'The Wave'
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Members and friends from United Reformed Churches all over the country were part of 50.000 campaigners at
'The Wave' on Saturday 5th December. They were there to send a strong message to our political leaders ahead of the historic climate change talks that begin in Copenhagen on Monday 7th. The event was organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, of which Commitment for Life is a part, and demonstrated the concern felt by ordinary people that the world leaders should deliver a deal that is fair, ambitious and binding in Copenhagen.
More than 3,000 Christians joined together for an uplifting service at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster at which Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, spoke of the need for all Christians to,
" try to keep everyone’s eyes open to the serious environmental challenges we face. World’s leaders need to hear from the world’s people about their desire for a safe, sustainable environment in which God’s care for all he has made is honoured by us.”
Archbishop Rowan Williams shared the platform with Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and 20 other representatives for different denominations. Speakers from Bangladesh and Burkina Faso spoke movingly of the effects climate change is already having in their countries.
What stood out was the diversity of the day; small children could be seen with blue faces walking together with more mature campaigners. The secular and faith groups walked hand in hand to loud chanting and drum rhythms. The big wave at 3pm say a complete circle of Parliament but the huge number meant people were still marching the route till 4pm. Simin Loveitt, URC representative on the Joint Public Issues management group, represented the URC at a meeting of 200 supporters with Ed Miliband at the end of the day. After the march had started Gordon Brown invited the board and other SCC members to omeet him. They demanded that the UK government quit dirty coal, act fair and fast to stop dangerous climate change by pushing for at least a 40% emissions reduction by 2020, and protect the poorest by agreeing an annual transfer of at least $150bn from rich to poor countries.
The Wave was a massive broadcast media story, with BBC and Sky correspondents doing live TV and BBC radio broadcasts from the march throughout the day, including BBC World, BBC News 24, BBC World Service and the BBC news bulletins and the number one story on the BBC 10 o'clock news. With TV crews from Japan, China, Canada and the Ukraine.The coalition is now in a better position than ever to carry on building a movement in 2010 that the government can't ignore.
It was great to see so many familiar faces. Please do send in any stories or pictures you have of the day. If you were at the Glasgow March we would especially like to hear from you.
