News archive

July 29, 2010:
Water Schools - some important new material
In July 2009 ARC organized what a very significant meeting on faith schools and water. On top of its outcomes, the conference was full of so many inspiring stories and statistics that we have decided to issue a document in order to share them.  

July 28, 2010:
River Jordan closed to pilgrims because of pollution
Pollution has forced the closure of the river Jordan to pilgrims. It's a wake-up call for all of us who value nature and the sacred. By ARC's Martin Palmer for The Guardian.  

July 28, 2010:
New report: Faith institutions find responsible investment difficult
Despite the fact that faith institutions are widely considered to be the pioneers of responsible investment and make up the third largest demographic of investors globally, it appears that the stock market presents difficulties when it comes to aligning the needs of the faith with a responsible investment strategy.  

July 27 2010:
Sacred Bristol: a journey into the Christian feng shui of Bristol
PRESS RELEASE. Martin Palmer, director of ARC and Canon Tim Higgins, City Canon Bristol Cathedral and priest-in-charge at St Stephen’s, will be leading a two-hour Sacred Bristol tour of invited guests this Friday starting from St Stephen’s Church.   

July 6 2009:
Can you summarise Sustainable Education in 90 seconds?
Can you share your vision of sustainable education in 90 seconds? UNESCO's new video competition gives faith inspiration as an example.  

June 29, 2010:
Latest ARC Newsletter - June 2010
The latest newsletter: the Mongolians create an eight year plan; ARC in O Magazine; news from the Himalayas; a Daoist story about uselessnes.  

Last updated: 28 June 2010:
Christian Ecological Retreat Centres announce eco-initiatives
News of Christian Retreat Centres in the UK joining the UN-ARC 7 Year Plan. Updated on December 19th to include Emmaus House in Bristol.  

June 18 2010:
O Magazine this month features the work by ARC and the faiths
OPRAH WINFREY’S Award-winning O Magazine this month featured ARC’s Windsor Event and the work of the faiths to protect the environment  

June 10, 2009:
Prince of Wales mentions Zanzibar programme in major Oxford speech
The Prince of Wales yesterday made a thoughtful speech about Islam and the Environment, in which he mentioned the Islam and destructive fishing project ARC was involved with in Zanzibar some years ago.  

June 8, 2010:
Living Churchyards updated with links
What if your churchyard were maintained to be both beautiful for human visitors, and a home for wildlife and wildflowers?  

May 26, 2010:
Two exciting job opportunities to help create EcoSikh
The Sikh Council on Religion and Education announces two exciting vacancies for enthusiastic individuals who have both an affinity with Sikhism, and a passion for the environment. Deadline June 6.  

May 20, 2010:
Mongolian Buddhists announce first draft of Eight Year Eco Action Plan
The Plan includes promoting traditional construction practices, providing solar energy to monasteries, raising public awareness on forest fires, educating young monks, reducing waste, and looking for the ancient ecological teachings that were lost under communism.   

May 10, 2010:
Compassion and Conservation Workshop at Gandan Monastery in Mongolia this month
Gandan Monastery, the centre of Buddhism in Mongolia, is holding a major workshop on Compassion and Conservation this month, to discuss and encourage the progress of the Mongolian Buddhist Eight Year Plan to protect the Living Planet.   

May 4, 2010:
News from the Muslim Climate Change Meeting in Bogor, Indonesia
Link here for a selection of the press coverage from the International Muslim Conference on Climate Change Issues, held in Bogor, Indonesia.It was a continuation of the agenda of the Muslim Seven Year Action Plan for Climate Change.  

April 27, 2010:
State-funded Faith School “the most ecological in England”
A faith school has been evaluated as the most ecological school in England. It is not, however, one of the 6500 Christian, Jewish and Muslim schools throughout the country, but the UK’s first state-funded Hindu school, based in Harrow, North London.  

April 21, 2010:
People of faith celebrate Earth Day
The biggest ever faith-based live simulcast gathering of Christians on the environment comes together for the eve of Earth Day drawing thousands of churches, mostly from the US but also as far afield as Uruguay, South Africa and the UK.   

April 15, 2010:
Shanghai Buddhists launch their Eight Year Eco-Plan with a celebration and a promise
The ancient and influential Jade Buddha Monastery in Shanghai today launched the Shanghai Buddhist Eight Year Plan to Protect the Living Planet with a meeting of monks and nuns from all the monasteries in this vast city of 24 million people. They discussed and committed to practical and prayerful actions to protect the environment.  

April 16, 2009:
Armenian Orthodox start to replant their sacred forest - with a celebration
Orthodox Christians in Armenia today held a major tree planting celebration on a devastated area of former forest land. Hundreds of elm-saplings were planted in order to recreate the Nersisyan Forest, which surrounds the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, and which has been devastated by logging for fuel.  

March 30 2010:
Nuns provide clean water for hundreds after the Chilean earthquake
Several years ago the Sisters of La Retraite in Concepcion, Chile, made an ecologically sound decision to source the water for their vegetable garden from a spring deep below their land. That eco-thinking has paid off as the tiny community shared clean water with 100s of people after the earthquake of February 27.  

March 29, 2010:
Hindu Dance of Creation

There are moments in every faith tradition, where nature speaks. This dance celebrates the moment, in the oldest Hindu text, Rig Veda, when the universe comes into being. It was performed at Windsor Castle in November 2009 by Anusha Subramanyan, as part of a series of performances celebrating the launch of more than 30 plans by nine different religious communities and leaders to protect Creation.  

March 22, 2010:
On World Water Day ARC launches the Faith, Schools & Water initiative
To coincide with the UN's World Water Day, 22 March 2010, ARC is delighted to be launching our dedicated website on Faith, Schools & Water. The website will focus on the faiths protecting water sources, promoting clean water, good sanitation and excellent hygiene practices through faith schools around the world.  

March 25, 2010:
ARC is joining Earth Hour on March 27th
"Earth Hour" this year is 20.30 local time on March 27th. Many faith communities are participating. Some by holding services by candlelight, taking the opportunity both to remember and remind of the importance of valuing the gift of energy.   

March 12, 2010:
Sikhs celebrate March 14th as Sikh Environment Day
Sikhs around the world are being invited to celebrate Gurgaddi Diwas of the 7th Guru, Guru Har Rai ji,as a Sikh Environment Day  

March 11, 2010:
Far-reaching new eco-pledges by African faith leaders
A large number of wonderfully positive pledges by faith leaders to protect nature have emerged this week from the British Council's far-sighted Abuja conference in Abuja about religions and the environment in Africa.  

18 February, 2010:
African leaders pledge eco action
Muslim and Christian religious leaders from all over Africa met this month in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, to talk about the environment and how they can adapt to climate change.  

February 16, 2010:
Eco-fasting for Lent
Rather than the usual attempts to give up personal vices such as alcohol or cigarettes, this Lent many groups are promoting eco-fasting, which can benefit both the environment and some of the most disadvantaged people in our world.   

February 12, 2009:
Happy Year of the Tiger
As Chinese, Mongolians, Tibetans and others all celebrate their New Year of the Tiger this weekend, faith leaders from all over Northern Asia are thinking about how they can work with the idea of the Tiger Year to promote the protection of tigers and other endangered species.  

February 11, 2010:
MACCA holds its first conference in Indonesia in April
The First International Muslim Conference on Climate Change will held in the Indonesian city of Bogor, in West Java, in April this year. Around 150 people from 30 Muslim countries will attend, including scientists, ulama (religious leaders) and green activists.   

February 5, 2010:
First steps towards faiths developing closer links with Soil Association
Exciting initial moves to promote greater links between religious communities and organic farmers took place yesterday at the Soil Association’s annual conference, with a workshop focussing on Faith in Food.  

4 February, 2010:
Catholic Schools Eco Newsletter no. 15, February 2010
In this edition we include: Cardinal Wiseman winning the DCSF Sustainable Schools Award for 2009; St Polycarp’s Potato Competitions and other initiatives; Dolphins and coral: Earthwatch’s Educator Programme; Earth Hour 2010.  

1 Feb, 2010:
Commitments by secular organisations to work with the faiths
At Windsor in November 2009, 18 secular organisations from around the world made commitments to partner with the faiths. This is the first time that so many environmental organisations have publicly committed themselves to take partnering with the faiths seriously.  

January 26, 2010:
BBC asks why so many green campaigners rely on religious language
If the case for tackling climate change is backed by science, why do so many green campaigners rely on the language of religion? That was the question asked by the BBC in a programme that included ARC’s Director, Martin Palmer as well as some of the UK’s leading climate thinkers.   

January 26, 2010:
ARC welcomes the Pope's powerful eco-statements
ARC welcomes Pope Benedict XVI’s recent, very powerful, statements on the need for urgent action to protect the environment and on religion's crucial role in doing so. Both statements reinforce the importance of ARC/UNDP’s work with the major faiths of the world.  

January 22, 2010:
Launch of 'Faith Climate Connect' - A global network
A new global coalition of faith groups concerned about climate change and the environment was launched on 14 January. Faith Climate Connect is a free global resource and network, bringing together an interactive forum of videos, faith/climate news, and much, much more...  

