 From Jody - Common Grace |
Dear Friend,
Would you tweet Bill Shorten right now? Here’s why.
Last December, we crowd-funded solar panels for
Kirribilli House, the Prime Minister’s Sydney residence, as a gift for
our nation. 142 generous Common Grace members
contributed and a group of local pastors delivered news of the gift to
the Prime Minister’s Manly office.
However in March, we were
informed that the gift was rejected by the Abbott Government, in a
letter from Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Michael McCormack MP,
citing concerns about Kirribilli House’s heritage listing and the cost
of cleaning the solar panels.
When the Australian Solar Council
advised us the Government’s reasons for not accepting the gift didn’t
stack up, local pastors again returned to the Prime Minister’s office
with an open letter signed by almost 1000 Common
Grace members, urging him to accept the gift. Mainstream media covered
the story extensively.
Unfortunately this week, we received a second letter, again
rejecting the gift. This time there were no reasons
given.
Christians across Australia have expressed deep concern that our
current Government has shown itself to be unwilling to lead in caring
for God’s creation and is out of step with the rest of the world.
While the world as a whole has added more new renewable capacity than
fossil fuels and nuclear combined in 2013 and 20141, here
in Australia, large-scale renewables investment has plummeted by 88%
in 20142.
But if the PM won’t show leadership on renewables, then who
will? We’ve given Mr Abbott two chances to accept the
gift – perhaps it’s only fair that we give Bill Shorten at least
one.
As Christians, we take caring for God’s good creation
seriously. We have a unique perspective that our
elected representatives need to hear. Our world is a gift to share not
a resource to exploit.
For us, this isn't about partisan politics – it is about love,
justice and wisdom. This is putting into practice our calling to care
for God's world and to show love to the world's poor who are most
affected by climate change.
The Labor Party is set to make critical decisions about their
climate justice targets at the Labor conference in July. If Labor
commits to stronger renewables and emission reduction targets, it will
pressure the Government to do the same and help to position renewables
as a major issue at the next Federal election.
Let’s make sure Mr Shorten hears the message loud and clear
– Christians want to see a clean energy future.
From Jody, Byron, Kylie and the whole Common Grace team.
P.S. Please continue to pray for PM Abbott, Mr
Shorten, and all of our political representatives. Let's pray that
they will realise their potential to create more just and sustainable
world and lead with courage.
References:
1. The Global Renewable Energy Boom: How Australia is Missing Out, Climate Council, 20/3/15
2. BNEF: New Clean Power Capacity Passes New Fossil Fuel Capacity … Never Turning Back, Clean Technica, 25/04/15
Common Grace
http://www.commongrace.org.au/
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