Archbishop praises pilgrimage of ‘eco-mad’ Exeter children
-01/11/06
The Archbishop
Archbishop praises pilgrimage of ‘eco-mad’ Exeter children
-01/11/06
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has expressed his personal support for a party of children from Exeter Cathedral School, who recently completed a 90-mile pilgrimage to highlight their concerns about the environment.
The children, aged between 10 and 14, were walking the ancient pilgrims trail from Canterbury to London to highlight their petition for urgent government action to help prevent damaging climate change.
Dr Williams, who signed the petition, welcomed the group to Lambeth Palace, where they received a tour of the building and enjoyed a question and answer session, before leaving to meet their MP and present the petition at 10 Downing Street.
The children, who were accompanied on the walk by teachers and parents, had designed their own t-shirts to spell out their slogan ëECO-MADí (Every Childís Opportunity to Make A Difference). After Dr Williams had thanked the party for their dedication and spirit, the children gave him some poems and artwork that they had created with an environmental theme.
Claire Foster and David Shreeve, who manage environmental policy for the Church of Englandís Mission and Public Affairs department, were also on hand to answer questions about the work the Church of England is engaged in to combat climate change. They shared with the children details of the C of Eís ëShrinking the Footprintí campaign, which involves an audit and eventual reduction of the carbon footprint of all Church of England buildings.
Declared Dr Williams: ìThe children of Exeter Cathedral School should be rightly proud of what is a great achievement. They have taken on this huge task with immense determination, focus and spirit. We must act now, and act together, if we are to prevent permanent and irreversible damage being done to the planet. The prayers and concerns for safe stewardship of Godís Creation shown by these children sets a marvellous example for us all.î
Simon Barrow, co-director of the UK Christian think tank Ekklesia, who lives in Exeter himself, added: “These kids have the right idea. To stop environmental destruction we have to take a long route away from the comfort zone and confront some tough choices. Their appeal for eco-responsibility is definitely a venture of faith in the world as a gift with a future – but it is directed at all of us, whether we see ourselves as believers or not.”
The Exeter children’s ‘long march’ coincides with a lively public debate about the Stern Report on climate change, including the question of green taxes.
Added Mr Barrow: “The difficulty right now is that everyone knows that there is a price to pay for our misuse of the planet, but there is resistance among the wealthier – especially – to actually paying it. It’s easier to pass the buck. The children of Exeter Cathedral have handed the repsonsibility not just to the Prime Minister, but to civic groups, to the churches – and ultimately to each of us.”
Archbishop praises pilgrimage of ‘eco-mad’ Exeter children
-01/11/06
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has expressed his personal support for a party of children from Exeter Cathedral School, who recently completed a 90-mile pilgrimage to highlight their concerns about the environment.
The children, aged between 10 and 14, were walking the ancient pilgrims trail from Canterbury to London to highlight their petition for urgent government action to help prevent damaging climate change.
Dr Williams, who signed the petition, welcomed the group to Lambeth Palace, where they received a tour of the building and enjoyed a question and answer session, before leaving to meet their MP and present the petition at 10 Downing Street.
The children, who were accompanied on the walk by teachers and parents, had designed their own t-shirts to spell out their slogan ëECO-MADí (Every Childís Opportunity to Make A Difference). After Dr Williams had thanked the party for their dedication and spirit, the children gave him some poems and artwork that they had created with an environmental theme.
Claire Foster and David Shreeve, who manage environmental policy for the Church of Englandís Mission and Public Affairs department, were also on hand to answer questions about the work the Church of England is engaged in to combat climate change. They shared with the children details of the C of Eís ëShrinking the Footprintí campaign, which involves an audit and eventual reduction of the carbon footprint of all Church of England buildings.
Declared Dr Williams: ìThe children of Exeter Cathedral School should be rightly proud of what is a great achievement. They have taken on this huge task with immense determination, focus and spirit. We must act now, and act together, if we are to prevent permanent and irreversible damage being done to the planet. The prayers and concerns for safe stewardship of Godís Creation shown by these children sets a marvellous example for us all.î
Simon Barrow, co-director of the UK Christian think tank Ekklesia, who lives in Exeter himself, added: “These kids have the right idea. To stop environmental destruction we have to take a long route away from the comfort zone and confront some tough choices. Their appeal for eco-responsibility is definitely a venture of faith in the world as a gift with a future – but it is directed at all of us, whether we see ourselves as believers or not.”
The Exeter children’s ‘long march’ coincides with a lively public debate about the Stern Report on climate change, including the question of green taxes.
Added Mr Barrow: “The difficulty right now is that everyone knows that there is a price to pay for our misuse of the planet, but there is resistance among the wealthier – especially – to actually paying it. It’s easier to pass the buck. The children of Exeter Cathedral have handed the repsonsibility not just to the Prime Minister, but to civic groups, to the churches – and ultimately to each of us.”