Weblinks for the 2008/2009 journal

This section contains all the web-links referenced or recommended by contributors in the 2008 Journal (all accessed and checked June 2009)

Note - December 2104: some of these weblinks have moved or ceased to exist.
News and comment on the environment: religious
Doyle, Alister Religious leaders unite in prayer on climate change, UK: Reuters, 7 September, 2007
September 2007, the Pope makes climate action a moral obligation, saying that there was a ‘pressing need for science and religion to work together to safeguard the gifts of nature and to promote responsible stewardship’.
The Archbishop of Canterbury says ‘Climate Change Action a Moral Imperative for Justice’, 19 December 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year Message - God 'Doesn't Do Waste', 31 December 2007
Pope Benedict XVI, on the celebration of the World Day of Peace, 1 January 2008, includes a message on the environment.
The Times, February 2008, reports the Right Rev. Richard Chartres’ plans to lighten St Paul’s ecological footprint, and his year-long ‘fast from flying’.
Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’, 20 February 2008, the Right Rev. James Jones on giving a presentation on Christianity and the Environment to about 250 church people and finding that few were worried about the future of the Earth.
Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’, 15 May 2008, Elaine Storkey on ‘the economics of enough’.
Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’, 14 July 2008, Clifford Longley on the responsibilities of the people alive now towards future generations
News and comment on the environment: non-religious
A young person, Severn Suzuki, speaks at the UN Earth Summit, 1992. Worth showing to any KS3 group, and very powerful even though a bit dated, for example, in its reference to the ozone layer.
’…gloom and doom with a sense of humor’ from Grist, a Seattle-based international environmental news website which believes ‘that news about green issues and sustainable living doesn't have to be predictable, demoralizing, or dull…’ and exists ‘to tell the untold stories, spotlight trends before they become trendy, and engage the apathetic.’
The latest ‘sustainable forestry’ initiative reveals an extensive array of government subsidies to logging and wood-chipping activities, and to the creation of new eucalyptus plantations on old growth forest land: Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (May 13, 2007) A Way Forward for Tasmania’s Forests: The Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement
International Energy Agency, Earth Trends Data Tables: Energy and Resources: Energy 2005.
Political philosopher John Gray in The Observer (20 January 2008) thinks that ‘Only science can save us from catastrophe’ and criticises the irrationality and fundamentalism of some green thinkers, finding similarities between ‘green activists, free-market economists and religious fundamentalists’.
Andrew Brown in The Guardian (21 May 2008) think that a ‘quasi-religious common purpose is vital…’
Other resources: general on the environment
The Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC)
Information on the Interfaith Power and Light campaign, a USA-based religious response to global warming.
The Religious Education and Environment Programme (REEP) provides free web-resources for teachers and learners promoting the links between religions and the environment.
The section of ReligiousTolerance.org on “Environmental concerns, Response, & lack thereof, by non-Christian religions” includes interesting links, as well as pages on the responses of some groups absent from this Journal: Hindus, indigenous peoples, and Unitarians.
The website of Resurgence magazine
Woudhuysen, James and Kaplinsky, Joe (February 2007) ‘A man-made morality tale’.
‘Tostan's mission is to empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights’.
A project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. Our ultimate aim is to halt global warming. Specifically we are educating people in the US and around the world that the climate crisis is both urgent and solvable.
A project of the Alliance for Climate Protection, ‘Unlikely Alliance’ TV ads feature polar opposites, for example Reverends Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson, together on a couch addressing climate change; it also invites video contributions – see link
Wikipedia ‘Bright green environmentalism – Dark greens, light greens and bright greens’
Other resources: the Bahá’í faith and the environment
The official website of the Bahá’í International Community, offering information about the Bahá’í Faith and its worldwide community to the general public, as well as to journalists, academics, and researchers.
Bahá’í Topics, an information resource including a brief introduction to the Bahá’í Faith, its teachings, history, and community activities, in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Persian, and Arabic.
The Bahá’í Reference Library, containing downloadable versions of all the authoritative texts of the Bahá’í Faith in English, Persian and Arabic.
The Bahá’í World News Service, reporting on news, activities, and developments around the world.
A collection of statements offering the Bahá’í perspective on contemporary issues and themes, submitted by the Bahá’í International Community to United Nations agencies and conferences.
