"At the 40th anniversary of the first view of Earth by humans from deepspace, FEN says that as a coalition of believers who recognise that we have failed to care for the Earth, now is the time for action, the group says in a statement.

"To help bring us back to our senses, we are acutely aware of the urgent need for strong leadership from our many faith communities."

Released to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the famous image called "Earthrise", participants in a series of seminars held recently on Earth: Our Common Home, prepared the statement to jolt us back to the reality that the Earth is the only known home of all peoples, all faiths, all life.

"We need to return to a sense of awe," the group says.

The statement concludes with: "As people of faith, we do not simply despair about the state of the Earth. We commit ourselves to work for justice for those living in poverty. We commit ourselves as individuals and institutions to work towards a sustainable ecological footprint. We want to encourage others to do the same. We do this with hope and determination to make a positive impact on our common future."

FEN is an interfaith network consisting of at least nine religious traditions which share mutual appreciation of ecology as well as discern and foster religious reasons for advocacy for care for the Earth.

FEN is currently facilitated by the Columban Mission Institute Centre for Peace, Ecology and Justice.

SOURCE

40th Anniversary of Earthrise: Time for action from faith communities (Columban Mission Institute Centre for Peace, Ecology and Justice, 15/12/08)

LINKS

Columban Mission Institute Centre for Peace, Ecology and Justice