Noel Debien from the ABC Radio Religion Department was MC for a multi-faith Prayer and Meditation Vigil held on August 14 in the Martin Place Amphitheatre under the banner “Respect Earth”. The event was organised by the Faith and Ecology Network (FEN).
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Debien called attention to the powerful message of shared concern expressed by the 12 faith traditions represented. He said that it is not the usual message of division that appears in the media. The vigil showed that difference is not always a barrier.
The vigil opened with an Aboriginal yidaki [didgeridoo] player, Glen Doyle. His playing punctuated the vigil to help maintain an atmosphere of meditation. A lament led by the Ashfield Catholic Choir was repeated after each prayer: “The Earth is crying out in pain. Respect the life of the Earth.”
Meditations and prayers were led by representatives from the Aboriginal, Anglican, Shia Muslim, Uniting Church, Sikh, Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, Sunni Muslim, Quaker and Hindu communities. Chants, poems, songs and spoken prayers were used. The Peace Angels used dance as a meditation.
Over 100 people participated in the vigil. Some passers-by on their way from work paused, attracted by the image of diversity. Some joined the event.
The vigil focused on the mining of fossil fuels. FEN members believe that energy issues go beyond purely economic considerations to embrace moral and spiritual dimensions. The mining of fossil fuels can impact unjustly on the lives of workers, farmers and communities; impact on the ecological integrity of the land itself as a gift and revelation of God for many.
The Faith and Ecology Network (FEN) has been meeting regularly since 2003. The insights and language emerging from ecological science are bonds that unite the religious traditions. They share their unique perspectives and help each other deepen their understanding of faith. They also join together to advocate for environmental justice. Their common concern about the impact of fossil fuel mining on communities and the land led FEN to organise the vigil.
