June 2, 2017
Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL) believes in the Oneness of all Life and Creation. We envision a world free of homelessness, violence, war, hunger, separation, and disenfranchisement. We see a world which has renewed its emphasis on beauty, nature, and love through creativity, art, and aesthetics.
We recognize the evidence of science: Human activity is the main cause of the climate crisis, and human creativity can be used to reverse its effects. The climate crisis is seen in extreme weather, changes to seasonal patterns, rising sea levels, species extinction, the melting of glaciers, and shrinking of the polar ice caps.
Climate change will affect not only our generation but our children, our grandchildren, and all future generations of humanity, as well as all other forms of life. It is a moral issue. The predicted impact of climate change will have a disproportionate impact on the least developed countries and on those living in poverty, who are least responsible for the emissions of Greenhouse Gases. It will displace whole populations and we lament the potential loss of culture identity and belonging.
We urge our member communities to do what they can to be wise stewards of the climate and the environment in all phases of their operations and to encourage members to do so in the homes and workplaces. We call upon religious, political, and social leaders to address the climate change crisis as an urgent moral issue. We urge local and state governments to support and invest in energy conservation and renewable energy development. We urge national governments, including the United States, to respond to Global Warming with great urgency and firm leadership by enacting and supporting mandatory measures that reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and environmentally responsible practices.
We join with other organizations, including the Association for Global New Thought, The Parliament of World Religions, and the Universalist Association in taking a principled stand on this issue. The time for morally responsible action is now.
Call to Action for all Centers…
The Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL) stands in support of the Paris Climate Accord (Paris Agreement). We view Thursday’s decision by the Trump Administration to back out of the agreement to be a significant setback for any global effort to curb global warming.
The Paris Agreement was created to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions to help reverse the devastating effects of Global Warming. It is unfortunate that a Nation, which is one of the largest polluters historically, is taking such a step. The United States now joins Syria and Nicaragua, who did not sign the Agreement because it was viewed as too weak. The Agreement has been signed by nearly 200 other countries.
We believe that God acts through creation, not independently of it. Statements which have been made to the effect that, “God will take care of Global Warming,” fail to recognize that each of us individually and us as a whole are responsible for our own experience – that God acts through creation. If we want a green and verdant planet, we will have to act in ways which support that outcome.
“Centers for Spiritual Living believes climate change and environmental deterioration are moral issues and as a spiritual organization, we must take a stand,” said Rev. Dr. Kenn Gordon, CSL Spiritual Leader. “Climate change will not only affect our generation, but our children, our grandchildren, and all future generations of humanity, as well as other forms of life. We stand united with other faith communities in our call to care for the earth and to protect the poor and suffering.”
CSL recognizes the evidence of science: Human activity is the main cause of the climate crisis. This crisis is seen in the extreme weather, changes to seasons, rising sea levels, species extinctions, the melting of glaciers, and shrinking of the polar ice caps. The scientific consensus is clear.
The United States can best serve its own interests and those of all of humanity by continuing to be an environmental leader of the world in reducing emissions. Today’s decision to exit from the Paris Agreement moves in the opposite direction. “We recognize that our good is within us, so we awaken to our individual responsibility and empowerment to properly steward our planet. So, let our voices be heard and let our actions speak of our love for our planet,” said Dr. Gordon.
Below find two links where your members can get information about how to be good stewards of our planet:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/climate-change-what-you-can-do