Assalam aleikum (peace be upon you) Brothers and Sisters in humanity,

May this message find you in the best of health and spirits. Again much is happening in Brum and environs on faith & environment so that’s great news for the planet!

FAITH & ENVIRONMENT MONTHLY CIRCLES

BIRMINGHAM TRANSITION TOWN

BELIEVING IN OUR ENVIRONMENT

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL’S CLIMATE CHANGE FESTIVAL 2008

POVERTY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ROLE OF THE UN

CLIMATE CHALLENGE: A CALL TO ACTION

GREEN FAITH DAY

IFEES LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR SUMMER CAMP

CONSERVATION & ORGANIC HORTICULTURE PROJECT

FAITH & ENVIRONMENT CIRCLES

Midlands Islamic Network for the Environment (MINE) in January ‘08 initiated some monthly circles to support each other learn about the environment from different faith angles. As people have different preferences/ interests, we have a faith and environment book club (meeting last Thursday of the month), a ladies group looking at practicalities (second Thursday of the month) and a Sisters group looking at Islam and environment (last Saturday of the month). The next reading for the book club is the Bali Faiths and Climate Change book of prayers and quotes. The Alliance for Religions and Conservation (ARC) was invited by Conservation International (CI) and the Indonesian government to put together some prayers and quotations and meditations for the delegates at the Bali Climate Change Negotiations in December 2007. www.arcworld.org/downloads/Brochure%20CI-ARC%20Bali.pdf

When: 29 May (book club), 12 June (ladies group) and 31 May (Sisters group)

Where: The Zawiya, 1 Jenkins Street (off Coventry Rd, Small Heath)

More info: pls reply to this message.

BIRMINGHAM TRANSITION TOWN

A Transition Initiative is “a community working together to look Peak Oil and Climate Change squarely in the eye and address this BIG question: for all those aspects of life that this community needs in order to sustain itself and thrive, how do we significantly increase resilience (to mitigate the effects of Peak Oil) and drastically reduce carbon emissions (to mitigate the effects of Climate Change)?”. An inspired group in Birmingham wants to try it out here. If you want to be part of this exciting opportunity do attend their first meeting:

When: Monday 19 May, 7.30-9.30pm

Where: Quaker Meeting House (Priory rooms), 40 Bull Street, city centre

More info: contact Felipe on transitioncitybirmingham@riseup.net or find out more about transition ideas on: www.transitiontowns.org/ . This initiative came out of permaculture efforts by West-Mids based people interested in practically doing something (“WM Perma-Network first met at the end of July 2007, for a permaculture allotment working garden party. We are a network for mutual support, and sharing of ideas and skills”); contact Amanda on wm-permanetwork@riseup.net . Permaculture is about “creating sustainable human habitats by following nature’s patterns. An ecological design system that inspires and empowers us to create our own solutions to local and global problems, it provides ways to design and create healthy productive places to work, rest and play.” (source: www.permaculture.org.uk/ )

BELIEVING IN OUR ENVIRONMENT

Faiths for the City is a project initiated by the University of Birmingham Multi Faith Chaplaincy which aims to bring together representatives of the different faith communities, departments from the University of Birmingham and leaders from the City of Birmingham for a dialogue focused on specific issues related to the welfare of the city and rooted in a discussion of scriptural texts. The coming event has climate change as a theme/ topic: believing in our environment. Hear speakers from different faiths speak about Creation, the need to take care of our environment and much family fun!

When: 26 May (Bank Holiday Monday), 1-5pm

Where: Botanical Gardens

More info: entry 2 pounds. Any potential volunteers would be appreciated. Get in touch with Maud on multifaith@birminghamfoe.org.uk

BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL’S CLIMATE CHANGE FESTIVAL 2008

At the occasion of World Environment Day on 5 June, Birmingham City Council is organising a wide variety of entertaining and informative activities for all the family focusing on the impact we can make on Climate Change in our daily lives and how we plan and use our city. Most excitingly Friends of Cannon Hill Park will host a multifaith tent in Cannon Hill Park where visitors can find out what people of faith in Birmingham think about climate change.

When: 31 May – 8 June

Where: city wide (note multifaith tent in Cannon Hill Park on Saturday 7 June!)

More info: http://climatechangefestival.org.uk ; for info on Friends of Cannon Hill Park and the multifaith tent please contact Tony Fox on cannonhillfriend@aol.com

POVERTY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ROLE OF THE UN

Many of our Prophets were poor/ lived a simple lifestyle. Eradicating poverty is central in many faiths. But what is the link between poverty & climate change? What are the effects? What is the role of the UN? Is it enough? The UN Association Birmingham branch kindly invites you to its annual Diana Stableforth Memorial Lecture on ‘Poverty, Climate Change and the role of the UN’. The topic will be introduced by Rianne ten Veen

When: 2 June 2008, Refreshments 6.30pm Presentation 7.00pm.

