The core of the Earth be Glad Lent Programme is Eleanor Harris' keynote talk. Based on the old Hebrew tale of Jonah and the Whale, it explores the reasons for, and finding a way to break through, environmental inaction, demolishing the distinctions between "religious" and "secular".
Charlotte Bray (
@Charlotte_Bray), professional charity worker and "secret eco-warrior", describes it like this:
It’s not easy to be the bearer of bad news. Equally, it’s not easy to deliver a
message that is relevant to both faith and non-faith audiences. In her
keynote speech, Eleanor manages to achieve both these feats, expertly
weaving relevant themes and current discussions into the well-worn story
of Jonah. We are a people who stand on the edge of destruction and
whether or not we believe in a higher being is immaterial. We must put
aside our differences and act now if we are to avoid the terrible
consequences of many years of environmental abuse. The answer is not
just to reduce our footprint and ‘balance out’ the negative activities.
It is to create an environmental ‘handprint’; to live lives that nurture
rather than destroying, that encourage growth rather than stifling it.
Following Eleanor’s first delivery of this talk at the Earth Be Glad
launch, I was really inspired to experience the discussion that
continued well into the evening. Scientists, environmentalists,
educators, St. John’s members and charity workers were seemingly united
in their shared concern to ‘turn into the hope’ for a world facing
destruction. Whoever you are and whatever your thoughts on the current,
apparently unavoidable environmental disaster, I would urge you to
attend this thought-provoking (and hopefully action inspiring) talk.
Mike Elm (
@elmers87), Project Officer for the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital, was at the launch and wrote this review:
Do you really think you'll get to heaven if you've been complicit in turning
earth into hell? I might not have the wording exactly right but this idea underpins Eleanor's excellent keynote speech.
Our current lifestyles are causing extinctions and the loss of nature on an unprecedented scale. There is no getting away from the need for drastic changes in the way we live our lives. The fear and inaction caused by the understanding is a luxury we can not afford, and Eleanor's talk is an inspirational call for pragmatism in the face of inaction.
And just because it's in a church don't let that make you sceptical, I'm a firm non-religious type but this issue cuts across all degrees and types of faith!
Keynote talks are in St John's Church, Princes Street, at the following dates and times:
Monday 17 March 6.00pm
Wednesday 26 March 7.30pm
Thursday April 3rd 2.00pm
Sunday 13th April 4.00pm
Wednesday 16 April 5.30pm
Just turn up!
