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Join the Rise
Beloved Sangha,
The time to Rise for Climate has arrived!
In less than 24 hours,, thousands of people around the world will come together in local events in San Francisco and around the world to call for a decisive, courage response to climate change from one another and our leaders.
You will be joining other Buddhist practitioners, faith communities, indigenous and front-line communities, scientists, labor, and so many other community leaders. We’re standing together to insist on a bold transition to a justice-centered economy powered by 100% renewable energy and good union jobs to help us ensure a fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels.
It's not to late to gather a few mindful friends and put your pin on the map so other Buddhist friends can find you!
If there are no Buddhist contingents in your area, considering creating one. You also might contact a local Rise! Faith Ambassador. |
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Clear Understanding and Fierce Compassion
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The Buddhist and Mindfulness traditions teach the transformative power of turning, with non-judgmental awareness, toward each and every difficulty, even a difficulty as immense as global climate change. When we look closely, we see that climate change is born of thinking ourselves separate from the web of life. We all have the power to remedy this confusion and countless benefits may follow. Sustained advocating in community with others for justice-oriented policies that protect all beings can bring us great joy.
Government and business leaders need to make solid commitments to real climate change solutions. "Rise for Climate" is our chance to stand up for the environment and make our voices heard before the Global Climate Action Summit – a first-of-its-kind gathering of global leaders from across sectors between September 12-14 in San Francisco. The summit aims to celebrate climate action and secure leaders’ commitments that can help put us back on track to realizing the historic Paris Agreement. We’re marching on Sept. 8 to put the pressure on our leaders, and we’re also showing throughout the next week that people grounded in spiritual traditions can lead by example.
As you participate in any or all of these events, we encourage you capture the moment and share with these social media hashtags:
- #RiseforClimate
- #EmbodyFierceCompassion
- #FaithRising
- #LivingtheChange
- Follow @1earthsangha and @greenfaith
But Will It Make a Difference?
It is impossible to know the full effect of our actions. Yet from a Buddhist perspective, every action matters. To begin with, when we act in alignment with our values, we feel better. While justice demands that we end the exploitation of both the Earth and all her beings, the truth is that a profound, unshakable happiness awaits us when we develop and sustain our inner capacity for contentment, understanding and kindness. In addition, our actions add up. Just as it makes no sense for one person to vote but good sense for many of us to vote, our collective emissions reductions can be a significant part of the overall reductions required. Finally, our actions communicate. By joining in these global movements as well as living everyday lives in harmony with the needs of live, we can actively contribute to the cultural shift signaling the end of "business as usual" and the possibility of a new human-nature relationship on a grand scale.
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Global Climate Action Summit:
It's About All of Us
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As the Global Climate Action Summit kicks off, on September 12th at 4:00 p.m. PST (7:00 p.m. ET / 11 p.m. GMT), please join us for a Multi-Faith Service of Wondering and Commitment. All are welcome to watch via livestream video or to attend this glorious gathering of song and prayer at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Reserve your space here.
At the service, we'll be presenting environmental commitments made by diverse religious and spiritual individuals like you, including many who are “Living the Change.” This global multi-faith initiative for sustainable behavior change is a key way you can take part in this moment and our growing movement – no matter where you are in the world – and help be a part of the solution for climate change. Make your personal commitment to #livingthechange.
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If you’ll be in San Francisco for the Summit, please join us for events specifically featuring mindfulness communities on Thursday, September 13 and Saturday, September 15. You can find the full list of Global Climate Action Summit - People of Faith workshops at Grace Cathedral and all of the GCAS affiliated events here.
Saturday, September 15
9:30 am to 5:00 pm — Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Marin County
Loving this Earth: Engaging Mindfully in the Healing of Our World
Hosts: Spirit Rock Meditation Center and One Earth Sangha
Join us for an exploration of the power of mindful presence to meet global ecological crises with active compassion. This special day of inspired teaching, music and conversation will feature Christiana Figueres, the architect of the United Nations Paris Climate Agreement, as well as Julia Butterfly Hill, Dawn Mauricio, Jack Kornfield, Joanna Macy, Anam Thubten, Verlinda Montoya, James Baraz, Naomi Newman and more. Learn more and register here.
Thursday, September 13
9 a.m. to 10 a.m. — Grace Cathedral, Wilsey ABC
How Engaged Buddhists Push for Environmental Justice and a Caring Economy
Hosts: Clair Brown, author of Buddhist Economics and Economics professor at UC Berkeley; Nan Parks, Chair of the 350 Bay Area Steering Committee, former ballet dancer, and Habitat for Humanity manager; Ken Jones, 350 Bay Area Clean Energy Chair and Co-chair of 350 Marin and Work That Reconnects leader
Three engaged Buddhists discuss how they integrate their faith practice with working for climate justice. In this "fireside chat" we discuss our background experiences and what led us to devote our time and skills to working on environmental justice with 350 Bay Area. People can live mindfully, and we must also join with others to create the world we want. Together we can change the way Big Business and the rich rule the economy. To create environmental justice takes courage—courage to change, courage to create a regenerative economy, courage to promote justice, and courage to live with joy.
10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. — Grace Cathedral, Chapter Room
Living the change — Faithful choices for a flourishing world
Host: The Multi-Faith Sustainable Living Initiative
An invitation to start the journey of sustainable living and making personal commitments for a flourishing world. This interactive session is facilitated by GreenFaith with presenters of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, Bhumi Project, Global Muslim Climate Network, One Earth Sangha and many more.
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Marriot Marquis
Changing the Climate: One Step At A Time
Hosted by Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, this workshop discussion will bring together attendees of the Global Climate Action Summit, local California residents, and climate change experts to be in conversation at the nexus of climate, plant based diets, and grassroots action. With climate change being one of the most pressing matters faced by this generation, both urgent individual action and systemic change are needed to address the challenges faced by climate change. The workshop will look at how various individual climate actions can transform communities and systems, paying particular attention to how innovative methods can engage members of communities on the issue of climate change and showcase how global citizens have been able to live more sustainably through intentional lifestyle choices. (Note that this event is listed as core GCAS affiliated event)
Again, find the full list of Global Climate Action Summit - People of Faith workshops at Grace Cathedral and all of the GCAS affiliated events here.
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We are grateful to all of the organizers and loving worker-bees that have labored to make all of these events availalbe to us for they provide an excellent opportunity for practice. We invite you to join in the events that speak to you as an extension of your practice, an embodiment of what you believe leads onward and truly benefits all beings.
We would love to hear your story! Share your reflections using these hashtags: #RiseforClimate #EmbodyFierceCompassion #FaithRising #LivingtheChange and include @1earthsangha
We look forward to joining you at these events in Sangha, for the benefit of all beings.
With devotion,
Kristin and Lou
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