Earth Day celebrations: renewable energy announcement from interfaith community
By Nelson Daily Staff
Earth Day in Nelson is going to a little different with celebrations, including a the interfaith community hosting a special climate vigil, slated to take over Lakeside Park Saturday afternoon.
Earth Day celebrations: renewable energy announcement from interfaith community This Earth Day, April 22, sees four local faith groups announcing their support for 100% renewable energy, including a commitment to transition their operations to 100% renewable energy.
Montana Burgess, Executive Director of West Kootenay EcoSociety said cities around the world leading the transition off fossil fuels, Kootenay Shambhala Meditation Centre, Nelson United Church, St. Saviour’s Pro Cathedral, and Yasodhara Ashram will announce their support for West Kootenay cities to transition to 100% renewable energy at the community-level — heating and cooling, electricity and transportation — by 2050.
Burgess said they will also pledge to transition their buildings and transportation to 100% renewable energy.
“West Kootenay EcoSociety’s 100% Renewable Kootenays initiative is building resident and community groups’ support for the transition to renewable energy in Nelson and other West Kootenay cities. It has been working with faith groups as part of this initiative,” Burgess said.
After the interfaith renewable energy announcement, a special hour-long climate vigil will take place where faith leaders will invite audience participation in a vigil in the traditions of their spiritual practices to build support for climate action.
This vigil celebrates a year-long collaboration among the faith groups in hosting monthly climate vigils. After the vigil a vegetarian dinner will be provided by donation.
Complete event schedule:
- 3 p.m. Local entertainment, audience participation, fun for everyone
- 4 p.m Faith communities announce support for 100% renewable energy & special interfaith climate vigil
- 5:30 p.m. Vegetarian dinner (by donation), dessert, dance
- 7 p.m. EcoSociety fundraiser film night at the Capitol Theater, “How to let go of the world and love all the things climate can’t change.”
Nelson Interfaith Climate Action Collaborative is coordinated by the West Kootenay EcoSociety and composed of the following faith groups: Ascension Lutheran Church, Baha’i Community of Nelson, Cathedral of Mary Immaculate Roman Catholic Parish, Kootenay Shambhala Meditation Centre, Nelson United Church, St. Saviour’s Pro Cathedral, USCC Doukhobour, Yasodhara Ashram.