January 14, 2010:
Copenhagen failure down to 'self-centred' thinking - Pope
Pope Benedict has denounced the failure of world leaders to agree on a new climate change treaty at Copenhagen, saying the same "self-centred and materialistic" way of thinking behind the worldwide financial meltdown was also endangering creation.   

January 5, 2010:
The Pope: we must protect creation
The Pope has issued his most direct call to action over the environment. In his his most outspoken ecological statement to date, Benedict XVI said: “We cannot remain indifferent to what is happening around us, for the deterioration of any one part of the planet affects us all.”   

22 December, 2009:
An Orthodox message for the planet
The Orthodox Christian story of the nativity, set in a cave, unlike the Western version which was set in a stable, has much to tell us about the importance of nature. According to the former, God cannot become human without the participation of nature, and this has implications today as our planet faces climate change: whilst it may at times seem like the earth needs a miracle to save it - what essential role can we play in bringing this miracle about? Original Source: Guardian Online  

17 December, 2009:
Catholic School's Eco Newsletter no. 13, December 2009
As the Copenhagen meeting on Climate Change reaches its third day, we’ve been enjoying the daily broadcasts by Odyssey Networks, fronted by UK Catholic broadcaster and environmental activist Mark Dowd....  

December 10, 2009:
The Story of a Box
In November a wooden box containing a block of stone was passed, with great ceremony, from ARC to the UN, having been returned by the Druze in May. In December it was blessed by a revered Sri Lankan Buddhist. Thus continued an extraordinary ecologically-inspired journey.   

December 9, 2009:
A beautiful short film on religions and climate change



This inspiring 10-minute film shows the beauty and wonder of the earth – and the terrifying consequences of our destruction of the natural environment. It offers a compelling argument for why religions and scientists could provide a powerful united force in protecting the living planet.   

December 8, 2009:
Faith leaders in Copenhagen
The world's faith leaders are in Copenhagen for the historic United Nations Climate change Conference - and Mark Dowd, of UK-based Operation Noah, is there to record their thoughts for the "Faith at the Summit" programme produced by Odyssey Networks, the US's largest coalition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith groups dedicated to promoting peace and social justice. Click here for his first report on the spiritual crisis underlying climate change.  

December 7, 2009:
'USA Today' reports on the impact religious groups can have at Copenhagen - and beyond
As Copenhagen begins, Brian Winter reminds readers of USA Today - one of America's leading news providers - that the religions can make a substantial contribution to the effort to curb climate change, and indeed have already begun.  

December 2, 2009:
Copenhagen: ARC Statement of Faith
Governments gather in Copenhagen this month to negotiate a new climate treaty to protect the living planet. On behalf of the world's major faiths, which presented their own long-term action plans on the environment at the Windsor Celebration last month, ARC invites the governments to join the faiths on the journey towards a more sustainable and just future. For more information, visit our dedicated Windsor website, www.windsor2009.org.   

November 30, 2009:
US State Department recognises importance of faiths before Copenhagen
On the day that President Obama announced that he was going to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-15) in Copenhagen, running from December 7-18, ARC was contacted by the US State Department, which is committed to working with the religions on this issue, as one of the most powerful elements of civil society working on protecting the natural environment.  

November 28, 2009:
Prince Philip's environmental Sermon for Advent
This Advent Sermon by HRH The Prince Philip was first given at St George’s Chapel, Windsor in 1988. His observations are even more relevant today than they were then. "Christians need to use the annual celebration of the birth of our Lord as an inspiration to become better and more considerate guardians of His Creation, so that its beauties and wonder, whether they are practically useful to us or not, can continue to praise Him."  

November 26, 2009:
New commitments from Windsor
As well as the 30 plus long-term plans formally launched at Windsor by nine of the world’s major faiths – Baha’ism, Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism and Sikhism – dozens of further proposals or partnerships were developed during the event.   

November 25, 2009:
Muslim Association for Climate Change Action to launch internationally in Indonesia in January
The Muslim Association for Climate Change Action (MACCA) will hold its first General Congress in January in Bogor, Indonesia, which will be announced as the country's first green Islamic city. The meeting will be hosted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry.   

November 13, 2009:
Windsor Celebration on BBC Radio 4's Sunday Worship
LATEST NEWS - Listen again to the special edition of Sunday Worship, entitled "Hearing the Voices of Creation", which is taken from the Windsor Celebration at Windsor Castle. The programme is available from our Windsor Event website via the jukebox function (Jukebox track 4).  

November 5, 2009:
Link here for the Windsor Celebration website
The Windsor Celebration of Faiths and the Environment has been "a huge success", says ARC Secretary General Martin Palmer. As well as marking the launch of hugely impressive long-term plans on the environment by nine of the world's major faiths, the event saw leading secular groups pledge their commitment to work with the religions and the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon acknowledge the faiths' vital role in discussions on the planet. Visit our dedicated Windsor website www.windsor2009.org.   

November 03, 2009:
Faiths “occupy a unique position” in discussions on the planet – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged religion’s vital role in protecting the environment in his keynote address at the Windsor Celebration. In a heartfelt speech at Windsor Castle in front of HRH The Prince Philip and faith and secular leaders, Mr Ban said the world’s faith communities occupied “a unique position in discussions on the fate of our planet". For the latest news please visit the dedicated Windsor website www.windsor2009.org.   

November 2, 2009:
Madinah in Saudi Arabia to become Islamic eco city: Windsor announcement
One of Islam’s most important cities, Madinah, is to become a model ‘green’ city under a Muslim Seven Year action plan on the environment, unveiled yesterday by the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Ali Goma’a. Madinah is the second holiest city in the Islamic world, after Makkah and is also known as “the City of the Prophet”.  

November 1, 2009:
BBC runs major interview with UN Secretary General - with the Windsor event prominent
"Without full support and cooperation of religious leaders it will be very difficult to obtain... a binding agreement in Copenhagen" The SG speaks out on the importance of walking side by side with the faiths on the road to Copenhagen  

October 14, 2009:
PRESS RELEASE: Many Heavens, One Earth:
The Celebration of Faith Commitments for a Living Planet, to be held at Windsor on November 2-4, 2009, will be attended by His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon  

September 29, 2009:
Guardian newspaper flags up ARC-UNDP's Windsor Event
The Guardian newspaper today writes about ARC's Windsor event saying: "It will be a wonderful antidote to the gloom that will shroud the world a month later, emanating from Copenhagen."  

Last updated: September 24, 2009 :
Latest news on the Long Term Commitments
A sample of some of the faith groups around the world that are creating Five, Seven, Eight and Nine Year Plans to protect the natural environment, through the UNDP-ARC framework.  

October 20, 2009:
Latest news on the UNDP-ARC Windsor Celebration
Many Heavens One Earth - the ARC-UNDP celebration - is about to start at Windsor. We have migrated temporarily to our EVENT WEBSITE. Join us there for the latest news and stories.   

September 16, 2009:
Muslim Association for Climate Change Action (MACCA) is launched
With an emphasis on greener Islamic living for future generations, MACCA has been endorsed by over 200 Muslim representatives.   

September 13, 2009 :
Martin Palmer explains why faiths can shape future generations
In a Radio 4 Sunday Programme interview, Martin Palmer describes the power faiths have in shaping future generations - and why the major faiths will be celebrating long term commitments to the natural world at Windsor in November with ARC and the UN.  

8 September, 2009:
Faith in Water workshops leads to new network, partnerships, actions, ideas
This first Faith in Water conference resulted in an astonishing array of new and possible partnerships, including the UN family (UNDP, UNICEF, UN-HABITAT) inviting faiths to become official partners on these issues, and the World Bank suggesting the faiths become partners in particular in the Bank’s annual Water Week.   

September 1 2009:
ARC's philosophy broadcast to millions on Songs of Praise
ARC's secretary general Martin Palmer and our Catholic consultant, award-winning nature broadcaster Mary Colwell, were both featured on this weekend's environmentally themed Songs of Praise. The broadcast can be seen on the BBC iPlayer until Sunday September 6.  

August 27 2009:
Audio versions of the Faith in Water workshop
Award winning podcast maker and broadcaster Mary Colwell has created two fascinating enhanced audio segments about the important role that faiths can play in addressing the water crisis... recording the thoughts of people who attended the Alliance of Religions and Conservation conference on faith, water and development in July 2009 in Salisbury, UK.   

August 21, 2009:
Quakers pledge action on climate change
Quakers in the UK, who are preparing their own Seven Year Plans to protect the living planet, are taking key steps, through advocacy, promoting simple living, and working with ARC to host a major public meeting in London in November  

August 19 2009:
UN prepares for September climate summit
The United Nations is building on its commitment to work with religions on climate change and the natural environment, through working to add a religious dimension to a key summit in New York in September.  

August 9, 2009:
Muslim Schools Lead Islamic Green Movement in Java
In 1995 the area around a new Muslim boarding school in West Java was so humid that the founders feared the students wouldn’t be able to concentrate. Today it is cool and fresh: thanks to the 700 trees that the students have planted and tended, according to Islamic and pragmatic wisdom. It is an extraordinary and story. And ARC was one of its inspirations.  

