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Leading environmental campaigner Martin Palmer joins faiths in Northern Ireland on climate justice

FaithInvest Founding President and prominent environmental campaigner Martin Palmer will join faith-based organisations and civil society groups in Northern Ireland for a series of events promoting climate justice and peace this month.


Martin Palmer will be one of the keynote speakers at five events, which start with a conference on 'Peace, Justice and Care for the Earth' at Corrymeela Centre in Ballycastle, on Thursday September 19, and end in 'A Celebration of Difference' at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, on the evening of Saturday 21. 


Martin Palmer
Martin Palmer

In between are a Youth and Politicians Forum at Queen's University, Belfast, on the morning of Friday 20; a 'Land and Lough' Forum to discuss sustainable farming and environmental stewardship, moderated by BBC NI agriculture & environment correspondent Louise Cullen, at Glengormley Methodist Church on the evening of Friday 20; and a half day conference, 'Faiths Together for Climate Justice and Peace', at Belfast South Methodist Church & Agape Centre on Saturday 21.


The events have been organised by Corrymeela, Northern Ireland's oldest peace and reconciliation organisation (1), and the 'Join the Dots Together’ network (2), founded last year to connect people, communities and actions to create a sustainable future for all. All but one are open to the public and free (although donations will be welcome).


With wide ranging topics covering the environment, social justice and diversity, the events are timed to highlight both the Season of Creation (3) from September 1 to October 4, when all Christians, religious groups and people of goodwill are invited to make a special effort to care for creation, and the International Day of Peace (4) on September 21.


Other speakers include John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy, Queen’s University, Belfast, and co–chair of the Belfast Climate Commission; Rick Battarbee, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Change, University College London; retired plant scientist Raja Harun; activist and researcher Louise Taylor working to save Lough Neagh; Xavier de Bénazé SJ, Laudato Si' Delegate for Ecology among Jesuits of the French-speaking Western Europe Province; John McLenaghan, Deputy President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union.


Martin Palmer is a leading environmentalist, theologian, writer and broadcaster, who was Secretary General of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation for nearly 25 years, and founded FaithInvest in 2019 to help faith groups to invest in line with their values. 


He says: 'In 40 years of working with the faiths on environmental issues, I have watched with delight old barriers and fake divisions collapse. I find that now almost no-one thinks in terms of just climate, or just sustainable agriculture or just biodiversity.


'Today, these are seen as fundamentally linked and I am delighted that the faiths are at the forefront of the global response to the climate crisis and to all these interlinked issues.


'I am very much looking forward to rich and inspiring discussions in Northern Ireland. Events such as these are essential if faith and civil society groups are to play a serious role in taking action on the environmental, social and financial issues that confront this fragile, beautiful created world.'


Please see below for details of the events and speakers, and how to book.


Notes

[1] Corrymeela began before 'The Troubles' and remains a beacon of hope in Northern Ireland's changing cultural society providing encouraging programmes and experiences for people from Ireland and worldwide.

[2] 'Join the Dots Together' Steering Group members: A Rocha, Belfast Jesuit Centre, Clonard Peace Ministry, Corrymeela, Down & Connor Laudato Sì Commission, Ephata Laudato Sì, Focolare, Inter-Faith Forum, Redemptorist Youth Ministry, Trocaire, Ulster University Chaplaincy, Youth Link NI

[3] 1st September-4th October, www.seasonofcreation.org

[4] The International Day of Peace, 21st September, was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. The 2024 theme is “Cultivating a Culture of Peace”.


International Day of Peace – Season of Creation events in Northern Ireland 

Thursday 19th September, 9.30- 17.00 

Conference: “Peace, Justice, and Care for the Earth”  – an inspiring, action-oriented one-day conference 

  • Location: Corrymeela Centre, Ballycastle Speakers: Martin Palmer, Rick Battarbee, John Barry 

  • Attendance is free, although donations from attendees on the day will be welcome.  

  • Lunch, and morning and afternoon refreshments, will be provided. 

