Eco Justice
The Eco-Justice Unit of the Diocese supports parish and diocesan initiatives addressing environmental and social justice issues impacting the region and the world.
In recent years, the Unit has been particularly focused on responsible resource development, including Canadian mining practices nationally and internationally and pipeline development in British Columbia. Additionally, the Unit has been active in the Metro Vancouver Alliance. An “Anglican Caucus” of the MVA has begun meeting and is particularly interested in the MVA’s focus area around social isolation.
For More Information
To find out more about this Ministry Unit Group, Contact The Reverend Margaret Marquardt, Chair, by email.
NEWS and ARCHIVED NEWS!
April 1 Story on Urban Church Gardens from the Diocese of Toronto
BBC Article on Young Minds Solving Climate Change
Green Churches Network for February 2019
KAIROS Easter Video, March 27, 2018
National Housing Day (November 22) Statement from Archbishop Fred Hiltz
KAIROS Document Posts November 10, 2017. Check out these two documents.
Worker's Rights are Human Rights Dinner, November 16, 2017
Clink the link to access Matt Gardner's August 31, 2016 article on the National Church website about the 2016 SEASON OF CREATION
Click the link to access Steve Bailey's report on the January 16, 2016 MVA Community Building and Information Event.
Click the link to access the December 14, 2015 Anglican Journal Story - Anglicans Welcome End of Fossil Fuel Era
The Reverend Margaret Marquardt reports on the Earth and Spirit series co-sponsored by St. Anselm's
Living Wage Motion unanimously passed by Vancouver City Council - July 8, 2015
Douglas Todd's, June 29, 2015 Blog: Metro Vancouver Alliance (MVA) pressing on livng wage, isolation, housing
Douglas Todd's, June 27, 2015 Blog: Pope's views on greed echo Vatican's critique of capitalism
LIVING WAGE SYNOD 2015 RESOLUTION
Here is the address that mover Geri Grigg delivered when presenting Resolution #1 at Diocesan Synod, May 22nd, 2015
The concept of Living Wage is deeply rooted in social justice. Living wage allows families to pay their rent, buy food and heat their home rather than choose between those things. Living wage allows people to live in dignity and participate fully in the economy and in the community and to exercise their own agency. Living wage lifts people out of poverty. In Metro Vancouver the living wage is $20.68 per hour. You can find the living wage for your area at www.livingwageforfamilies.ca
Some of you in the room may be experiencing poverty but many will not have ever know true poverty. I would like to share a story so you can imagine what it is like to be poor. I live close to Commercial Drive and so I step out onto the Drive to enjoy some of the vibrant culture. I am there and yet I am apart because I am poor. I stop by the green grocer’s but I cannot discuss his goods because I cannot buy any. I see families enjoying ice creams but I left my children at home so I would not have to disappoint them yet again by denying them such a simple pleasure. I am poor. I smell the smokehouse and imaging what it would be like to cook a meal with a succulent sausage in the sauce but we eat our pasta with tomato sauce. I am poor. I am invited for coffee with friends but I make an excuse because while they are happy to treat me, I can never return the favour. Soon they stop asking. I am a part of my community and yet distinctly separate because I am poor.
Members of Synod we work hard in our parishes to help those in need by hosting soup kitchens and lunches, housing the homeless, running thrift shop; to alleviate the pain of poverty. This motion asks us to look inwardly and ask ourselves whether we are contributing to the poverty in our communities by not paying our employees a living wage. This motion brings us in line with other wider movements such as the Fight for 15. We are asking Synod members to support this motion to look at our practices through a living wage lens so that our own employees can fully be a part of their communities.
I move, Resolution 1
We affirm the Christian values inherent in the concept of the “Living Wage” and commit to exploring the process of becoming a Living Wage Employer through the leadership and direction of Diocesan Council and the appropriate Standing Committee over the next year.
CARRIED
Photos:
- Geri Grigg presenting this address
- Reverend Steve Bailey on right speaking to the motion
Click to link to the LIVING WAGE INFORMATION AND 2012 RESOLUTION on the Church of England site.
Eco-Justice Membership and Information
The Eco-Justice Unit of the diocese of New Westminster is always looking for new members and new intiaitives. Contact us!