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by Shara Lee
What role do Christians have when it comes to environmental sustainability? At
the October 4-7 Gaining Ground Summit in Vancouver, several ideas about
environmental conservation were discussed, including ways in which individuals,
businesses and groups can advance Vancouver's urban sustainability in
everything from the economy to culture.
A Rocha Canada, a Christian organization that promotes environmental
sustainability, was invited to organize a ‘shoulder event’ just before the main conference. This was a seminar with Preston Manning,
former leader of the Reform Party, and Paul Williams, a professor at Regent
College. The discussion, titled ‘Thriving within Limits: Ecologically informed economics and the sustainability
of cities,’ focused on the ways Christians are equipped to be part of the conservation
movement in their everyday lives.
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According to Markku Kostamo, executive director of A Rocha Canada, the speakers
touched on how Christians should be mediators and take on the task of
reconciliation. Manning spoke about what reconciliation looked like between
environmental sustainability and economic development from a theological and
philosophical perspective. Since the subject of sustainability can be a
polarizing one, he suggested that Christians can play a constructive role by
trying to reconcile different people and groups.
This can be done in various ways. Kostamo stated that reconciliation can be done
at every level – from high level meetings between developers and environmental stakeholders to
micro level interactions in neighbourhoods and families.
The seminar also touched on the opportunity Christians have to live more simply
and within their means. This is both a Christian principle and a sustainable
way of living.
A Rocha received positive feedback about its seminar from both Christians and
non-Christians. This is the organization’s second year participating in the Gaining Ground Summit, and it has been
invited back to participate in next year's summit.
For further information, go to the websites: arocha.ca and
gaininggroundsummit.com
November 2010
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