With the introduction of the carbon tax in July, we are beginning to experience the consequences — perhaps most noticeably steep rises in the cost of electricity — of attempts to address the threat of climate change.
This comes in the context of fierce community debate not only about measures to counter climate change, but whether the phenomenon even exists.
This video features a man who has led the way in the religious realm in thinking and talking about a range of ecological issues, including climate change. Theologian, ethicist and Uniting Church minister, Noel Preston has been outspoken about environmental problems.
As well as an interview about what he calls eco-justice and eco-spirituality, the video contains excerpts from a talk he gave recently at the annual Sea of Faith Network conference held on the Gold Coast.
Preston has a strong history as a campaigner on a range of social justice issues. He served as the inaugural convenor of the Uniting Church's Commission on Social Responsibility, Queensland Director of Action for World Development, and was founding director of Uniting Care Centre for Social Justice.
He has been a member and convenor of a number of Queensland social action groups including Concerned Christians, People for Nuclear Disarmament and Citizens Against Corruption.
He has taken particular inspiration on environmental issues from the Earth Charter that was launched in The Hague, Holland, in 2000. He sits on the committee of Earth Charter Australia.
Preston has combined life as a vigorous social activist with a distinguished career in academia. He held senior positions as a lecturer at both the Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University, teaching in the fields of applied and professional ethics. When he retired in 2004, he was awarded the Order of Australia for services to the community in the field of ethics.
He has authored, edited and co-authored a number of books including Exploring Eco-justice: reframing ethics and spirituality in the context of globaliaation; Beyond the Boundary: a memoir exploring ethics, politics and spirituality; and Understanding Ethics which is now in its third edition.
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Peter Kirkwood is a freelance writer and video consultant with a master's degree from the Sydney College of Divinity.