ARRCC held its inaugural Eco-Awards Dinner on 5th June 2010, World Environment Day to formally recognise and promote environmental achievements within faith communities.

The evening was hosted by St Mark’s Anglican Church, South Hurstville in southern Sydney.

The keynote speakers for the evening were:

• John Connor – CEO The Climate Institute
• Bhante Sujato – Executive Australian Sangha Association and the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils.

Awards categories and winners

Spirituality and Ecology Award – for communities

Excellence in promoting the link between faith and action. The community and/or organisation will have championed the link between spirituality / faith and ecology in ways such as integration in the religious and/or learning life of the community, including children; or including regular commentary in internal and external communications (such as newsletters, websites).

Winner: Faith Ecology Network (FEN)

• FEN is a multi-faith network with members from more than 9 faith traditions. Emerging in 2003, FEN aims to share mutual appreciation of religious traditions regarding ecology, and to discern and foster religious reasons for advocacy about care for the earth. FEN conducts multi-faith public seminars, holds an enrichment day for members, and encourages sharing of insights on faith and ecology through faith groups and the wider environmental movement. www.columban.org.au/our-works/peace-ecology-justice/faith-ecology-network

Highly commended:Franciscan Province of the Holy Spirit

• The Franciscan Friars is a worldwide Religious Order of priests and brothers within the Catholic Church. They are inspired by St Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), a man of love, peace and reconciliation, and patron of ecology. A formation program, ‘Caring for Creation’, is underway in conjunction with Catholic Earthcare Australia. Its aim is to educate the Friars in the areas of ecology and sustainability with a spiritual and theological basis. It also provides a practical base for implementing Earthcare's ecological vision for Catholic schools, parishes and church communities, agencies and congregations.www.franciscans.org.au

Community Connections Award – for communities

Excellence in partnering to achieve improved environmental outcomes. Communities will have achieved one or more of the following: Hosted awareness / education events in the broader community, in order to spread the word on climate change and/or environmental sustainability; Partnered with community groups on an environmental project / program; Organised advocacy gatherings / petitions / letters and the like to influence politicians about climate change and/or other environmental issues; Lobbied local councils and/or private firms to take action to address environmental issues; Hosted ‘religious’ events that focus on climate change and/or environmental sustainability.

Winner: Al-Ghazzali Centre - Mizaan Ecosophy & Well-being

• Al-Ghazzali Centre launched its Mizaan ecological and personal wellbeing program in 2005. Mizaan Ecology includes environmentally-based projects like its Cooks River regeneration project,which is a partnership with Canterbury City Council, and awareness workshops and seminars on environmental responsibility and stewardship. Mizaan Living includes personal wellbeing programs and events to encourage personal fitness, health and wellbeing. Al-Ghazzali Centre has also helped to establish similar community projects in Melbourne, New Zealand and Samoa.http://alghazzali.org

Highly commended: Catholic Mission

• Catholic Mission's Village Space performance program presents the stories of people who courageously struggle against injustice. Climate Change and Poverty explores how climate change has become a ‘driver’ of poverty. The program gives voice to the Inuit people from the Arctic North, communities in Bangladesh that have been battered by cyclones, the people of Kiribati affected by rising seas, and communities from Brazil who live with some of the solutions to climate change like growing eucalypt forests and using corn for ethanol.www.catholicmission.org.au

ARRCC Climate Change Award – for communities

Excellence as a community in taking action and encouraging others. Communities will have met most of the Seven Steps to Sustainability: a practical way for faith communities to turn concern about climate change into action, and to start leading by example. Steps include: Step 1: Start a sustainability team; Step 2: Raise awareness about climate change in your faith community; Step 3: Switch your place of worship to renewable energy and reduce energy consumption; Step 4: Actively encourage your faith community to also do step 3 in their homes; Step 5: Campaign for public policies that address climate change; Step 6: Spread the word; Step 7: Be creative and implement initiatives suited to your circumstances.

