Of Arks and Kings . . . .

Over the summer, there has been much local activity in preparation for the UN's Climate Summit in Copenhagen. Some of the most original means of focusing attention on climate issues have come from the creative genius of Operation Noah supporters.  

On the seventh of July a larger-than-life-sized effigy of King Cnut visited the Baptist Church in Bonn Square, Oxford, on its way to the riverbank of the Thames at Westminster.  King Cnut famously (if perhaps apocryphally)  learned the limits of human power over the natural world when his command failed to stop the rising tide. The organisers of the event hoped to remind people that "halting climate change means accepting limits to human exploitation of the planet."

“Sea levels are rising and the G8 are in danger of behaving like modern day King Cnuts,” said organiser Simon Topping. “Human arrogance and greed are blinding world leaders to the radical changes needed to the global economy in order to avoid catastrophic climate change. Unless they accept that there are limits to consumption and limits to economic growth then we will not find a satisfactory solution to the crisis we all face."

Slightly earlier, on the 5th of July, a "Carnival Ark" filled with children in animal costumes had made its appearance at this year's Cowley Road Carnival, the "Carnival in the Park." Made out of biodegradable cardboard, it proclaimed "Noah had a plan to care for all living creatures. What's yours?" and called on bystanders to help protect the climate.

Arks have been abundant in Reading also: at the Forbury Fever festival in June, festival goers were asked to do origami arks with a petition to Gordon Brown. And Greening St John's author -- and founder member of the Reading CEL Group -- Joanna Laynesmith put together an Ark flower arrangement for the East Reading flower festival at St John's. Her accompanying text read: 

"The plants in this display were all organically grown in Reading and transported by bike. Some are wild flowers and some are cultivated. Some are for healing, some for eating and some are simply beautiful. They represent the bounty and generosity of God’s created world.This ark is a fairly traded toy from Sri Lanka belonging to a five-year-old in our congregation.

The windmill represents St John's PCC's recent decision to change our electricity supplier to Ecotricity renewable energy.

Christian Ecology Link have launched the Operation Noah campaign to protect our rich wildlife and the world's poorest people from climate change.  If greenhouse gas emissions are not curtailed soon, there will be no summer sea ice on the Arctic before this ark's owner is eighteen, and before he is fifty, the number of climate change refugees . . . will exceed the combined populations of England, Germany and Italy (at the most conservative estimate).

In a time of climate crisis, Noah was 'a man who walked with God,' listened to the warnings and acted. Today we are all called to act as Noah did. "

Have a look at Joanna's blog for a picture of the display . . . and much good information on the journey of an Eco-Congregation.