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COEJL Represented at United Nations Climate Change Conference

December 1, 2005
Montreal, CANADA

Barbara Lerman-Golomb, COEJL's Communications Director, joined an interfaith delegation of the World Council of Churches who attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal. The ecumenical team monitored the international negotiations on global warming and met with scientists and government officials from many countries to discuss ethical and moral responses to this urgent environmental problem. On Dec. 3, the organizers held a workshop on “Climate Justice” with a focus on youth and young adults. In parallel with rallies around the globe, activists participated in a "Time is Running Out" march through downtown Montreal demanding action on climate change. On Dec. 4, a multi-media event brought together First Nations, people of all faiths and beliefs, and children. The program emphasized the impact of climate change on peoples and ecosystems that are particularly vulnerable including developing nations and the poor.

Updates from the field:

On Saturday, Dec. 3, I marched with an estimated 40,000 people down the streets of Montreal.  I proudly held a little COEJL sign and people stopped me all along--some from Canada, some from the states, who knew about COEJL and were happy to see me there.
It was a peaceful demonstration and it made me feel very hopeful that so many people were out to support efforts to curb global greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming!
On Sunday, Dec. 4, I joined my fellow delegates from the World Council of Churches for an inter-spiritual celebration - Un cri de la Terre/Call of the Earth.  It was held at St. Joseph's Oratory, on top of a very steep hill overlooking the city.  There was an estimated 1500 people in attendance.  It included a Buddhist mindfulness gong, a shofar, dances from many cultures, and witnesses of climate injustice from around the globe.

I was very proud to receive a beautiful, framed, Spirituality Declaration on Climate Change to take back as a represenative of the Jewish people and to encourage our continued collective efforts to heal the planet.  The Declaration stated the following:

• We hear the call fo the Earth.
• We believe that caring for life on Eartrh is a spiritual commitment.
• People and other species have the right to life unthreatened by human greed and destructiveness.
• Pollution, particularly from the energy-intensive wealthy industrialised countries, is warming the atmosphere. A warmer atmostphere is leading to major climate changes. The poor and vulnerable in the world and future generations will suffer the most.
• We commit ourselves to help reduce the threat of climate change through actions in our own lives, pressure on governments and industries and standing in solidarity with those most affected by climate change.
• We pray for spiritual support in responding to the call of the Earth.

Tuesday was Arctic Day.  I heard Perspectives from Inuit in Canada and experienced Aklavik Drummers and Dancers. In the evening I engaged in a dialogue on ethical aspects of climate change with parliamentarians and religious leaders entitlted: Our Changing Atmosphere: Implications for Global Security sponsored by the World Council of Churches.