  • For more information and to register, go to: www.corrymeela.org/events 


Friday 20th September, 10.00-13.00 

“Our Voices Matter” - Youth and Politicians Forum – young people engage with politicians on climate justice 

  • Location: Queen's University Belfast 

  • Speakers: Martin Palmer, John Barry, Political Representatives 

  • Participation by invitation 


Friday 20th September, 19.30-21.00      

“Land and Lough” Forum – sustainable farming and environmental stewardship

  • Location: Glengormley Methodist Church, Ballyclare Rd, Glengormley, Newtownabbey BT36 5HQ Speakers: Martin Palmer from FaithInvest and John McLenaghan, Deputy President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, moderated by Louise Cullen, BBC Agriculture and Environment Correspondent 

  • Attendance is free, although donations from attendees on the day will be welcome.  

  • Refreshments will be provided. 

  • For more information and to book, contact: info@jointhedotstogether.org 


Saturday 21st September, 10:00 – 13.00 

Multi-Faith Conference: “Faiths Together for Climate Justice and Peace”  – interfaith perspectives on climate action

  • Location: Belfast South Methodist Church & Agape Centre, 236-266 Lisburn Rd, Belfast BT9 6GF 

  • Speakers: Martin Palmer, Raja Harun, Xavier Benaze, Louise Taylor 

  • Attendance is free, although donations from attendees on the day will be welcome.  

  • Tea/Coffee on arrival and lunch will be available 

  • For more information and to book, contact: info@jointhedotstogether.org 


Saturday, 21st September 19.30 

“A Celebration of Difference”   celebrating diversity and shaping moral imagination

  • Location: St. Anne's Cathedral, Donegall St, Belfast BT1 2HB Hosted by: Corrymeela Programme for Public Theology and Beyond Skin 

  • Attendance is free, although donations from attendees on the day will be welcome 

  • For more information contact: jonnyclark@corrymeela.org 

 

Keynote speakers 

 

  • Martin Palmer is a theologian, writer, broadcaster and environmentalist. He was Secretary General of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and has worked with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature. He is Founding President of FaithInvest which helps faith organisations to invest in line with their values, for the benefit of people and planet. 

  • Rick Battarbee is Emeritus Professor of Environmental Change at University College London. He is a freshwater ecologist and specialises in lake sediments, the impact of nutrient pollution and climate change on lake ecosystems. His research career began at Ballyronan on Lough Neagh in the late ‘60s. Pollution on the Lough was an issue then too. Rick is involved in local environmental action in his native Yorkshire, including a citizen science project to measure water pollution on the River Wharfe. 

  •  John Barry is Professor of Green Political Economy and co–director of the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action at Queen’s University, Belfast. He is also co–chair of the Belfast Climate Commission. 

  • Raja Harun is a retired scientist who has devoted his life to plant science.  In 2011 he was awarded the MBE for services to commercial horticulture and services to community.  He has also developed Aquaponics in industrial plants production.  Originally from Malaysia he studied at QUB and settled in Northern Ireland.  He is a trustee of the Belfast Islamic Centre.  

  •  Louise Taylor, an activist and researcher, leads efforts to save Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland, vital for Northern Ireland's drinking water. An Early Career Researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, she focuses on mental health, wellness, and equity in climate justice. Her ecofeminist research supports frontline environmental activists worldwide.

  • Xavier de Bénazé SJ is the Laudato Si' Delegate for Ecology among Jesuits of the French-speaking Western Europe Province. He studied agricultural engineering and worked as a sustainable development consultant. His training included key ecological and social developments. He now advises Jesuits and manages an eco-centre project in Lyons, France. 

  •  John McLenaghan, Deputy President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union is from County Derry/Londonderry, has suckler beef, an egg enterprise, wind turbine and biogas plant. His partner is Lisa and they have three children. John’s UFU experience includes former group chair of North East Londonderry. John has been a member of the poultry, rural enterprise, animal health and environment committees. He has served on the board and was previously chair of poultry and environment. 

  • Louise Cullen, BBC NI Agriculture & Environment Correspondent. Louise has family connections, stretching far back into Tyrone and Fermanagh. After graduating from Queen's University in Law & Accounting, she abandoned plans to become a tax consultant in favour of helping people tell their stories. She spent a year with GMTV at the Reuters bureau in Belfast, before joining BBC NI. 

  

 

 




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