My name is Brother Alasdair of the Community of Francis and Clare. I am the Rector of the Parish of Wyke Regis and the Churches of All Saint’s and St Edmunds. I am an Anglican Priest and my Parish is on the Coast of England and so very susceptible to flooding.
As a Franciscan I am very conscious of the present Climate and Ecological Emergency we are in. Extreme weather events, loss of biodiversity, significant plastic pollution, deforestation, melting Ice Caps leading to feedback loops and serious levels of greenhouse gas emissions. The time for action has arrived. As a Franciscan our common home is in serious trouble heading towards 3 degrees of global warming and so I have added my voice and body to the growing number taking part in non-violent direct action against governments and big polluting business that seeks to destroy our sacred earth.
Recently, I joined with fellow members of Christian Climate Action and Extinction Rebellion at my first Action in London. I went to provide a witness to my faith as a Christian and wanted to pray, to protest and provide a presence of one who embodies the establishment and say “no” to more investment in Fossil Fuels. We called on our government and those at COP26 to take the action necessary to avert serious ecological breakdown.
After 17 months of Covid it was intense and yet totally liberating to kneel in front of scores of police officers and pray for the environment and the rebels and look into the eyes of police and rebels alike with love, sorrow, and moral conviction. I was proud to see my fellow Clergy arrested and to be among those whose faith calls for action and non-violent direct action.
We are called as Franciscans to pray but also to act for the common good of all.