July 31, 2009:
UK Hindus plan for major environmental action - including a Hindu eco labelling scheme
UK Hindu leaders have pledged to work together to create long-term plans for environmental protection which have the potential to reach every Hindu in the UK - and roll-out to India and elsewhere. The plans will be implemented over the next 9 years and are part of the UN/ARC Long Term Plans for a Living Planet programme.  

July 14th 2009:
ARC's response to the Papal Encyclical on the Environment issued this month
ARC's response to the Papal Encyclical of July 6, which for the first time puts the environment firmly onto the mainstream Catholic agenda  

July 13, 2009:
New Sins, New Virtues - The Economist analyses the Religions Approach to Climate Change
"From the bishop of London to the Dalai Lama, lots of prominent religious figures have been feeling the need to broaden their message, talking more about the fate of humanity as a whole." The Economist examines the impact of the Papal Encyclical, the Muslim 7 Year Plan and other global movements for change, and refers to the key event organised by ARC in November at Windsor.  

Updated July 12, 2009:
ARC's Catholic Consultant Wins Gold Medal on top of Sony Gold Award
ARC's Catholic Consultant, Mary Colwell, who recently won a Sony Radio Award, has picked up a World Gold Medal in New York for Best Internet Programme. "The Budgerigar and the Prisoner" illustrates how the natural world can redeem us and protect us.  

July 8, 2009:
Historic Istanbul Declaration of the Muslim 7 Year Action Plan on Climate Change
Some 200 key Muslim leaders, scholars, civil society members and government ministries from Islamic civil society, made the unprecedented step yesterday of joining together to endorse a long term plan for action on climate change. ARC was a co-organiser with NGO EMDC of the key Istanbul conference where this happened. UNDP was co-sponsor.  

July 8, 2009:
UN celebrates Muslim Seven Year EcoPlan
Assistant Secretary General of UNDP acknowledges the critical importance of the Muslim 7 Year Plan for the environment, endorsed this week by 200 key international Islamic leaders  

July 4, 2009:
Greener habits for up to 24 million Sikhs
Sikh religious leaders representing thousands of gurdwaras met in New Delhi to adopt a five year greening plan which includes a long-term commitment to green their gurdwaras (temples) in terms of energy use, the types of building materials used and their means of transportation, as well as incorporating environmental education into Sikh school curricula. The movement is to be called ‘EcoSikh.’  

July 1, 2009:
The Programme for Windsor
  

Updated July 1, 2009 :
Major Faiths Invited to Celebrate 7 Year Plans at Windsor Castle
The first Plans for Generational Change will be launched by faiths at Windsor Castle in November - just before the Copenhagen climate change negotiations.   

June 30, 2009:
ARC buys exquisite small artworks for our website and publications
ARC has recently bought several works by Seattle artist Marsha Hollingsworth, to use on our website and in our publications.  

June 26, 2009:
Nairobi - a Place of Cold Water. Reflections before the faith and water conference
In advance of a major conference in the UK on Faith and Water, Elizabeth Idiumenah travelled to the slums of Nairobi to learn about a church that is running extensive programmes on water and sanitation.  

June 26, 2009:
Details announced of Muslim 7YP meeting in Istanbul
The forthcoming Conference for the Muslim 7 Year Plan Declaration will take place in Istanbul on 6 and 7 July 2009. It is hoped key scholars from across the spectrum of the Islamic faith will endorse the plan and declare it to be the Muslim 7 Year Action Plan to respond to climate change.  

Updated July 3, 2009:
Faith in Water Workshop: 5-7 July 2009
Linking faith with water facilities and school toilets does not sound like an obvious step, yet it is important. Water is central to many religions: as the source of life, it often represents birth and rebirth. In July ARC hosts the first ever Faith in Water conference, at Sarum College in Salisbury.  

June 4, 2009:
Pray and Engage: the Archbishop of Canterbury advises Anglicans to act for nature
"I think there are two things we can do. We can, and we should, pray. Climate change is not only an environmental issue - probably the most important we face; it is also an issue of justice... The second thing we can do is get involved in the preparations for Copenhagen." Archbishop Rowan Williams  

June 8, 2009:
Druze dedicate Lebanon's fragile Jisr el Qadi region as a Sacred Gift
The journey to create the most recent Sacred Gift started in 2003 when ARC met some of the key Druze decision-makers within the Shouf Valley. Sheikh Sami attended ARC meetings in Turkey and Sweden to discuss investments and forestry, “and when I returned from Sweden I was convinced it was time for the Druze to create a sacred gift.”  

June 3, 2009:
Sikhs launch EcoSikh movement, to create Five Year Plan to Protect the Planet
In 1999 the Sikh communities worldwide agreed that the next 300 year cycle would be the Cycle of Creation. This decision has begun to shape and influence the way Sikh communities worldwide perceive the future. The Sikh Five Year Plan is the next historic step.  

June 3, 2009:
It’s Heating Up: The Planet’s Largest Civil Society Movement for Change
"During a recent visit to China, I participated in what will surely be one of the most memorable moments of my career: Daoist masters gathered to agree on a 7 year plan for climate change action. The overall strength and sustainability of religions was immediately apparent to me. " The Assistant SG of UNDP writes a persuasive argument for religions to be involved in environment negotiations  

June 2, 2009:
Indian spiritual leaders go green: five inspiring examples of good practice
A Guinness Record for Tree Planting; Protection of the Ganges; a 40 day Buddhist Trek to Ladakh promoting sustainable bags; a Nine Year Plan.   

May 5, 2009 :
Key Muslim-Japanese conference embraces Muslim 7YP
A critical boost to the Muslim Seven Year Plan (M7YAP) initiative was given this spring in a key paper issued by the prestigious Annual Dialogue meeting of Japan and Muslim Nations.   

May 1, 2009:
Board of Deputies of British Jews publishes new Fairtrade brochure
"Tzedakah", Hebrew for charity, is central to Jewish values and prayers. The root is "Tzedek", meaning "Justice" and the Torah teaches "Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof" - Justice, Justice, Shall you Pursue." A guide to Fair Trade by the Board of Deputies of British Jews which outlines theological and moral reasons for buying Fair Trade goods - full of analysis, background and human stories.  

April 17 2009:
Reviews of new books about Faith and the Environment
There we were, at ARC Head Office, thinking that it would be a wonderful idea to compile a book full of stories from some of the faith leaders who have been working with the environment for many years… and now two have come along at once...  

April 16 , 2009:
US Catholics launch Carbon Footprint Challenge
Many Catholic communities throughout the US are responding to the Pope's interest in caring for Creation - and to their own sense of wanting to look after the natural environment. The Who's Under Your Carbon Footprint? launched this week to encourage Catholics around the world to take the St Francis Pledge   

April 14, 2009:
Key meeting in Jerusalem to create Jewish Seven Year Plan
A "Seven Year Plan for the Jewish People on Climate Change and Sustainability" has been drafted, and its discussion sessions launched with a key meeting in Jerusalem last week, attended by some 55 experts: rabbis, scientists, businesspeople, environmentalists, policy makers and educators.  

April 8, 2009:
A rare event in the Jewish calendar - the celebration of Bircat Hachamah
"Bircat Hachamah is one of the rarest events in the Jewish calendar. It only happens once every twenty-eight years - and it happens this year (2009/5769) on the morning before Pesach.   

April 1, 2009:
Putting Catholic faith into action on climate change
The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is launching a unique and unprecedented initiative to demonstrate a common Catholic commitment to care for God’s creation.   

April 1, 2009 :
Chilean Catholic Conference adds Water and Environment to Agenda
The theme of Water will now be discussed at the forthcoming Chilean Catholic Conference of Bishops in April - thanks to the efforts of The Bishop of Aysén, Monsignor Luis Infante.   

April 1, 2009 :
Faith in Water Workshop: 5-7 July 2009
An ARC-EMF-IRC workshop being held in July will focus on faith schools, water, sanitation and hygiene.   

March 30, 2009:
17th Karmapa holds Buddhist Environment Conference
HH Ogyen Drodul Trinley Dorje, who has shown a passion for environmental protection since he was a young teenager, hosted the first ever Conference on Environmental Protection for Kagyu Monasteries and Centres last week. The move could lead to increased environmental awareness throughout the Himalayas.  

March 17 2009:
Merging worlds – Slime Moulds, the Environment and Human Dignity
ARC's Catholic consultant, shows why watching religions working on conservation is like watching slime moulds - and why this is not just good, it is wonderful.  

March 10 2009:
Follow ARC's Twitter account
ARC has created a Twitter account: link here to follow us.  

March 2, 2009 :
ARC is sad to announce the death of President Kawai, MOA International
One of ARC's founders, President Kawai of MOA International, passed away in Japan at the end of last month. President Kawai helped to found ARC in 1995 and MOA has been an important supporter of ARC ever since.   

February 26 2009:
ARC's Mongolian Buddhist handbook launched to acclaim in UB
When the World Bank NEMO fund in Mongolia asked ARC to create a handbook to working with Buddhists on the Environment, none of us expected that we would not only uncover extraordinary stories but also help create new, important, devotional materials.   

