Former Irish President and Presidential Medal of Peace winner Mary Robinson addressed the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions via video on Thursday, 3rd December, 2009 on the subject of Climate Change and Climate Justice.  “The justice comes in because of the stark injustice of who has created the problem and who is suffering,” Robinson said.  “It is those of us with more developed lifestyles based on carbon that have caused greenhouse gas emissions.”

Click here to watch the video.

The Age has written an article on Parliament major speaker the Venerable Dharma Master Hsin Tao.  Recounting the Master’s personal experiences as a child soldier for Kuo Min Tang, the piece also describes his monastic vocation and ongoing interreligious work and activism.

Speaking on climate change, Hsin Tao observes that “if we can achieve a common understanding of the real problems — the ecological problems facing the earth — then the other problems will solve themselves.”

To read the full article, click here.

In an op-ed published today in one of the United States’ most prestigious publications — The Washington Post — major speaker Katherine Marshall extols the fact and potential of the Parliament of the World’s Religions.  By focusing on topics such as poverty, climate change, the role of women of faith and indigenous peoples, Margaret presents a vision of “a fresh determination to mobilize the energies and creativity…”

To read the full story, click here.

Australian newspaper The Age has published an editorial arguing for a robust international response to climate change from the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.  The piece references a 60-meter-long scroll signed by delegates from the Parliament of the World’s Religions.  The scroll will be sent to support efforts in Copenhagen.  Climate change is a subject of central importance at this year’s Parliament as reflected by the theme of Healing the Earth with Care and Concern.

The end of the Parliament of the World’s Religions will overlap with the beginning of the Climate Change Conference.

To read the full editorial, click here.

Political will and climate change is the focus of a recent article on the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions written by Anglican Media Melbourne.

“Religions aren’t going to determine the fate of emissions or create the technology for cleaner cars, but the role of religion is to muster political will to address the difficult decisions that need to be made,” the article quotes Rev. Dirk Ficca, executive director of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions.

To read the full article, click here.