Fighting global warming one step at a time

[ Originally published on: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 ]

The 100-mile Interfaith Walk for Climate Rescue, from Northampton to Boston, passed from Friday night's winter nor'easter into spring, toward a wind-up Rally for Climate Rescue planned Saturday to draw 1,000 people -- all of it calling attention to global warming as a religious crisis.

Along the way, the Rev. Kate Stevens of Charlemont, Lynn Benander of Shelburne Falls and Therese Fitzsimmons of Colrain are among 24 walkers going the entire distance, as an additional dozen or two walkers join each day's segment of half a dozen miles between overnight stops at houses of worship representing different faiths.

''We're trying to draw attention to the issues of climate change and global warming as a spiritual and moral issue,'' said Stevens, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Ashfield and a member of Religious Witness for the Earth, the group planning the walk for the past 1½ years. ''We're trying to point out the connection with every one of our faith traditions, every one of which would speak for the creation and the sacredness of this creation and taking care of it.''

Stevens, who was starting out from a United Methodist church in Spencer for Tuesday night's stop at Temple Emanuel synagogue in Worcester, said the coalition representing Catholic, Unitarian, Jewish, Episcopalian and Muslim faiths is also raising concerns about a theft from future generations.

''We're created to be stewards of the planet, and we haven't been doing very well as a human species,'' she said. ''I think it's a really strong issue for religious traditions, and I think where it really touches people's hearts is about their children and grandchildren … We are stealing from our children; we're not going to leave them the earth that we have.''

As the walkers head eastward with a theme of the ''the oneness of creation,'' she said, global warming is an issue on which different religions are reaching agreement even as they are in conflict over social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.

The 6-year-old national interfaith organization is calling for individuals, businesses and government entities to reduce fossil fuel emissions by 80 percent by 2050. The walk is also sponsored by another 20 religious and secular environmental organizations. Stops along the way provide an opportunity for participants to reach out to clergy in host communities, and in addition to prayer and meditative activities, each evening features a program that includes speakers about different faiths' perspectives on the environment and the effects on local food production. Among the presenters have been environmental educator David Arfa of Shelburne Falls and farmers John Hoffman of Charlemont and Richard Pascale of Colrain.

The nine-day haul is scheduled to end with Saturday's interfaith service at 2 p.m. in Boston's Old South Church, followed by a rally at Copley Square at 3:30 p.m. Walkers are invited to join along the route.

Last month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said global warming is very likely caused by human actions and is so severe it will continue for centuries.

''God has given us this Eden, and our behavior is making a mess of it,'' said the Rev. Jim Antal, president of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ and a former chaplain at Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Many members of Religious Witness for the Earth have used their position from the pulpit to make their congregations aware of climate change.

''The interfaith aspect of what we're doing heightens awareness among everyone,'' said Rabbi Justin David of Congregation B'nai Israel in Northampton. ''Climate change is a moral issue and it's a collective issue. It transcends the differences of faith and politics and generations. This is something everyone needs to pay attention to.''

On the Web: www.climatewalk.org

You can reach Richie Davis at: rdavis@recorder.com or (413) 772-0261 Ext. 269

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

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