February 20, 2009:
Muslim Seven Year Plan to be core part of annual Japan-Muslim Nations Dialogue
There has been a strong call, through ARC's Seven Year Plan Programme for an international umbrella body to be formed, called the Muslim Association for Climate Change Action (MACCA).  

February 9, 2009 :
Jesuits make a call in Defence of Life – by which they mean All of Life
How do we balance the needs of the poor, the environment and development? And where does spirituality fit in? ARC joined Jesuits for a gathering to discuss action in the run up to the World Social Forum, Brazil   

February 8, 2009:
Jewish Birthday of the Trees is the First Birthday for a leading sustainable synagogue
This year, the Jewish celebration of "Tu B'Shvat," the “re-birthday of the trees” falls from the evening of Sunday February 8 to Monday February 9. In Illinois, one leading reconstructionist congregation will be celebrating both the re-birthday of the trees, and the first birthday of the sustainable re-construction of their own synagogue.  

February 2, 2009:
Guardian newspaper quotes extensively from ARC's China work
The Guardian newspaper last week published a column about the quiet beginnings of a revival of faiths in China which quoted extensively from ARC’s work in that area.   

February 2, 2009 :
Catholic Schools Eco Newsletter No.8
ARC's eighth Catholic Schools eco newsletter, with outcomes of a report on "Leading Sustainable Schools" and news of an eco-Hindu school.   

January 23, 2009:
Future of the Amazon a Catholic issue says leading lay activist
Where does the Catholic Church stand on protecting the Amazon and the flora and fauna that live there? Mary Colwell poses some hard-hitting questions.  

January 16, 2009 :
Faith Schools are top in the Sustainability League – WWF-UK says.
A WWF-UK report for NCSL indicates faith schools and colleges tend to be the first, and most active, in the development of sustainable activities and practices.

  

January 5, 2009:
Catholic project helped by ARC wins award for podcast
Clifton Diocese took silver at the Christian Broadcasting Council Awards with ‘Journey - The Sound of Many Waters Podcast’ - a reflection on the diocese's year of acting and thinking ecologically, which was conceived and planned with ARC's help.   

December 18, 2008:
Muslim Seven Year Plan Emerges
Representatives from Islamic NGOs, academics, government figures and Muslim environmental activists held a meeting in Kuwait to focuss on the Muslim Seven Year Plan. Islamic states and Muslim communities from all over the world will be invovled in creating a Muslim plan for generational change.  

December 12 2008:
ARC's Sacred Site Nomination Boosts Campaign to Save Gulf of Mannar
ARC is seeking to have the Gulf of Mannar designated as one of the world’s first internationally recognised ‘Sacred Sites.’   

December 12, 2008 :
Catholic Eco Schools Newsletter No.7
Stories for December include: What Can A Million Kids Do?, Advent and the Twelve C's of Christmas and how a village primary school in Scotland is helping create power for their Christmas lights.  

December 12, 2008:
2009 heralds new eco-convent for Benedictine nuns
An eco-convent being designed for Benedictine nuns will offer them an environmentally-friendly lifestyle in keeping with their "simple living" ethos.  

December 2 2008:
Uppsala Manifesto promises faith action on climate issues
A manifesto signed at an interfaith climate summit in Uppsala Sweden last week calls on political leaders to reach agreement during the preparations of the new global Climate Protocol 2009 - to create a strategy that is sufficiently responsible and ambitious.  

December 1 2008:
Christians urged to Reclaim Christmas
Christians are putting "the waiting back into waiting" during the traditional Advent period of December this year. With the motto: “Shop less, live more, save the earth” the team at Operation Noah is encouraging people to see Advent as a period of "quiet reflection while the Church of England has launched Why Are We Waiting? campaign, complete with quiz to urge Anglicans to Pray Now, Buy Later.  

November 28, 2008:
Pesantrens inspire forest replanting in Aceh, Indonesia
Pesantrens, local Achinese religious schools, are inspiring forest replanting and encouraging the growth of eco villages in the formerly beleaguered Aceh province of Indonesia.  

November 11, 2008 :
MUSLIMS discuss an Islamic SEVEN YEAR PLAN
Representatives from Islamic NGOs, academics, government figures and Muslim environmental activists held a meeting in Kuwait to focuss on the Muslim Seven Year Plan. Islamic states and Muslim communities from all over the world will be invovled in creating a Muslim plan for generational change.  

November 10, 2008 :
Catholic Schools Eco Newsletter No.6
Highlights of the sixth edition of the Catholic Schools Eco Newsletter include an octopus garden at St Teresa's and Operation Noah's Campaign for Christians to Reclaim Christmas.  

November 6 2008:
Daoists in China issue an Eight Year Plan for Generational Change on the Environment
The first “Seven Year Plan” in the ARC-UN Programme to work with faiths for Generational Change was created last week by some of Daoism’s most senior leaders. However, since eight is an auspicious number in Daoism, they decided to dub it an Eight Year Plan instead.  

November 5 2008:
Daoism—the way forward on climate change? By Olav Kjorven, Deputy head of UNDP
Last week something unprecedented happened in China. It may not have been as glitzy spectacular as the Olympics in Beijing over the summer. It did not attract heads of state or world celebrities. But could it possibly leave a more lasting imprint on the future of China and indeed the world? The Assistant Secretary General of UNDP, Olav Kjorven, gives his take on the latest ARC initiative  

October 27, 2008:
ARC cited as critical United Nations partner in ecology-faith partnerships
The Times Herald features the new partnerships forged by the United Nations with religious communities ... And uses ARC's work as a major example.  

October 27, 2008:
Third Daoist Ecology Forum opens in Jurong, Jiangsu - and this one is country-wide
The third Daoist Ecology Forum opened this morning in the city of Jurong, near Nanjing in Jiansu Province, with 69 monks and nuns from all around the country participating, as well as 120 government officials - including senior members of the religious bureau - ARC and the UN also attended.  

October 17, 2008:
International recognition for conservation of sacred natural sites in protected areas
The IUCN this month awarded special status to sacred natural sites. Find out more about this and about how ARC has pioneered Sacred Land projects since 1997.   

Oct 15 2008:
ARC's Catholic eco-schools newsletter programme goes into its second school year
ARC's Catholic eco-schools newsletter programme goes into its second school year this week, with issue number five, on the subject of eco-initiatives and twinning with other schools.  

14 October 2008:
Catholic Schools Eco Newsletter No.5
The latest eco newsletter for Catholic Schools and Colleges includes a reminder about International Walk to School Month, the Sound of Many Waters initiative and a new museum dedicated to nature. And available to download here is ARC's leaflet on Ecology and Catholic Schools.  

October 3 2008:
The Pope Urges Tourists to Think Green - and installs solar panels at the Vatican
Last Saturday the Pope returned to the theme of respect for God's creation in an address marking the UN's World Tourism day. And two days later workers started installing 2,700 solar panels on the roof of the Vatican's Paul VI auditorium, which will save the equivalent of 35 tonnes of oil every week during the cold season.  

September 19, 2008:
Green guide for Muslim households published in time for Ramadan
British Muslims have published a new booklet explaining the impact of climate change using Islamic references and explaining why Muslims must do their bit for the environment.   

September 15 2008:
Religious Leaders join with Climate Institute Australia
Leaders of several faiths link with the Climate Institute in Australia and call for action on climate change.   

September 10 2008:
Hindu leaders launch massive campaign to save the Ganges
A group of 250 spiritual heads representing most religious sects and Hindu organisations across India has launched a campaign to “Save the Ganga” river.   

1 September, 2008:
Church of England's Guide Aims to Reduce Carbon Footprint
To mark the beginning of the six week Christian Creationtide festival of environmental awareness, the Church of England has published a new guide entitled "Don't Stop at the Lights". Creationtide continues until October 4.   

August 28, 2008:
Church of South India - eight actions to combat climate change
The Church of South India has issued a practical statement on its planned approach to climate change, including hedges made of bamboo and vetiver around school and church buildings, and encouraging digging mud pits to renew water reserves.  

August 22 2008:
Jains celebrate ancient festival in new spirit of environmental care
Mumbai's slaughterhouses closed for a nine day religious festival, while Jains around the world meditate on their souls, and on the natural world.  

21 August 2008:
India's Temples Go Green - a story about faith and carbon points
The Tirumala temple, in the south Indian city of Tirupathi, is one of Hinduism's holiest shrines. Over 5,000 pilgrims a day visit this city of seven hills, filling Tirumala's coffers with donations and making it India's richest temple. But as Time Magazine reports, since 2002 Tirumala has also been generating revenue from a less likely source: carbon credits.   

August 12 2008:
Holy Sites discussed - but as places for Conflict or for Dialogue?
More than fifty religious leaders from Bosnia, Kosovo, Turkey, Armenia and the Holy Land highlighted concerns over their sacred sites in a major meeting in Trondheim, Norway, at the end of last month.  

August 5 2008:
JAKARTA POST: Conservation work in Indonesia requires religious essentials
Today's Jakarta Post includes a commentary on the importance of including faiths in conservation work: and urging religious leaders to get involved.  

