The Movement for Reform Judaism

The deputation at which the decision was made took place last month and was the culmination of a process which began almost a year ago when Rabbi Amswych invited the Director of the Earth Charter in the UK, Rabbi Jeffrey Newman, to an Inter-faith meeting attended by 70 local clergy and lay leaders, representatives of most of the religious groups in the local area. Their enthusiastic interest in the Earth Charter and its inspiring vision and ethical framework encouraged Rabbi Amswych to take it to the Council.
 
It is hoped now that in a series of meetings over the next year specific issues of waste and recycling, energy reduction and conservation, transport, biodiversity and eco-tourism - all issues of interest to the Council and covered by the Earth Charter principles - may be discussed and objectives agreed. Most of all, the involvement of local people and organisations in the work of the Charter as the foundation for a peaceful, just and sustainable global society will be sought.

Rabbi Amswych commented: “For real change to take root, this must be seen as the beginning of a ‘slow-burn’ process which must be kindled over several years rather than a firework which burns itself out in a few seconds”.

Rabbi Newman added: “the Bournemouth decision is a major milestone in the fight against climate change and for a just society. It shows that, if they follow the prophetic vision offered by their tradition, Jews really can be a light unto the world.”

To find out more about the Earth Charter, click here.

For further details, please contact Andrea Newman.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed