Rabbi, Priest and Sheikh

Discuss

Climate Change and Environmental Challenges in the 21st Century

On a Sunday night mutual concern for the environment brought people of different faiths together at, the beautiful venue of Darlington Centre, Sydney University. This was to discuss the ever-changing environmental conditions and, its implications from a religious perspective.

The explanations and approaches from a scientific standpoint are commonly heard, but not from a religious perspective, making this event a fairly unique one.

The panel comprised of Rabbi Paul Jacobson from Temple Emanuel, Sheikh Yayha Safi from Lakemba Mosque, and Father Stephen Sinn from St Canice Jesuit Parish. Lesa-Belle Furhagen, former publisher of popular culture magazines, facilitated the panel. Also present was Donna Jacob Sife, a professional story teller who shared with the audience invaluable and occasionally humorous stories throughout the program.

The program commenced with one of Donna's stories, 'The Beginning of Creation', which, no doubt, captured the audience. Mrs Zuleyha Keskin then officially started the program by highlighting the uniqueness of the event and expanded on the different forms of dialogue that exist. The panel commenced with introductions by each panelist. Sheikh Yayha Safi spoke about the purpose in life, the reason for creation and how it is connected to the environment. Rabbi Jacobson spoke about principles of the Jewish teachings, how everything belonged to God, that mankind was created from dust and hence we should preserve it.  Father Stephen spoke about the importance of creation and our responsibility towards it.

Questions were collected from a range of high profile individuals. Some of the individuals who presented actual questions were:

Geraldine Doogue - Television presenter - Compass:

Do you see any risks arising in terms of, say worshipping false gods as people of goodwill attempt to grapple with such big, new challenges?

Martin Krygier - Professor of Law at the University of New South Wales:

The philosopher Susan Neiman begins her book, “Evil in Modern Thought” thus: ‘The eighteenth century used the word Lisbon much as we use the word Auschwitz today.’ She is referring to the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, which destroyed the city, left around 100,000 dead, and profoundly affected western philosophers’ attitudes to the place of God in the world. For secular thinkers the gulf between the two calamities is total: one is natural, the other man-made. How, in the light of your faiths, would you place the threat of catastrophic climate change, with its apparently inextricable mix of natural, human, and perhaps Divine Intervention?

Another way of putting the question is perhaps a lawyer’s way: To what and whom do we assign responsibility for the transformations of nature that climate change is predicted to bring, and the consequences that are predicted to attend them?

Father Frank Brennan - Jesuit Priest, Social Commentator and Professor of Law at the Australian Catholic University:

What does my religious tradition teach me about the long, term future of the environment and humanity?  (Including eternity and the next life)

Ruth Rosenhek - International Environmental Justice Activist, Educator, Filmmaker, Deep Ecologist and Director of the Rainforest Information Centre in Lismore.

Give an example of traditional ritual/practices that can be used to raise awareness of the current environmental and social situation we face by helping people to deepen their connection with nature and to understand our fundamental interdependence with all strands of the web of life.

Samantha Trenoweth - Writer based in Sydney.

What order of sin is the corporate dumping of toxic waste and, whom does God hold morally responsible?

After the panel responded to some of the questions, a 10 minute break was given to munch over sandwiches, cakes, biscuits and more. 

The panel resumed, now giving the audience the chance to ask questions. Many questions were asked such as 'How would the Messengers of the three faiths responded to the climate issues that we are faced with?’  The event was a success and many of the audience members felt enlightened, and hopeful. The responses of the panelists complimented each other, which created a very positive atmosphere. Mr Mehmet Ozalp made a moving speech about the theme and emphasised that we need to work together to tackle the problem reminding everyone that we do not have another chance with our earth.

The program ended with giving of flowers to the panelists and a story by Donna about the cheeky boy who tried to fool the old wise man by asking him whether the bird he had behind his back was dead or alive. The story goes that if the wise man was to say the bird was alive, the cheeky boy planned to kill the bird behind his back and show it to the wise man to prove him wrong. If the wise man was to say the bird was dead, the cheeky boy planned to let the bird fly away to show the wise man that it was alive. After much thinking, the wise man said 'Son, the answer is in your own hands'.