29 July 2008:
Sustainable Living Islam Camp Promotes Faith and Nature
Almost 5,000 visitors visited the recent sustainable "Living Islam Camp" in Lincolnshire. Events included workshops focussing on windpower and recycling by IFEES as well as tree walks by IFEES and the RSPB.   

July 23 2008:
Eco Article in the Malaysian Sun cites ARC's work as good initiative
An article in Malaysia's The Star newspaper today about the Christian ecological organisation A Rocha and the growing interest in the environment from faith communities, singles out ARC's work as a good initiative working with a range of religions.  

July 22 2008:
Hua Shan to be managed as a DAOIST mountain for the first time in 70 years
In a major about-turn in management policy, all the decision-making bodies on the Chinese Daoist mountain of Hua Shan have decided to build their management programme around the fact that this is a Daoist Sacred Mountain.   

July 11 2008:
UN/ARC Seven Year Plan for Generational Change
After a year of discussions, consultations and drafts, ARC is proud to announce the launch, with the UNDP, of the Guide to Creating Seven Year Plans. The purpose is to help faith communities to move into a new stage of environmental action, reflection and thought. Many have already done audits and have looked into traditional practices for eco-friendly ways of living. This is the next level of engagement.  

10 July 2008:
Eco-twinning offers a chance for action and understanding
Eco-twinning is a new UN-ARC initiative offering the chance to combat climate change and help (and learn more about) those affected by linking churches globally.   

July 6, 2008:
Churches Together produce new resource pack for Creation Time
The ecumenical organisation Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has put together a programme of resources for use in 'Creation Time', running for five weeks from September 1 to October 4.  

1 July 2008:
Religious leaders remind G8 summit that the eco crisis is a crisis of the heart
The real environmental issue for our generation is the issue of the heart and mind. This was the conclusion of a major meeting of some 150 religious leaders, foreign delegates and scholars in Japan prior to the G8 Leaders Summit.  

27 June 2008:
New eco-faith initiative launched
Interfaith Dorset Education and Action (IDEA) hopes to encourage deeper understanding of caring for our world.  

23 June 2008:
A New Home and Buddhist Blessing for a Rare Hairy Nosed Otter
Conservation International is involved in a Buddhist Blessing celebrating a new home for rare otter in Cambodia.  

June 19 2008:
Buddhists commit to the environment on UN Vesak Day
A meeting in Hanoi of 600 Buddhist leaders from 90 countries last month emphasised the importance of caring for the natural environment in a major new declaration about Buddhist's role in building a “just, democratic, and civil society”.  

13 June 2008, :
Keynote Address by Rt. Rev. Dr. Nyansako-Ni Nku, AACC President, on Climate Change and Water Consultation
The All Africa Conference of Churches President highlights the effect climate change has on humans through the agricultural sector, health, migration and employment, calling for responsible global leadership to respond.   

June 11 2008:
Cambodian monks make eco-Buddhism video available to all
ARC's sister organisation ABE in Cambodia has just issued its promotional film on Youtube. Not only is it a good way to see some of the wonderful projects Cambodian Buddhists have been involved with, but it also embodies ABE's mission to use new technology to preserve old ways of caring for nature.   

June 9, 2008:
CSI Synod urges two-yearly green audits - and more ecological awareness
A major ecological meeting of the Church of South India (CSI) in Chennai issued a long term directive to Christians and government officers throughout the country to work harder to preserve the natural environment.  

May 20 2008:
For the first time, a practical Muslim Theology of the Sea
The first Theology of the Sea for Muslims has now been published. Initially compiled to promote conservation among Muslim fishing families in Tanzania threatening the fragile coral environment through their dynamite fishing, most of the theology and teachings are appropriate and useful for any marine conservation programme in Islamic areas.The authors - from IFEES - have waived their copyrights, and this material is available for all.   

May 19 2008:
Revisiting Khalsa wood: a Sikh woodland and a model faith and environment project
In 1999 British Sikhs planted a special woodland on the outskirts of Nottingham to mark the 300th anniversary of Vaiskakhi, the fellowship of baptised Sikhs. Nine years later it is a quiet place, used for walks, picnics, ceremonies and meditation by many communities.  

9 May 2008:
New eco-Congregation Website Launched
eco-Congregation launches a new website encouraging churches in the UK to protect the environment   

April 29 2008:
ARC on NPR yesterday and in Climate Change debate at Bath Abbey tonight
Link here to listen to yesterday's feature on ARC on National Public Radio (NPR) in the United States.

ARC's secretary general Martin Palmer is also on the panel for a debate at Bath Abbey tonight, titled: 'CLIMATE CHANGE: What is happening? What can we do? Can Bath become an eco city?'   

April 22, 2008 :
The 27th Earth Day includes more religious initiatives than ever
Today, Tuesday 22nd April is the 28th annual "Earth Day" in the US. Although there are many such days in the year – as well as the UN’s June 5, many faiths celebrate their own days of creation - some of the material might be useful for the faiths  

April 14 2008:
Southern Baptists Convention challenged on global warming - by its own youth
A small but powerful group within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in the United States has challenged the denomination's official stance on global warming, stating that: "when we destroy God's creation, it's similar to ripping pages from the Bible." The interest in the story by the world's media indicates that religion and environment is now a mainstream issue.  

April 10, 2008:
The Church of South India becomes ARC's latest partner
"Our aim is to keep this beautiful world beautiful, and not to turn it into a wasteland:" Bishop Thomas Samuel of Madhya Kerala diocese explains eloquently why it is time to take action   

April 9 2008:
Listen to dawn again: the sound of many waters and many birds
The BBC listened to and broadcast the sounds of dawn in the Bishop of Clifton Cathedral's garden in Bristol, England this week, as part of a Catholic year of paying attention to, and caring for nature. If you missed dawn on Sunday, then listen to it here: it is inspiring.  

March 31, 2008:
Year of Catholic Eco Action continues Sunday with Dawn Chorus in Bishop's Garden
As part of the year-long series of environmental events at Bristol's Catholic Clifton Cathedral the Bishop, Rt Rev Declan Lang, is hosting a dawn chorus on Sunday April 6 - in his back garden. It will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 4.  

March 30 2008:
First Islamic Conservation Guide launched - to help Muslim fishermen protect their seas
The world's first Islamic conservation guide has been launched in Zanzibar by the UK-based Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences.  

March 28 2008:
Switch off your lights for Earth Hour tomorrow night
A year ago, in Sydney, WWF and other activists invited people to switch off their lights and appliances for one hour. More than two thousand businesses and 2.2 million people did exactly that – to demonstrate their support for global action against climate change. Their effort reduced the city's energy consumption by more than 10.2% during that hour – equivalent, astonishingly, to taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year.  

March 24, 2008:
Mexican Huichol protest road passing through their sacred land
For the past two weeks 700 people in the Sierra Madre Occidental region of Central Mexico have sat patiently night and day in the dusty lay-by of a half-begun highway to protest the scheduled destruction of many kilometres of a sacred and ecologically fragile pilgrimage route.   

March 11 2008:
Polluting the environment: one of 7 “new” mortal sins, Vatican says
The Apostolic Penitentiary says it's wrong to pollute in a new list of mortal sins that also includes genetic modification, human experimentation, social injustice, causing poverty, financial gluttony, and drug abuse.  

10 March 2008:
ARC launches Catholic Schools Eco Newsletter
ARC has launched a newsletter to bring Catholic schools together to talk about what they are doing to help the natural environment. The first newsletter was issued in February.  

February 5 2008:
Innovative faith and forest programme starts in Lebanon
An ancient proverb states that: “the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago…. The second best time is TODAY”. With this in mind, ARC’s long-term partner in Lebanon, is starting an innovative ten-year faith and conservation programme to help plant trees and new ideas about careful management of religious resources.  

January 21, 2008:
Jews celebrate the Birthday of the Trees
This evening Jews around the world celebrate the festival of Tu B'Shvat – the Birthday of the Trees.  

January 2, 2008:
Quiet Garden Trust celebrates 15 years... and 300 gardens
In 1993 a British vicar had an idea that private individuals might make their gardens available to others to enjoy sanctuary and stillness for a short time...  

December 18 2007:
Successful event on religions and climate change at Bali COP
“Even if the end of the world comes today, if you have a seed in your hand, then plant it, before you do anything else.” With this strong environmental statement by the Prophet Muhammad, there began a groundbreaking side event on religions and climate change at the Bali COP conference last week – attended by the President of Indonesia, and advised by ARC.  

December 11 2007:
Thought for the Day: climate change a spiritual issue
"At root, the climate crisis isn't just political, economic or even environmental. It's spiritual." Link here for today's Thought for the Day from BBC Radio 4.   

December 10, 2007:
A sweet world and verdant green: faith quotes for Bali
This week representatives of the world's governments meet in Bali to discuss the post-Kyoto Protocol. To aid them in their deliberations, ARC has put together a booklet of quotations from the four main faiths represented in Indonesia   

December 7 2007:
UN and ARC launch programme with faiths on climate change
The UN has asked ARC to help launch an innovative programme for faiths to tackle climate change. This is the first time the UN has involved the faiths at this scale.  