The International Environment Forum, a Bahá’í-inspired initiative
Information about Bahá’í social and economic development projects (BASED-UK. 22nd East St. Helen Street, Abingdon OX14 5EB) brea@bahai.org.uk: Bahá’í Religious Education Agency (BREA). Burnlaw, Whitfield, Hexham, NE47 8HF
Other resources: the Buddhist faith and the environment
The website of Clear Vision, a charity promoting the understanding of Buddhism through audio-visual media. Coming soon, a new DVD for young people about Buddhism and citizenship, which includes a 10-minute section making links between Buddhist teachings on interconnectedness and karma and environmental care.
The website of the UK Network of Engaged Buddhists, engaged ‘in caring and service, in social and environmental protest and analysis, in nonviolence as a creative way of overcoming conflicts, and in "right livelihood" and other initiatives which prefigure a society of the future.’
The website of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement.
Information on Hag Muang Nan Group and other examples of ‘Engaged Buddhism’ in Asia.
A useful bibliography provided by the Harvard-based Forum on Religion and Ecology
Other resources: the Christian faith and the environment
The website of Eco-congregation, ‘a tool to help churches begin to address environmental issues in all that they do.’
A Rocha is a Christian nature conservation organisation, the name coming from the Portuguese for ‘the Rock’; it also hosts www.livinglightly24-1.org.uk/, ‘a simpler, greener lifestyle commitment’.
Operation Noah is ‘the first Christian campaign to focus exclusively on the issue of Climate Change and this continues to be its mission.'
You Tube: search for 'Markides, Skepi, permaculture'
The website of Religion, Science and the Environment, a movement conceived in 1988 on the Isle of Patmos, at a meeting of environmental and religious leaders.
Statement on the environment on the website of Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).
The website of Orthodox Fellowship of the Transfiguration, which will ‘include Announcements, Programs, a Library of Orthodox materials on care for God's creation, and a list of ways that you or your parish might participate in the challenge of a right relationship to the earth.’
Website of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; click 'English' then click on 'ecological activities'.
The environmental section of the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Other resources: Humanism and the environment
The British Humanist Association website for schools
Mason, Marilyn ‘A Humanist Discussion of Environmental Issues’ (BHA).
Other resources: Islam and the environment
El-Naggar Z.R.M. (2007) Scientific Facts Revealed In The Qur’an: Milky Way 27.
Ali, Dr.S.H., (2008) Indonesia’s Green Madrassahs, Partners in Humanity: Common Ground News Service, last modified 05 Feb. 2008.
Alam F. & Malik, A.R. (2007) Green Jihad, Green Futures, A Forum for the Future, last modified 09 Mar. 2007.
Ahwal, A. (2007) Clean Medina Campaign- Making Muslim Brum Beautiful, UK: Birmingham Friends of the Earth.
IQRA Trust for the Islam, Science and the Environment: Teaching Pack, London, UK: IQRA Trust.
Dr Hussain, M. (2007) Islam and Climate Change: Perspectives & Engagement, a comprehensive overview of climate change from an Islamic perspective, last modified Mar. 2007.
Hussain, Dr M. (2007) Islam and Climate Change: Perspectives and Engagement, a comprehensive overview of climate change from an Islamic perspective, last modified Mar. 2007.
Dr Hussain, M. (2004) Environmental Perspectives: Islam & Ecologism, London Islamic Network for the Environment; last modified approx. June 2008.
Khalid, F. (1996) Guardians of the Natural Order, an outline of the Islamic approach to environmental protection; last modified approx. June 2008.
Website of the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Website of the London Islamic Network for the Environment
Website of an Islamic green farm
Other resources: Jainism and the environment
The Internet Sacred text Archive, for a full version of the best translation of the Acaranga Sutra, by nineteenth century German Indologist Hermann Jacobi, published by Clarendon Press, Oxford, in 1884.
The website of Diverse Ethics, Consultants in Diversity and Ethics.
The website of Hugletts Wood Farm, ‘a farm animal sanctuary in the UK that operates a dedicated Cow Protection Program… the only Vegan farm in the UK that runs a Sanctuary.’
Other resources: Judaism and the environment
For a number of good articles and insights into responses from a range of Jewish perspectives to environmentalism.
For British Jewry’s environmental organisation, resources, contacts etc.
The website of the American organization, Coalition for the Environment and Jewish Life, originally driven by Progressive Jewish outlooks but increasingly engaging people from across the spectrum.
Other resources: Sikhism and the environment
The Nishkam Civic Association's website
‘The environmental and water crisis in the Punjab’ in ‘The Refugee Project: How UK foreign investments creates refugees and asylum seekers’
‘Ecocide in the Land of Five Rivers’ in Birmingham Friends of the Earth Newsletter (Oct-Nov 2005).