Faith communities are invited to take part in the Loss and Damage Action Day on 22 September 2022 – an international day to stand in solidarity with those living with the worst impacts of climate breakdown, and to call on rich countries and big polluters to pay up for this loss and damage they continue to knowingly cause.
Groups and individuals are asked to join in through prayer, reflection and action to mark the day, with activities suggested between now and 22 September 2022:
Action
- Hold a discussion with a screening of the five-minute film ‘The Global Story of Climate Change Loss and Damage – and Who Should Pay for It’ to help people understand what loss and damage is and why it matters. A guide is available to download (below) to help plan a discussion event, online or in person.
- Write to your MP asking for their backing for UK support for a loss and damage fund paid for by polluters – you can do this via the organisation Make Polluters Pay.
- An Early Day Motion has been tabled in Parliament by Wera Hobhouse. You are encouraged to ask your MP to sign it.
On Loss and Damage Action Day, 22 September 2022
Green Christian’s morning prayer event
Register on the Green Christian website.
London Walk of Witness
Meeting at St John’s Church, Waterloo at 10.30am (prayers to begin at 11am).
This will be followed by a walk to the Shell headquarters on Belvedere Road with a silent vigil in Jubilee Gardens opposite.
There will then be a walk to Parliament Square (if it is possible to assemble there). If not, the event will stay in Jubilee Gardens for speeches.
Join Make Polluters Pay’s social media action
Follow @MakePolluterPay and @FFTCnetwork for details.
Make Polluters Pay has produced a toolkit with some suggested social media posts and graphics for anyone to use. Please feel free to pass this on to the person responsible for social media in your organisation and tailor these posts to your audience.
Local vigils
Vigils or faith-led actions are taking place in Beccles, Bexhill and Cardiff (28/9); Douglas and Lancaster (21/9); Manchester (28/9), Totnes and Truro. Local groups of Global Justice Now have also organised actions in Cambridge, Edinburgh, Macclesfield, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Reading (1/10) and Rotherham.
Holding a local vigil is a powerful way to publicly show solidarity with those at the sharp end of climate breakdown. A guide to holding an interfaith vigil is available to download (below). More resources are available on the Make Cop Count website, including a leaflet to hand out and placards to display.
Downloads
Guide to planning a Loss and Damage event (PDF)
Loss and Damage talking points (PDF)
Organising an Interfaith Vigil (PDF)