December 6, 2007:
THEY MUST HAVE FAITH: poem about faiths & forests conference
"They have come here to help their trees,/Who could not attend the meeting./ The forests may provide material for conference tables/ But they never get to sit around them... They must have faith." An incisive poem by Swedish artist Bosse Carlgren about the Faith and Forests meeting in Gotland.  

November 26 2007:
Humane Society in America begins working with faiths
The Humane Society has employed a religions officer as part of its increased commitment to engage with faith communities in animal protection.   

November 23 2007:
Leading Huichol expert John C Lilly dies
ARC is sorry to announce the death last week of the American ethno-cinematographer John C Lilly Jr. - a great supporter of, and authority on, the culture of the Huichol people of Central Mexico.   

November 20 2007:
World's first “green Bible” is published in the USA
This month a “green Bible” was launched in the USA by leading publisher Thomas Nelson.It is the first Bible intended for wide-scale distribution to have been printed on recycled and FSC-certified paper.  

November 21, 2007:
“Eco-Sikh” leads Indian campaign to save the Kali Bein river
A Sikh “eco-baba” has sent an SOS to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a bid to protect holy rivers from pollution by vested interests.  

November 16, 2007:
Bahá’ís in PNG improve their villages' health and education
In a simple but striking example of grass roots development, Baha'i villagers on a remote island have built their own medical aid station. Meanwhile in the south, Baha'i converts are building schools.  

October 29, 2007:
Sierra Club director pledges for first time to work with religions
The head of the influential Sierra Club made a commitment last month to working with religions."I was part of the generation that made the choice – the horrendous strategic blunder – of situating ourselves outside the institutions of faith," said Carl Pope. “Now we have a chance to repent of, and reform from, that error."   

October 9 2007:
Christian leaders in PNG protect mountain from quarry plans: save precious streams
PNG Christians are resisting plans to remove part of a mountain to get road building materials. The green Christian movement in PNG stems partly from an ARC/World Bank initiative to help create a PNG theology of the environment.  

October 1, 2007:
PRESS RELEASE for St Brendan's eco challenge
St Brendan’s College in Bristol to Launch Year-Long Environmental Campaign for Schools in the southwest. Other UK Schools are challenged to join in  

October 1, 2007:
Year of Catholic Eco-Action launched in the UK
A year-long exploration by UK Catholics of our need to care for our environment was launched on Saturday evening (29 September) in Clifton Cathedral, Bristol.   

September 28 2007:
Catholic
Bishop Chris Toohey, world leader in Catholic environmental action on the environment, will launch The Sound of Many Waters year of action at Clifton Cathedral in Bristol tomorrow, Saturday.   

September 24, 2007:
Ancient Yews celebrated in new book
Three ancient yews in a Northumberland churchyard, one of which is said to have protected St Cuthbert when he preached underneath it in the seventh century, have inspired a new book of writing and poetry written by the visually impaired.   

September 21 2007:
Bishops go to Parliament to urge care for the Earth
“People in so-called ‘developed’ countries have missed the plot on the long-term future,” Bishop Chris Toohey of Catholic Earthcare Australia told more than 50 representatives of Christian organisations and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference. His UK visit culminates in the launch of the Sound of Many Waters year of Catholic action assisted by ARC and starting on 29 September at Clifton Cathedral. All welcome.  

September 18 2007:
Millions of hectares of religious forest managed ecologically by 2013
The inaugural Faiths and Forests meeting in Visby, Sweden culminated late last month in a unanimous agreement to go forward and create a Religious Forestry Standard to be launched at Ise in Japan.  

September 17 2007:
World Water Week recognises religions can make splash
“Don’t underestimate the ability of religions to mobilise and motivate authorities and social assets to get things done,” one participant at the World Water Week event in Stockholm told the gathering.  

September 6 2007:
Druze publish a theology of the forest
For the first time ever, the Druze of Lebanon have announced their theology of the forest. Sheikh Sami Abilmona, the Secretary General of the Druze IFRAN schools in Lebanon, presented a statement on the Druze and the Environment at the Visby Faith and Forestry Gathering, organised by ARC in August 2007.  

September 3 2007:
Church of Sweden Pledges to Protect Ancient Meadows
The Church of Sweden pledged Wednesday to protect its ancient meadows of Gotland, treasure houses of rare flowers and calm green oases among commercial forests. It is part of the Faiths and Forests initiative that ARC is assisting.  

August 21 2007:
Faiths protect Forests: English press release
An unlikely alliance between Shinto priests in Japan and the Lutheran Church of Sweden has led to a meeting next week that will lead to millions of hectares of forests around the world being managed according to ecological principles.  

August 20, 2007:
Cow dung to cooking gas: an Ethiopian nunnery converts
Work has begun on an ARC-funded project to build a bio-digester at Sebata nunnery outside Addis Ababa. The methane produced from waste organic material will fuel all meals for more than 1200 children and nuns.   

August 10 2007:
Cambodian Monks Join Efforts to Preserve the Cardamoms
Deep in the heart of Cambodia’s Central Cardamom Mountains, monks and conservationists are joining together to protect the region’s endangered flora and fauna.   

July 30, 2007:
PNG pastors clear rubbish where others have failed
An initiative by an evangelical Christian group in a remote area of Papua New Guinea has led to a “transformation” of their township through community rubbish collection and is a natural continuation of awareness-raising activities throughout the area, supported by ARC since 2003.  

July 27 2007:
Making Muslim Brum Beautiful
Young Muslims in Birmingham, UK are joining together this summer on a “people action” to make their city greener. The “clean medina campaign” includes rappers, film crews, coffee, music, jingles, and a lot of brushes and dustbin bags.  

July 6 2007:
Buddhist film is audience's choice at Cambodian festival
ARC’s sister group ABE has won audience choice prize in the Cambodia Environment Film Festival. It includes footage of a new tradition of ordaining trees to protect them.   

June 26 2007:
Major stakeholders to attend Visby meeting
Representatives from Lutherans, Russian Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox, Catholic, Maronite, Shinto, Druze, Buddhist and other religious-owned forests, as well as WWF, CI, the UN, the World Bank will attend the Visby discussions on faith and forests in August. A list of FAQs about the meeting is now available online.  

June 18 2007:
The sage Lao Zi to be Daoist God of Ecological Protection
The great Daoist sage Lao Zi has been adopted by some of China's most prominent Daoist temples as China's God of Ecological Protection, heralding a new role for Daoists throughout the country.  

June 11 2007:
Photographs of the opening of the Daoist Ecology Temple
At the foot of the great pilgrimage trail of Tai Bai mountain there is a tree, said to be 3,000 years old. The Chinese call it the "armour" tree because its wood is as tough as metal, and the Daoist pilgrims drape it with lucky red banners, for good luck and wise thoughts, before they make their journey...  

May 31 2007:
Archbishop Tutu leads Environment Day prayers at Arctic Cathedral
For some Christians, World Environment Day this year will start two days early – with a special service held on Sunday at the Arctic Cathedral in Tromso, Norway, led by South Africa’s former Archbishop Desmond Tutu. World Environment Day is Tuesday June 5.  

May 31 2007:
Daoist Ecology workshop hugely oversubscribed
The first full-scale workshop at ARC’s new Daoist Ecology Temple at Taibaishan this weekend is four-times oversubscribed.   

May 14 2007:
Whales, turtles and timber: news from Indonesia
It is saving whales in Nusa Tenggara Province, it has protected rare turtles on Bali Island, and it is encouraging the use of sustainable timber in Aceh Province… The “religions approach” is being applied to conservation projects all over Indonesia, and it seems that in many places we are beginning to see successes.  

April 30 2007:
UNESCO recognises relevance of faiths in sustainable development
For the first time, UNESCO recognised the critical role of faiths in both education and development, in a conference held in Barcelona last month, hosted by UNESCO-CAT.  

April 27 2007:
ARC urges action at the International Dao De Jing Forum
More than 500 delegates attended China's first ever major Daoist forum this week - including leading priests and scholars, and the Chinese Minister for Religions. The programme included a strand that explored Daoism's role in nature, and ARC was invited to present one of the key speeches.  

April 21 2007:
ARC's consultants edit new ATLAS OF RELIGION
Did you know that each year around 125 million New Testaments are printed, making them the world's best-selling books? Or that since 1974, over 300 Islamic Banks have been created, handling $250 billion in assets? Or that Christian giving in 2005 was £297 billion? Or that all these facts and more can be found in the new Atlas of Religion?   

April 20 2007:
Untimely death of our colleague, Tony Poulter
All of us at ARC would like to announce our sadness at the sudden death of Tony Poulter, at the age of just 49. He had been one of the guiding forces behind the Eco-Coffins project in South Africa, run by the Working for Water Project. He was one of the first people to make use of an eco-coffin: an irony that he would have appreciated.   

2 April 2007:
Churches begin to go green for Palm Sunday
It is a multi-million dollar business, it is threatening the world’s forests and rare bird populations, it stems from a procession of peace… it is Palm Sunday, and churches around the world - with the support of ARC, CI and other NGOs - are beginning to do something about it.   