Where: Birmingham Midlands Institute, Margaret Street (very close to Council House)

More info: United Nations Association Birmingham, Elizabeth Way

CLIMATE CHALLENGE: A CALL TO ACTION

The United Nations Association UK is organising a one day free conference to feature expert speakers, interactive workshops and information stalls – will evaluate what solutions are needed at the international, national and local levels if the challenge of climate change is to be met with necessary action. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
When: Saturday, 7 June 2008, 10am to 4pm
Where: Birmingham Council House, Birmingham
More info: the conference is free and open to all, but subject to capacity. You are urged to register early! You can do so online at www.una.org.uk/climate or by calling the Conference Coordinator at UNA-UK on 020 7766 3448, climate@una.org.uk

GREEN FAITH DAY

Dudley Community Service Volunteers (CSV) in conjunction with Friends of the Earth are organising a Green Faith event focusing on bringing people of faith and no faith together to focus on green issues: ‘green living in every day life’. There will be a number of workshops focused on green type activities, and the primary faith angle will come through speakers representing different faiths, including Christianity (Eco-Congregation, Operation Noah), Islam (MINE) and Sikhism. A local MP (and former environment minister) and Friends of the Earth will also share their thoughts. The event will also be running a market place throughout the afternoon.

When: Saturday 14 June, 10am- 3pm

Where: Brierley Hill Methodist Church, Brierley Hill, Dudley (a few miles from Brum)

More info: Steve Sparrow, Dudley Interfaith Network, Dudley CVS; 01384 78166, interfaith@dudleycvs.org.uk

IFEES LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR CAMP

The Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (IFEES) is working to make the Islamic Society of Britain (ISB) Living Islam camp the greenest yet. A green package has been suggested for the camp and adopted in principle. This includes talks, green energy exhibits, workshops for adults, fairtrade foods, recycling of camp waste and a programme of four scout workshops within the main scout programme. There are expected to be up to 5,000 campers, of which 1,000 will be scouts aged 7-12 taking part in the activities. IFEES will need some extra volunteers to help with its workshops, for which different groups of up to 50 children may be expected five times a day for an hour each. Activities will include the following: making toys out of plastic bottles (learning about recycling) (age 7-9); bird and tree-spotting walk to the conservation area (led by RSPB) (age 7-9); organic/ healthy eating (age 10-12); sustainable energy – making wind-powered toys and exploring wind power (age 10-12); Fairtrade games (age 10-12)

When: Thursday 17- Sunday 20 July 2008

Where: Lincoln Showground

More info: contact Harfiyah Haleem, tel: 020 8886 9952, e-mail: harfiyah.haleem@ifees.org.uk. Genuinely active volunteers will get their camp booking fee refunded. Training will be provided before the camp as necessary. See also: www.ifees.org.uk and www.livingislam.co.uk

CONSERVATION & ORGANIC HORTICULTURE PROJECT

Volunteers are sought for a Conservation and Organic Horticulture project. Women only work parties will also be operating. Work will involve woodland, habitat and ground management. In practice this means sawing, digging, litter picking, raking, preparing and planting. As people’s knowledge and skills develop they will be able to lead demonstrations for the public on various aspects of environmental awareness and seasonal organic food growing.

When: Saturday, 2.30-4.30 and Sunday, 12pm – 2pm (note change in times!)

Where: Springfield Allotments in Sparkhill

More info: The weather can be cold/ wet, so please dress appropriately with stout footwear or wellingtons. You can simply turn up at the start times each Saturday or Sunday. For more info, please e-mail shukoorr@yahoo.com

This e-news was brought to you by Midlands Islamic Network for the Environment (MINE). Please feel free to share it with anyone who would be interested in/ benefit from the info. Also, if you have any news that should be considered for inclusion in a future update (or you’d like me to take you off the mailing list!), please get in touch.

MINE e-news is regularly featured on the following websites (thanks Chris & Musab):

http://greeninbrum.org.uk/category/faith-nature/islam-ecology/

http://muslimbirmingham.wordpress.com/mine-and-homeplanet-show/

In peace,

Rianne

“No creature is there crawling on the earth, no bird flying with its wings, but they are nations like unto yourselves. We have neglected nothing in the Book; then to their Lord they shall be mustered.” (Qur’an [6] 38)