Short talk for your parish or group
Hello everyone, my name is [insert name].
I’m here to tell you about CAFOD’s new campaign: One Climate, One World.
I’m going to start by asking you to think about this: what kind of neighbour
are you?
When Jesus shared the story of the Good Samaritan - I’m sure we all know it well the message was simple: a neighbour is someone who behaves with compassion,
who reaches out to those in need; one who heals and restores. We’re called to be
good neighbours, not just to those close to us, but to anyone who needs our help.
And we’re asked to love our neighbours, just as we love ourselves.
Right now, we and our neighbours – near and far – are in the midst of a
crisis. Climate change is the single biggest threat to reducing poverty that
exists today. Whether it’s extreme weather destroying entire communities or
unpredictable seasons for farmers leaving millions hungry, it’s undoing years of
CAFOD’s work to improve people’s lives.
It will affect us here too: the floods that hit the UK in early 2014 show how
devastating extreme weather can be. But without a doubt, the world’s most
vulnerable people are hit hardest.
I’d like to tell you about Sinteyo Legei. She’s a mother of five and lives in the
remote village of Leparua in Kenya. Life is already hard; no one there has electricity
and the region is plagued by drought. But things are getting worse; the little rain
that used to arrive each year is now increasingly unpredictable, and farmers can no
longer depend on it for the survival of their crops and animals.
CAFOD has helped Sinteyo and her community cope with the changing
climate. They’ve helped fund a greenhouse project which uses a solar-powered
pump to water tomato plants they can grow and sell, and so they don’t have to rely
on the erratic rains. The community share the profits between them, helping them
feed themselves and their families.
Through Jesus’ example, we recognise Sinteyo’s community, and millions of others
like them, as part of our global neighbourhood. And our faith calls us to stand
alongside them.
Scientists say, with 95 per cent certainty, that human activity is the main
cause of climate change; so we all have a responsibility to care for creation.
We’re called to behave in a neighbourly way towards the earth itself; it’s a gift from
God that has been entrusted to us to care for.
/cont.
CAFOD, Romero House, 55 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1
7JB. Registered Charity No. 285776.
I’m standing here today to ask you: will you be a good neighbour?
Sinteyo’s story shows us there are ways forward; we have solutions to live more
sustainably.
That’s why CAFOD is calling on UK party leaders to prevent climate change
pushing people deeper into poverty; and to support the transition from
polluting fossil fuels to sustainable energy for all. But politicians won’t act
unless they know they have our support.
So please sign the action card [that’s on your seat/at the back of the church
– hold one up as an example] and put it [state where in the church/or who to return
it to]. They’ll be sent back to CAFOD who will tell party leaders [in the run up to the
general election] how many people, parishes and schools want them to act.
The changing climate is a serious problem; we can’t continue walking on the other
side of the road ignoring those who need our help most. It’s time to become better
neighbours.
Thank you for listening.
Notes for using the short talk
Please adapt this talk to suit your audience. For example, by
thanking them for campaign actions they have taken previously.
Put copies of the campaign action card on all the seats or pews,
and make sure you have one with you to show the congregation.
You may also want to have pens available and baskets (with
volunteers to hold them) at the doors to collect completed cards.
Completed cards can be collected together in a single envelope
and sent to Freepost RSYJ-HGEK-RGBX, CAFOD, 126 Fairlie Road,
Slough SL1 4PY.
Order action cards, posters, an action guide and much more from
cafod.org.uk/campaign or by calling 0300 011 5680 or
contacting your local diocesan office.
Thank you for encouraging your group or parish to take action as
part of One Climate, One World
CAFOD, Romero House, 55 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1
7JB. Registered Charity No. 285776.