalized groups to a much greater degree). It has shown us that the injustices and inequalities in our society are not only immoral but also a threat to the health and wellbeing of all members of our society. It has reminded us of the truth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words, we “are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
The event featured insightful presenters, beginning with contextual remarks made by Doug Kluch, who has worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 28 years, with current responsibilities to communicate and collaborate with the community “on all things climate related” Faith panel members provided comments on their faiths’ teachings about the climate crisis, the suffering it will cause and how we should respond.
Panel members included: Rhonda LeValdo, Haskell Indian Nations University faculty member from the Acoma Pueblo, near Albuquerque, New Mexico, who shared a Native American perspective, Andrea Duloc a Rime Buddhist Center board and co-facilitator of a Buddhism and Environmentalism class, who shared a Buddhist perspective; Rabbi Moti Rieber, an independent Rabbi, and director of Kansas Interfaith Action, who shared a Jewish perspective; Rev. Dr. Vernon Howard, Jr., Senior Pastor, St. Mark Church, KCMO, and President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, who shared a Christian perspective; and, Mahnaz Shabbir, past president of the Heartland Muslim Council and board member emeritus of the Crescent Peace Society, who shared a Muslim perspective.
Following panel comments and an informative question and answer session, brief reports were made by area climate action organizations on ways area residents can help stop climate change. Readers can contact the following organizations for more information: Climate Council of Greater Kansas City, Sunrise Movement KC Hub, Kansas Interfaith Action, Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition, Kansas City Citizens Climate Lobby, and KC Drawdown Society.
The event was organized by the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council and cosponsored by Climate Council of Greater Kansas City, Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition; Central Baptist Seminary’s Buttry Center for Peace and Nonviolence, Sunrise Movement Kansas City Hub, Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, Avila University; and Southern Christian Leadership Conference-GKC.
A video of this forum can be VIEWED HERE.
by Ira Sirkar Harritt