February 26, 2007:
Climate Change documentary wins two Oscars
For some in America it might be a most Inconvenient Oscar, but last night former US vice president Al Gore picked up an Academy Award for his shocking documentary on Climate Change, with another award picked up for the film’s original theme song.  

February 12 2007:
God is Green and the Religions are too
Tonight Channel 4 is broadcasting a programme in the UK called "God Is Green”, presented by former Catholic seminarian Mark Dowd, who criticises religions for not doing enough to reduce climate change. While we welcome the debate, we at ARC really believe that religions are greening their act.   

February 9 2007:
CI works with Colombian Catholics to save parrot from extinction
Five years ago, Conservation International and its partners forged a partnership with the Roman Catholic church in Colombia to save the yellow-eared parrot and the tall wax palm from almost guaranteed extinction. Today, the alliance is lauded as one of the most successful biodiversity conservation campaigns in Latin America - and the parrots and wax palms are multiplying  

February 5 2007:
ARC features in UNEP's Tunza Magazine
The United Nations Environment Programme this month featured an article on ARC’s flagship programme with the Daoists in China – rebuilding a ruined temple in Shaanxi Province as both a temple and a centre for environmental education.   

February 1 2007:
The Big Green Jewish Website
A wonderful new environmental resource was launched today in the form of The Big Green Jewish Website, created by the Noah project and the Jewish Board of Deputies with ARC's help. "It's the first environmental website I've seen which starts with a good joke."  

January 15 2007:
Benedictines listen to the Earth
Benedictine sisters of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania have published an eco-handbook for Benedictine communities in Latin America. "More than ever, the earth is calling to us. Are we listening?"  

January 5, 2007:
Powerful vision statement for AMEN
AMEN has now published its mission statement, including a powerfully stated vision of: “African Muslims helping African Muslims helping the earth.”  

December 18 2006:
WWF and ARC publish book highlighting sacred protected areas
WWF and ARC have published the ground-breaking book Beyond Belief exploring how faiths can protect sacred forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, seas and deserts.  

December 13, 2006:
Pope tackles issues of ecology and energy use
The Pope yesterday spoke out about how peace can only be attained by respecting the natural environment as well as the human environment.  

December 14 2006:
Australian Climate Institute asks faiths about climate change
Australia’s Climate Institute has sponsored a powerful document asking 16 faith groups to advise on climate change  

November 16, 2006:
It's time to ask faiths to be partners: major donors say
European governments and international agencies last week asked why faith communities were not automatically considered as civil society partners in development. And they agreed to rethink.   

October 20 2006:
New bid to protect full 400km Mexican pilgrim route
The Huichol Indians have started talks with the Mexican government to protect the length of their 400K pilgrimage route, including forests and wetlands: places where shamans have performed ceremonies for centuries.   

October 19 2006:
The Religion Approach works for Turtles in Indonesia
Leading Balinese environmentalist yesterday received a major international award for his work with local Hindu leaders to protect tens of thousands of rare turtles killed for ceremonies every year. Today Balinese finding turtles on the beach make a ceremony for them, and return them to the sea.  

September 25 2006:
With Deep Sadness
It is with deep sadness that we announce that Jill Bowling, trustee for ARC, head of conservation for WWF-UK and friend to many of us here, died on Saturday, in a helicopter crash in Nepal where all 24 passengers and crew were killed.   

September 22 2006:
Mongolians clean up sacred hillside
Ulan Baatar has its first "clean-up" day with monks and students removing hundreds of plastic bags, bottles and other debris from one of the city's most sacred sites.  

August 22, 2006:
Daoists pledge to protect sacred landscapes
Last month Daoist monks and nuns representing ten major temples in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces declared formally that they would protect the environment around their sacred lands and buildings.  

August 8 2006:
Al Gore tells An Inconvenient Truth
It has been called "the scariest movie of the summer"... The former vice president of the US shares a starring role with the global warming issue in a controversial new eco-documentary. An Inconvenient Truth comes out in September, after a succesful preview at Sundance.  

UPDATED August 9 2006:
AFDC helps refugees in Lebanon
ARC’s partner in Lebanon is marshalling its forest teams and protecting refugees from the Israel-Hizbollah conflict. Meanwhile the environmental devastation becomes clearer. Find out how to help.   

July 25 2006:
Major Religion and Development Conference scheduled for Oslo
The Norwegian government is working with ARC, UNDP and the World Bank to host a conference to help encourage - and maintain - strategic partnerships between faiths, governments and major funders.   

July 22 2006:
Prince Andrew visits Mongolian eco-ger
During his visit to Mongolia last week, Prince Andrew visited a model "eco-ger" in Ulaan Baator - part of ARC's extensive environmental projects with Buddhists in Mongolia, sponsored by the World Bank and the Dutch Government.  

July 1, 2006:
ARC joins Sacred Orchid Project in Mexico
ARC has begun work with Mexican environmental charity Pro Natura, on a project to conserve rare and endangered plant-species, particularly those used in religious ceremonies.   

June 22, 2006:
Daoists announce first ecology workshop on sacred mountain
Daoists will hold their first conservation workshop at the end of July 2006 - on the pilgrimage mountain of Taibaishan in central China.  

June 14 2006:
Faiths and Forests
In terms of forestry protection, the faiths might be said to have the Four P's. Production; purchasing; preservation; persuasion. ARC gives presentation at major forest conference in Portland, Oregon.   

May 11 2006:
BBC works with ARC for special climate change Songs of Praise
As part of the BBC’s groundbreaking “Climate Chaos” season this month, Songs of Praise is broadcasting a special programme on May 28 to explore the Christian contribution to the environment debate. It includes an interview with ARC’s Martin Palmer about how caring for nature is integral to Christian thinking.  

May 8 2006:
Buddhists in China issue two major environment agreements
A groundbreaking Buddhist conference in China has issued two major agreements encouraging Buddhists to take practical steps to improve and protect the environment. Many found ARC's presentation inspiring.   

April 19 2006:
Buddhists run inspirational projects in Cambodia
ARC talks to one of the most inspirational and effective Buddhist organisations in Cambodia.  

March 21, 2006:
Prince Charles visits Sacred Gift project in Egypt
The Prince of Wales began his five-day visit to Egypt yesterday with a visit to the Al-Azhar Park in Cairo, built on the site of a 500-year-old rubbish tips and one of the Sacred Gifts presented at the WWF/ARC Kathmandu meeting in 2000.   

March 17 2006:
Mexican faith leaders back the carbon trading initiative
The Inter-Religious Council of Mexico this month announced that a coalition of religious leaders would work together to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of their houses of worship and to “offset” its impact by investing in clean energy and forestry projects.   

March 16 2006:
New Mongolian calendars include ancient no-hunting guidelines
A unique calendar has been published in Ulaanbaatar for circulation amongst monasteries, Buddhist schools, herder families and local settlements, detailing those dates that are inauspicious for hunting, cutting trees or eating meat.  

May 4 2005:
An Orthodox Monastery in the Shropshire Hills
Father Silouan speaks of a ruined cottage below the Stiperstones, which has been transformed into a small, peaceful monastery  

March 2, 2006:
World Council of Churches holds Ninth Assembly
Last month the World Council of Churches (WCC) introduced several exciting new events to its General Assembly to underline the increasing concern for ecology being expressed by Christians around the world.   

February 16 2006:
New vision statement and new offices
ARC prepares for the next ten years  

February 14, 2006:
West African Benedictines to adapt Eco Handbook
A decision by the superiors of West African Benedictine monasteries is an exciting example of model projects extending to other communities.   

February 6, 2006:
ARC invites the faiths to conduct their own energy audits
Can you make more efficient use of your place of worship? Have you insulated the roof? Do you switch off the lights? Use long-life bulbs? ARC invites all faiths to fill in a questionnaire and find out how to make their footprints lighter.  

December 21 2005:
Thousands respond to ARC campaign against toxins
Thousands of faith representatives all over Europe sent letters to MEPs last month about their concerns that the REACH legislation – requiring testing of all chemicals – should be passed in the European Parliament. Now the campaign needs even more support.   

November 3, 2005:
Daoists dedicate temple and ecology centre on Taibaishan
Through astrological dances, chanting, processions, invocations and offerings, the three great gods of Taibaishan blessed the site of a Daoist ecology centre on their sacred mountain.  

November 1, 2005:
Churches around Europe gear up to counter toxins
A deeply moving service was held today at St James's Church, Picadilly in London to launch the official ARC liturgy designed for use across Europe in preparation for the REACH legislation debate at the end of this month.   

All invited to 1-11 anti-toxins service in London
ARC and WWF are holding a service at St James' Church Piccadilly at 1pm on November 1. All supporters of both charities, or interested members of the public are invited to attend.  

October 13 2005:
ARC launches liturgy to combat toxins
Churches launch a liturgy in support of REACH anti-toxins legislation, acknowledging the toxic forces let loose in the world and the powers of good that can overcome them.  

