Events

Be The Change celebrated Earth Day 2010 in collaboration with The Multifaith

Action Society and Canadian Memorial United Church.

Media Release

VANCOUVER, BC, APRIL 20, 2010 -

Today’s ecological crisis is one of the most urgent moral challenges in human history, says the leader of Canada’s largest protestant church.

“Responding to this moral challenge lies with us, and the time is now,” says Mardi Tindal, Moderator of The United Church of Canada, which represents over 25,000 Canadians.

Tindal will deliver an impassioned call to all faith-based communities in Canada to take effective action at a unique and colorful multi-faith celebration Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at Vancouver’s Canadian Memorial United Church, between 7 and 9 p.m.

Organizers of The Multifaith Action Society, hosts of the celebration, say they expect a packed church for this first-time ever sacred celebration presided over by leaders from different faiths dedicated to addressing the present ecological crisis.

The progressive faith leaders that will take active roles in this service are: Rev. Bruce Sanguin, of Canadian Memorial United and author of Darwin, Divinity & Dance of the Cosmos; Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan of Or Shalom Synagogue; Imam Al-Khaliq of Az-Zahraa Shia Muslim Association of BC; Acharya Shrinath Dwivedi of the Global Hindu Foundation; and Aline LaFlamme, Metis Pipe Carrier & Sundancer.

Tindal made news recently when she returned from climate change talks in Copenhagen, January 2010, and declared she was brokenhearted at the failure of world leaders to reach a binding agreement.

The Multifaith Action Society (MAS) of Vancouver, active since 1972 when it initiated food banks into the city, is dedicated to creating dialogue between the faith traditions on issues of common concern.

MAS has been working with Be The Change Earth Alliance for the past nine months and, under the leadership of Maureen Jack-LaCroix, MAS has presented the Be The Change program to Jewish synagogues, Islamic mosques, Sikh gurdwaras, Quaker meeting houses, Unity, Unitarian and United churches throughout the lower mainland. Videos clips from the innovative Be The Change program will be playing on a large screen in the church throughout the celebration.

“The future of our natural world is a heart rending issue that affects all humanity. We have found that our values based approach to behaviour change is relevant to all faith traditions. People are relieved to know specific, grounded things they can do.” says Jack-LaCroix, Be The Change Program Director.