You're invited to attend

Green Choices for Faith Communities

GAN/GSS Fourth Annual Forum

Sunday March 25, 2012

Organized by the Green Awakening Network and Greening Sacred Spaces.

The forum features a keynote address from Elizabeth May, member of parliament and leader of Canada's Green Party, and workshops on Eco-Justice, Eco-Spirituality and Eco-Praxis.

The forum will run between 12 noon and 5:30 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2012 at the Noor Cultural Centre. The welcome address will begin at 1:30 pm. If you are able, please arrive early to register and take advantage of networking opportunities.

Workshop Registration:

To ease planning and room allocation we are asking you to register in advance for your workshops.   A full list of workshop choices is given below.  Please  read through and select your options before beginning the registration process. 

Payment:

Payment can be made directly by credit card as part of the registration process.  Paying in this way simplifies the administration of the conference and we encourage you to do this. If you wish to pay by cheque please select "other payment options" when registering. Then click the 'pay offline' button and follow the instructions at the foot of the registration page.

Getting There:

The Noor Cultural Centre is located on the south side of Wynford Drive just east of the Don Valley Parkway. To reach the centre by TTC (public transit), take the the Flemingdon 100 bus from either Eglinton or Broadview Station. It runs frequently and stops right in front of Noor. This TTC route is accessible and has bicycle racks.

Photo and Video Recordings:

Photographs and video recordings will be made of this event.   By registering we understand that you are giving permission to be included in them.

For more information contact us by email at greenawakening@tucc.ca or telephone 905.771.5124 ext 25.  We will return your call as soon as possible.

 The Forum Planning Team

Event Program

12:00 pm: Arrivals and networking

12:30 – 1:30 pm: Registration

1:30 pm: Welcome

1:40 – 2:30 pm: Keynote Address from Elizabeth May

2:30 – 2:40 pm: Greening Sacred Spaces Awards

2:50 – 3:50 pm: Workshops Round 1

3:50 – 4:14 pm: Break

4:15 – 5:15 pm: Workshops Round 2

5:15 – 5:30 pm: Closing and thanks

Workshop Schedule

The registration process will ask you to choose three workshops - one each for time-slot

Workshop Descriptions

Workshop Round 1, 2:50 - 3:50 pm

Between Durban and Rio +20: What can we hope for on the international scene and does it matter?

Large international gatherings such as the recent COP 17 talks in Durban raise hopes that the nations of the world will finally create a framework for the urgent action that climate change requires. But too often we are left disappointed and deeply frustrated.   What are these meetings really about?  What role do/can faith communities play in them?  What is the role of those of us who find ourselves looking in from the outside?

Presenter: Alanna Mitchell is an award-winning journalist and author of "Dancing at the Dead Sea" and "Sea Sick: The Hidden Crisis in the Global Ocean." Alanna was part of the United Church team at the Copenhagen and Durban sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Reconnecting with the Heart & Spirit: Pathways and Experiences

Those with a passion for eco-justice and the care of the whole web of life need to be able to draw on deep wells of insight, connection and compassion to sustain their engagement.   This workshop will explore some of the pathways that are available to us to do this and how they might be developed to support the work  

Presenters: Mark Hathaway is an adult-educator trained in the methods of Joanna Macy’s ‘Work that Reconnects” program.  He is co-author with Leonardo Boff of ‘The Tao of Liberation’” an exploration the ‘ecology of transformation.  Dr Mishka Lysack is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary, and teaches social work theory and practice, environmental issues, and family therapy.

Steps to Greening 101 Overview; followed by What’s new in lighting?

A reminder of the basic steps faith communities can take around their buildings and a  detailed update on the latest LED lighting – Incentives, Benefits & Risks.

Presenters: Stephen Collette, Greening Sacred Spaces and Ed Evans, Osram Sylvania Lighting Division

Workshop Round 2, 4:15-5:15 pm

Pipelines, Petitions and Public Witness: Current & Emerging Issues for Canadian Faith Communities

What are some of the national and local issues that faith communities committed to public witness should be engaging in this year?  What are some of the ways we can follow up on the Inter-Faith ‘Call for Leadership & Action’ last October? 

Presenter: John Dillon, Economic Justice Program Coordinator, KAIROS

Framing Religious Perspectives: Aboriginal and Abrahamic Traditions in Conversation

Faith Communities bring particular perspectives to the conversation about the environment and the challenges we are facing – but also find that these challenges require some rethinking of those perspectives and a revisiting of those traditions for fresh light and perspective.  What are some of the questions that require this fresh look?  What are some of the perspectives that are emerging?  These issues will be explored through a dialogue between representatives of two major faith traditions

Presenters:  Dr. Timothy J. Gianotti is a professor, theologian, and interfaith advocate who has served on the faculties of the University of Virginia, the University of Oregon, and Penn State University.  Most recently he has served both York University and the Noor Cultural Centre (Toronto) as the Noor Chair of Islamic Studies and the Noor Fellow in Arabic & Islamic Studies.  Karihwakeron Tim Thompson is a First Nations consultant with extensive experience in the First Nations public sector, locally, regionally, and nationally.    Karihwakeron has also served as the President of a public First Nations post-secondary institution, and as the President of the Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre.  Karihwakeron comes from the bear clan family of the Mohawk Nation at Wahta Mohawk Territory. 

Does it still make sense/cents for a faith community to go solar, given the new rates?

This workshop will include a payout analysis of newly released rates versus old rates, and an in depth case study of Islington United Church Fall 2011 Solar installation.

Presenters: Ted Reeve, Greening Sacred Spaces and Steve Tower, Islington United Church Toronto.