Inspiring Young People to Be Change Makers in Society
(LWI) - More than 200 “climate heroes” from 42 countries participated in The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) online game “Journey to Climate Justice” on 26 October. The initiative that was developed by the LWF is aimed at helping young people advocate for change while connecting them to the global Lutheran communion.
The participants took part in a digital journey around the world, discovering the various types of ongoing work for climate justice by listening to speakers from different countries, contributing their own ideas and gaining points by answering quiz questions correctly.
Twelve keynote presentations focused on theology, climate justice, urban gardening, reforestation projects, advocacy efforts against seabed mining, a climate sail camp and Dalit liberation theology. The speakers included LWF youth, United Nations representatives and theologians engaged in interfaith issues.
The game is part of the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD) program on Capacity for Advocacy, which encourages member churches to become more engaged in advocacy for justice and human rights alongside ecumenical and civil society activists and marginalized people.
It is part of the LWF’s efforts to respond to the urgent challenge of the adverse effects of climate change by seeking new ways to reach out and involve young people as change makers in society.
“This pilot project was a true success,” said Caroline Richter, LWF Youth secretary at DMD. “Participants gave extremely positive feedback on the methodology of a social game that provides learning, networking and fun at the same time.
“They wish to continue this kind of educational and advocacy work on climate justice,” Richter added.
Participants said they learned a great deal from the game and vowed to adapt some of the ideas for their daily lives.
“This is indeed very educational,” said *Tamesha from Guyana. “I have learned so much: and be sure that I will share and practice what I learned on this journey.”
*Carolina from Argentina added: “I’m loving the game, and learning so much.”
*Patrick from Chile noted, “I want to download the presentations to have them for later and show them to more young people.”
Theological Resources
Participants were offered a variety of theological resources to assist in their climate justice work. Dr Guillermo Kerber, the World Council of Churches (WCC) program executive for climate change, emphasized that the Bible underscores both the sanctity of creation and the call to justice.
Martin Kopp, French theologian and a member of the LWF delegation to the 2013 UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw, Poland, said that there has been a tradition of reading the biblical creation narrative incorrectly as calling for human being to subdue creation. “On the contrary, the Bible calls for both stewardship of the earth and a just distribution of resources.”
Rev. Brian Konkol, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) urged an “Olive Agenda” that combines the green agenda of protecting the environment and the brown agenda of eradicating poverty. “Only this [Olive Agenda] is compatible with the ideas of oikos, the one household of God.”
Commenting on Luther’s declaration that Christians live as both “saints and sinners,” Konkol said that while it is true that Christians contribute to climate change, they must confront it honestly and with humility “so that we may boldly seek ways and means that bring life in its fullness to all of creation.”
All the major world religions, including Christianity, Islam and Buddhism, offer great resources in fighting together for climate justice, said Rev. Dr Simone Sinn, LWF study secretary for Public Theology and Interreligious Relations at the LWF Department for Theology and Public Witness (DTPW).
Reuben Mete, representing the Papua New Guinea Watut River Development said that while indigenous people in his country own most of the land, foreign mining companies reap most of the profits while at the same time contributing to the high level of pollution in their areas of operation.
Participants heard that in Canada collective gardens are helping young people reflect about their relationship to nature and food, while in Germany youth are experiencing the effects of climate change first hand by sailing on a boat in the North Sea.
Tsiry Rakoto and Chris Böer from Madagascar and Germany respectively, recounted their experiences as members of the LWF delegation to the 2012 Conference of the Parties (COP 18) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha, Qatar.
The “Climate Change Statement” approved by the LWF Council in June 2013 urges all LWF member churches to combat climate change at national and congregational levels. Together with the insights from the “Journey to Climate Justice,” it will motivate the seven young members who make up LWF’s COP 19 delegation to call for more action on behalf of the Lutheran communion, Richter noted.
Personal and Community Lives
Discussions during the "Journey to Climate Justice“ focused on the practical changes needed in people’s personal and community lives, such as eating less meat, initiating climate change education in Sunday schools and advocating for climate justice on a local political level.
Matilda Mattson, a participant from Sweden, who will also join the LWF delegation to COP 19, noted that more and more people in her church are becoming vegetarians and vegans.
“For my youth group with its international interests, there’s no question it’s the right thing to do for the climate. Hopefully it will spread from the church to families and friends outside the church,” Mattson added.
But participants also acknowledged that a lot still needs to be done to convince the wider public. “We all have our part to play in combating climate change and those countries that have the greatest pollution emissions should be held accountable for their actions,” said *Cassandra from Guyana.
(* In some cases, only first names of the online participants have been used.)
More information on www.climate.lwfyouth.org