Ethiopia, September 30, 2005:
Ethiopian Church Launches Organic Farming Programme
A new organic farming training programme run by the Orthodox Church in central Ethiopia is introducing farmers, clergy and community leaders to alternative and improved methods of caring for the earth  

September 22 2005:
Vacant Position in ARC - Communications officer wanted
ARC is currently advertising for a consultant to work as communications officer until May 2006.   

Nairobi, September 22:
Plans to boost eco-training for clerics in Africa
Meetings with Africa Muslim and Christian groups have led to plans to introduce environmental training to clergy in both faiths.   

September 13, 2005:
ARC offers ideas for the Harvest Festival
Our increase in harvest is often the result of eliminating wildlife, and of subsidising surpluses. ARC offers a liturgy that recognises this but still finds space for celebration.   

1995-2005:
ARC celebrates tenth anniversary with stories
ARC’s key partners tell stories about a decade of projects, and of building relationships.  

July 2 2005:
Northern Buddhists agree 12 major environmental initiatives
The Northern Buddhist Conference on Ecology and Development agrees major initiatives including starting traditions to plant a tree for everyone who dies, founding an organisation to help Russian and Mongolian Buddhist monks protect nature, to offers to fund Chairs of Buddhist Ecology in every Asian Buddhist University.  

Ulan Baator: June 20 2005:
Northern Buddhists launch new ecological network
As the sound of chanting spread across a room full of several hundred Buddhist monks in Ulan Baator this morning, the newly elected President of Mongolia launched a unique event.   

April 19 2005:
3iG launches with 27 founder members and partners
Twenty-seven organizations representing members of seven world religions and an array of banks, philanthropies and SRI organizations, became the founding members of 3iG  

April 14 2005:
BBC Thought for the Day on faith-consistent investment
"By using our power to vote where our money goes we together can make a very different world using powers most of us didn't know we had." Martin Palmer. Today Programme, BBC Radio 4.  

April 11 2005:
Bishop of London urges religions to invest positively
"We have to balance our fiduciary responsibilities with a spiritual imperative to be faith-consistent investors and to learn by being engaged in the debate." Bishop of London at the launch of 3iG.  

April 8, 2005:
International Interfaith Investment Group launches on April 11
PRESS RELEASE: Seven world religions have decided to redefine what makes an investment “good” and to put that into practice.   

By Daniel Dickinson, BBC News, Feb 17, 2005 :
Eco-Islam hits Zanzibar fishermen: BBC STORY
The BBC reports on an ARC-assisted project to help stop dynamite-fishing in Zanzibar  

February 21, 2005:
Formation of new Africa Muslim Environment Network
An ARC gathering of Muslim leaders in Kenya earlier this month is expected to lead to Islamic micro-financing projects; revival of traditional fishing practices and a new African Muslim Environment Network.  

February 3 2005:
Cambodian monks create environmental association
The first official assembly of a new association of Cambodian monks dedicated to environmental conservation will be held in Pnomh Penh in March 2005.   

January 12, 2005:
Website for International Interfaith Investment Group (3iG)
3iG has now opened a website, www.3iGnet.org

January 3, 2005:
ARC advises BBC on religious angle to tsunami disaster
In the wake of the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean this week, ARC has been pleased to be able to help the BBC to contact spiritual leaders from different faiths.  

December 25, 2004:
Queen's Christmas speech features ARC
"The idea that the churches and the AID agencies might talk together a bit more and get together a bit more is a very good idea." HM The Queen. African Christian Leaders Gathering November 2004, quoted in the Queen's Christmas Broadcast.  

Martin Palmer: November 19 2004:
Africa's well-kept secret revealed
The secret is this. That the welfare, education, development and environmental well-being of Africa is largely reliant upon the Churches and Mosques of Africa.   

October 18 2004:
Six new grants for ARC
ARC has secured major new funding from several sources, ensuring not only that it will be able to continue its projects with faiths around the world, but that it can now initiate major new programmes.  

September 1 2004:
African–Christian Leaders' Gathering held in November
The work of the churches in development and ecology projects in Africa is a well-kept secret. Sometimes so well-kept that they don't know the full extent themselves.  

June 24, 2004:
3iG to be launched in April 2005
The International Interfaith Investment Group will bring together world faiths and financial bodies to invest in socially and environmentally responsible investment  

June 19 2004:
Church of Sweden establishes sustainable forests in Mozambique.
An innovative project started by the Church of Sweden, plans to reforest 46,000 hectares in Mozambique – as a profitable and ethical business venture.  

June 16 2004:
Monks and nuns in Southeast Asia pledge to save their forests
A groundbreaking meeting on Buddhism and the Environment in Phnom Penh revealed a firm commitment among Buddhists to manage natural resources in a sustainable way.   

May 5 2004:
Membership drive to save Bagmati River
NGOs and local communities in Nepal will club together to save the sacred Bagmati.  

May 10-14 2004:
Cambodian conference schedule
A unique conference, encouraging networks between Southeast Asian Buddhists and international NGOs - to benefit the environment.  

May 5 2004:
Pagodas become eco-campaigners
Monks in Cambodia and neighbouring countries are taking a leading role in protecting the natural environment: and they are combining forces to do so.  

April 20 2004:
Funding hopes for Cistercian Way
A relic from a 17th century Welsh Saint has become one of the factors in hopes for European funding for a new footpath around sacred Wales.   

March 4 2004:
WWF writes major series of features on ARC
WWF recognises the importance of working with the religions on environmental issues in their latest magazine, distributed to hundreds of thousands of people.  

February 11, 2004:
Looking for Mongolia's lost temples
In a dramatic sign of the recovery of religious identity in Mongolia, a team is seeking to identify the remains of temples that were lost under communist rule.   

January 15, 2004:
Welsh local authorities pledge to create Cistercian Way
After nearly five years of discussions, the longest footpath in Wales is about to become a reality - opening up ancient spiritual sites and monastic pathways to modern pilgrims and walkers.   

January 12 2004:
Return of the Pilgrims to Wales
THE Western Mail reports how ARC is helping the sacred and often secret history of Wales to be celebrated with the mapping of a 650-mile pilgrimage route around the nation.   

December 15 2003:
Reflections for Christmas
As Christians around the world prepare for Christmas, ARC offers some relevant and inspiring readings from other faiths as well.  

November 26, 2003:
Manchester becomes an Eco-Diocese
The Diocese of Manchester has made a landmark decision to become the leading “Environmental Diocese” in Britain.   

November 14, 2003. World Bank, Washington:
ARC and World Bank launch book
"Life without values is no life at all". World Bank President James Wolfensohn launches Faith in Conservation with ARC in a unique partnership.   

November 1, 2003:
Holy Valley Protected
The future of an endangered holy valley was made more secure this week when a Maronite church leader presented a landmark document to HRH the Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace.  

24 October 2003:
Religions Should Teach About Money too: Patriarch urges
The Ecumenical Patriarch urges us all to use all our resources as forces for good... and that includes our money: "After all we are stewards too, of our financial resources".  

17 October 2003:
International Interfaith Investment in Istanbul
Investors from eight religions will meet in Istanbul next week to give new meaning to the term “good investment”.  

September 10 2003:
“Sacred Site” to be recognised term
WWF and ARC have launched a programme for sacred site to be internationally recognised. This will help protect environmentally important sacred places such as mountains, holy rivers and pilgrim routes.   

8 September 2003:
The Prince, the Prime Minister and the Patriarch
HRH Prince Philip has invited Mongolian Prime Minister and President of ARC, Mr Enkhbayar and the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East to Buckingham Palace in October to discuss urgent conservation projects.  

25 July 2003:
Papua New Guinea Christians restore forest
The Hogave Conservation and Retreat Centre, situated in an important nature reserve, will train pastors and laypeople in forest management.  

15 July 2003:
Prime Minister of Mongolia to be first International President of ARC
Nambaryn Enkhbayar, prime minister of Mongolia is ARC's first International President. Enkhbayar is a Buddhist who grew up as a communist – and he has drawn upon his faith to rebuild his country.  

13 July 2003:
Laos set to join the Asian Buddhist Network
Buddhists in Laos are to join the Asian Buddhist network. ARC will offer seed funding for conservation projects in monasteries throughout the country.  

13 July 2003:
East Timor Christians join the Conservation cause
The Catholic Church in Dili has launched a pilot project to plant native trees and plants on parish land - concentrating on species that will help the local community. If it works, the initiative will be adopted island-wide.  

The boy who hated concrete
The story of how a vicar helped people create a garden in a tough high rise estate: and the lives it changed.  

24 December 2002:
Indonesia’s religions meet for first time since Bali bombing
Faith is vital to the majority of people in the world – for some of the poorest it may be all they have. At a meeting in Bogor, funded partly by the World Bank and ARC, representatives from Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist and Confucian faiths, as well as NGOs talk about how to heal the problems of the environment.  

25 November 2002:
Religions to challenge the definition of “good” investments
At a unique meeting held in New York, representatives of 22 major international religious funds agree to move towards creating an organisation to mobilise a proportion of the enormous financial resources of some of the major faiths, in a way that is consistent with their core values.