To change everything we need everyone!

As Christians one of our guiding principles is compassion and concern for the world in which we live. It's the idea of interdependence - our actions dictate the experience of others, towards the land. I don't think everyone needs to race out and join an aid-organization nor should people feel bad that they are not doing more for people in need. But I would like to see Christians been braver to have an engaging relationship with the world, and also, hopefully a smarter one! Daily we develop our intellect, our wisdom and its not worth very much unless you put it into practice!!

Which over 50,000 people did yesterday when we united together to march on Climate Change. Following Pope Francis wisdom to go to the streets, let our voice be heard, rise awareness I feel Melbourne people have started …. 

It's difficult to write about climate change. The enormity of the problem, combined with its scientific nature, often served with a slice of passion from the writer themselves, makes it easy topic for people to 'switch' off instantly. It can leave a feeling of powerless resulting in not bothering to do anything!! 

Why would we?? However much I want the Australian government to shut down detention centers, to put in place recycling plants, to reduce air pollution, stop coal mining, take in refugees…. at the end of the day I can't make them. Leaving people to grumble among themselves, to sign a petition or two; but lets face reality nothing has been done!!

Yes its incredibly frustrating after all for this generation global warming is the biggest problem, and as individuals we can't do anything to stop it. 

Not even if you took the extreme approach of packing up cycling to the forest and living an eco-friendly life - this most likely would just give you a front row seat to nature's decline!!

To change everything we need everyone!

Educating ourselves on the issue, talking with one voice. Only collectively can we force decision makers to appreciate the immensity of the problem and more importantly to do something about it!

It is a global issue, yet there are things that can be done in our own backyard. Make living more environmentally friendly, stop our universities investing in fossil fuel companies, inform colleagues, friends and relatives. Support nationwide campaigns to pressure the government to invest more in renewables and less in subsidies for the coal industry - actually take the coal industry away completely!! Collectively we can help push the country and the World to come together creating a comprehensive and binding plan to preserve the plant for generations to come. 

The Climate march is the start - step one. A strong line up of speakers spoke on a arrange of climate issues, giving the opportunity to educate, meet and exchange with the those fighting against global warming. 

Heading home from the protest there were some young youth on the train and I over heard their conversation with another gentleman who had been at the march. The sense of concern from the youth was far from illustrated, I thought to myself what a naive youth is he not aware that climate change would impact him more than half those at the march… It does raise the question of why should we be concerned about the environment. For me, it isn't just because of the dangers we face from pollution, climate change or other environmental problems - although all these are very serious. The issue goes much deeper; God created the world and it belongs to Him, not us! Because of this very simple fact, we are only stewards or trustees of creation and we are not to abuse or neglect it. "the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Psalm 24:1)

For me I think that when we fail to see the world as God's creation we will end up abusing it. Selfishness and greed take over - only need to look into the tourism industry to prove this fact over and over again! We end up not caring about the environment or the problems we are creating for future generations. 

Confronting climate change means turning the rising tides, cutting dangerous pollution, ending extreme forms of fossil fuel extraction - it also means reinvesting in our broken infrastructure, building local energy solutions and creating a more just, fair society. 

Climate change will affect us all, just because we live in a country that is not a low-lying island community, so the impact is not as confrontational; doesn't mean we are somehow isolated from its far-reaching and devastating effects. Ignoring the issue because we feel powerless must be resisted, the problem is too serious, the timeline too short. Separately we will not be heard - to change everything, we need everyone, everywhere.