Communities and Churches Unite Around Climate Emergency Film
By Karen Park and Morag Warrack
The People’s Emergency Briefing is a public information film that clearly and honestly briefs the UK on the climate and nature crisis. Building on the landmark National Emergency Briefing (NEB) held in Westminster, the film features event footage with reactions from members of the public and some familiar faces. The film was shown in Henfield last Sunday and it’s designed to be followed by structured discussion, to allow people to process what they have heard and find ways to engage positively around local community solutions. It is not party political in any way but it is relevant to everyone.
Councillor Gill Perry, chair of Sustainable Henfield, led the discussion and audience members had the opportunity to take part in a research project run by the University of Bath to monitor the effect of watching this film on people’s attitudes.
The film begins in a very British way, with of a discussion about the weather, and it seems the changed patterns we see now across Europe are only going to become more chaotic- and more quickly than anyone has anticipated.
A coalition of churches and organisations has released a Church Resource Pack, to use alongside the excellent NEB resources, to encourage churches to screen the film and unite with others, participating in much needed creation care action. The primary aim is to engage as many people as possible with the facts about the climate crisis and ways we can respond.
Rt Rev Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich and Lead Bishop for Environment said: “I encourage churches to invite their wider community and show this film – it’s a wake up for us all. Its message to care for climate, people, nature is urgently needed, not least so that we might live and act as Jesus would have us be.”
Councillor Jack Masters of West Grinstead Parish Council was in attendance and commented, “Professor Lenton emphasises that the Gulf Stream collapse (which is happening now as the ice caps melt), will be devastating for us in the UK, causing winter temperatures of -20o C in London, but also much hotter summers with severe water shortages, so farming in the UK will be massively challenged and ultimately become impossible.”
“Showing this film would be a great way to start or continue your Eco Church journey”, commented Karen Park, Eco Church Lead for Horsham Churches Together.
Chair of the National Emergency Briefing, Professor Mike Berners-Lee, sums it up:- “This film is for everyone, of every political and religious persuasion or none. It lays out essential information that all of us need to know.”
The next local showings will be in Steyning on 24th June and in Horsham on 26th June. See People’s Emergency Briefing interactive map for details.
More information is available on the Horsham Eco Churches webpage.