Joint winners: Caloundra Uniting Church and Anglican Church Diocese, Canberra/Goulburn

• Anglican Church Diocese, Canberra/Goulburn: It has been the mantra of successive Australian Governments that they must act in the best interests of the Australian people. However, it is no longer possible for one part of the world to live or act as if it can isolate itself from the fall out of human activity everywhere. The Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn launched its Sustainable Building Policy in 2009, following the launch of the Sustainable Motor Vehicle Policy. One initiative of note is the community bulk buy purchasing package for small scale generating systems.www.anglicancg.org.au
     
• Caloundra Uniting Church: In 2007 the Caloundra Uniting Church embarked on a long term commitment to a green future. This commitment was expressed in a clear Vision Statement, adopted unanimously by the congregation. It became the basis of subsequent goals, starting with an energy audit and the installation of a 4.2kw solar power system in the form of a cross. The ‘greening of Caloundra Church’ is designed to influence the whole modus operandi of the Church as a leader and participant in developing a sustainable community.www.caloundra.unitingchurch.org.au

Highly Commended: Tzu Chi Buddhist Compassion Relief

• The program aims to promote environmental protection and sustainable living through education, community activities, and increased public awareness within the growing Australian Asian community. The focus is on fostering sustainable living practices at home, work and within community organisations. The project acts as a bridge between the Government and the Asian communities in promoting the environmental awareness at the grass root level. http://tzuchi.org.au

Eco-Champion Award – for individuals

Excellence, as an individual living with and advocating for a small ecological footprint. Individuals can answer yes to many of the following: I have planted of native species in my garden; I grow my own vegetables / buy from local producers; I eat less meat now; I have made changes to my dwelling to improve its energy and water efficiency; I have switched to renewable energy (e.g. installed solar hot water, solar photovoltaic panels, purchased GreenPower); I have installed a water tank; I usually travel locally using a bicycle or public transport; I minimise travelling by plane; I have participated in environmental events such as Clean Up Australia Day, Earth Hour, Walk Against Warming; I have written to or called a politician to advocate action; I encourage others in my faith group to reduce their ecological footprint; I am involved in an environmental group in my local community

Joint winners: Deepanjali Gupta and Bob Thomas

• Deepa Gupta is a full time student in her fifth (and final) year of a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Economics at the University of Technology, Sydney. Deepa’s commitment to climate change issues is demonstrated in her work for PricewaterhouseCoopers climate change practice, UTS Environment Collective, Australian Youth Climate Change Coalition, and as co-founder and Executive Director of the Indian Youth Climate Network. In her personal life, Deepa takes many actions consistent with living more environmentally sustainably.
     
• Rev Bob Thomas is the Minister of Bowral Uniting Church. He has used as his reason for being the Hebrew scripture of Genesis 2.15, which describes the purpose of humans “to serve and protect the garden”. Bob played an integral part in the founding and the success of Climate Action Now, Wingecarribee (CANWin), Transition Shire Wingecarribee, Transition Town Bundanoon and Bundy-on-Tap. Furthermore Bob walks the talk in way he lives his own life.

Eco-Champion Award – for children and young people

Excellence in recognizing the link between spirituality / faith and action. Children and young people (up to 16 years) who have prepared an artwork (for example painting, sculpture, mixed media, etc) which meets the following criteria: demonstrates creativity; links spirituality / faith / religion with the environment; preferably includes reused / recycled materials.

Winners:

Five Leaf Eco-Award

An ecumenical environmental change program for churches. The mission is ‘To bring people closer to God by bringing them into a right and faithful relationship with creation as its appointed stewards.’ The pilot of the Five Leaf Eco-Awards is being coordinated by Jessica Morthorpe, and supported by the Justice and International Mission Unit of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, Uniting Church in Australia. (Five Leaf is a non-competitive award scheme – everyone who met the criteria was awarded a certificate.)

Winners:

• Maroubra Junction Uniting Church - Basic Certificate
• Springwood Uniting Church - Basic Certificate
• St Ignatius Jesuit Community Riverview - Basic Certificate (Schools Category)
• St Mark's Anglican Church South Hurstville - Basic Certificate and Eco-Worship Award
• Charlestown Anglican Parish - Basic Certificate, Eco-Worshop Award, Advanced Eco-Outreach Leaf Award
• St George's Uniting Church Eden - Basic Certificate, Eco-Worship Award, Advanced Eco-Congregation Leaf Award and Advanced Eco-Outreach Leaf Award

Sponsors

ARRCC gratefully acknoweldges the sponsors of the Eco-Awards Dinner.