Multi-faith Prayers at Rising Tide’s People’s Blockade 2024

A Multi-Faith prayer tent will be available during the Canberra Wave of Rising Tide's People's Blockade. These prayers and reflections are offered to anyone who may find them helpful.

Acknowledgment of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people who are the Traditional Custodians of the lands in and around Canberra, who took care of their country with such wisdom. We lament with sorrow that this land was never ceded, nor was there ever any Treaty made. We pay our respects to Ngunnawal and Ngambri Elders past and present and young leaders now emerging and we stand with them in their ongoing, courageous struggle for their human rights and protection of Country.

Reflection

Pope Francis has written: “When we exploit creation, we destroy the sign of God’s love for us.” With inspiration from many faith leaders, we people of faith believe that we must support the efforts of Rising Tide to obstruct the export of coal, a major contributor to the dangerous levels of greenhouse gas and a threat to a safe climate.

Jewish prayer/poem

A modern ‘Midrash’ reflecting on climate change, written by Rabbit Jonathan Keren-Black OAM and inspired by the Torah’s Creation story of Noah and the rainbow. The Torah scroll symbolises all time, the black fire the words written in it, and the white fire their later interpretations.

The Rainbow, SHAFTS of bright sun, haze of mist and there again

a perfect bow — God’s palette;

the spectrum of promise:

never again will God bring a flood to end humanity, to start anew.

But roll back the scroll,

read the black fire again carefully; read the white, the unwritten.

Our task: to take care of God’s world. Between the letters,

the warning of our failure. God will not flood the earth.

But we, who thought our tiny choice

would have no effect on this world . . .

We have left it late to awaken.

The sun still shines, the haze of mist and there again — no need for human hand —

the perfect bow God gave.

Oh Allah, You are the Creator, the All-Powerful, the Sustainer of all life

This du’a was inspired and adapted from a prayer provided by The Sanctuary Centre.

Oh Allah, protect the people living with the effects of climate change now and give them strength.

Give patience and strength to those facing rising temperatures, drought, water shortages, unpredictable weather, failed crops, flooding, land loss and salination of vital water supplies.

Oh Allah, Help us to tread lightly and use wisely,

Valuing the needs of others, and of Creation, above our own desires. Challenge us where we need to change our lifestyles,

Convict us when we need to speak out on behalf of a voiceless people, or world And soften us where we have stood in judgement of others.

Oh Allah, change us and use us in ways you are pleased with,

For the restoration of your world, and the protection of all your children. Amin

Buddhist Prayer for Our Natural Environment

By Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order (Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology)

Oh great, compassionate Buddha! Please let us and our future generations:

Be able to play with fireflies

Under the radiance of star-brimmed skies; Beable to sing and dance with great nature On the shore of an emerald sea;

Be able to enjoy fresh air

In the thick forests of towering trees;

And be able to grow together with all things under the sun On a field that extends out far beyond the horizon.

Please grant us tender hands

To soothe all sentient beings on earth; Please grant us ears that listen attentively

To the wondrous sounds of the world and natural phenomena; Please grant us bright and keen eyes

To discover the limitless treasures of the universe; Please grant us compassionate hearts

To preserve the ecology of our world.

Prayers for all who work for an end to the use of fossil fuels

by Lindsey Fielder Cook (adapted) - a Quaker, Member of the Interfaith Liaison Committee to the UN

Leader: We pray for courage and compassion to transform those human activities destroying nature and altering the climate system on which our lives depend.

       People: May it be so.

We pray our hearts reject fear and embrace love, hope and transformation for a more healthy, safe, clean and sustainable world.

       People: May it be so.

We pray for protection of climate activists and environmental defenders, who often risk their health, if not their lives, to break the silence.

       People: May it be so.

We pray for protection of the poor and most vulnerable communities, those least responsible yet most affected by our insufficient climate action.

       People: May it be so.

We pray the developed countries will lead in greenhouse gas emissions and climate finance, as they promised in the Paris Agreement, and now Loss and Damage Finance.

       People: May it be so.

We pray leaders in all countries will do all they can to rapidly reduce extraction and burning of fossil fuels, and promote sustainable economic, social and political systems to stabilize global temperature rise at 1.5C

       People: May it be so.

We pray for human rights and Indigenous People’s Rights to be included and better protected, including protection of these rights in carbon trading schemes.

       People: May it be so.

We pray that the courageous work of citizens at this Peoples’ Blockade bears much fruit – in winning the hearts and minds of our elected leaders, corporate leaders and everyday Australians.

       People: May it be so.

We pray that the Australian Government commits to phasing out the export of coal and fossil gas and, at the same time, an equitable, orderly transition to a sustainable economy, one which is dependent on renewable energy.

       People: May it be so.

We pray that the city of muloobinba/Newcastle will be transformed from the world’s largest coal port to a hub of prosperity offering many job opportunities in sustainable industries.

       People: May it be so.

Song

Dare to love again, 

Dare to love again,

Love is the only revenge

Dare to love again.

Rising like the sea

Rising by degrees,

Rise with love for what might be,

Rising like the sea.

If not now, then when?

If not now, then when?

The future holds no promises,

Dare to love again.

If not us, then who?

If not us, then who?

The Earth depends on all we do,

If not us, then who?

Restless hearts won’t sleep,

Restless hearts won’t sleep,

Brave the lover’s leap of love,

Untold fathoms deep.

Repeat Verse 1