Last week, I had the honor of organizing Katrina 20: Faith, Climate & Justice – A Moral Witness Dialogue alongside Karenna Gore of the Center for Earth Ethics, at the historic Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Center in New Orleans. This gathering marked the twentieth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and was part of the Global Ethical Stocktake, a process feeding into the UN climate negotiations at COP30 in Brazil later this year.

The TEP Center, founded by the Leona Tate Foundation for Change in the former McDonogh 19 Elementary School, is a sacred site of civil rights history. It was here that Leona Tate, Gail Etienne, and Tessie Prevost—three six-year-old Black girls—integrated the school in 1960, escorted by federal marshals through angry white mobs. Holding Katrina 20 in this space reminded us that the fight for climate justice is inseparable from the struggle for racial justice, and that the courage of past generations continues to guide us in the face of today’s crises.

We came together as faith leaders, frontline organizers, and community members to reflect on the legacy of Katrina and bear witness to the ongoing struggle for justice in the Gulf South. The truth we lifted up is one we know too well: these storms, floods, and pollution crises are not “natural disasters.” They are the result of political and corporate choices that sacrifice our communities for profit.

The dialogue was co-moderated by Karenna Gore and Jacqui Patterson of the Chisholm Legacy Project, and featured testimony from a powerful lineup of leaders: Dr. Angela Chalk, Founder & Executive Director, Healthy Community Services, Ms. Sharon Lavigne, Executive Director & Founder, RISE St. James, Bette Billiot, Community Organizer, LA Liberation & Sovereignty Collection; Co-Director, Bayou Youth Leadership Project, Scott Eustis, Community Science Director, Healthy Gulf, Anthony Giancatarino, Co-Director/Strategy Partner, Taproot Earth, Chenier “Klie” Kliebert, Founding Director, Imagine Water Works; Creole Indigenous Climate Leader, Gregory N. Swafford, Southeast Louisiana Organizer, Healthy Gulf; Founding Director, Culture of Cleanliness, Toi Carter, Executive Director, Louisiana Just Recovery Network; Katrina Survivor, and Ms. Darrilyn Turner, Executive Director, Zion Travelers Cooperative Center

We were also joined by former Vice President Al Gore, whose presence and remarks acknowledged both the devastation and the organizing power that have defined the Gulf South over the past two decades. His words underscored the global significance of Gulf South leadership and affirmed the urgency of climate action rooted in justice.

The program opened with music from local jazz musicians, grounding us in the soul of New Orleans, and closed with a moving poem by Artis Burney, a Mississippi poet whose words carried both lament and vision. Local food from Sweet Anoni’s Catering nourished us as we shared stories, grief, and commitments. Our audience members and speakers co-created an altar which grounded us in our collective spirituality.

For me, this work is both deeply personal and deeply spiritual. I have lived with asthma since childhood, and I know what it feels like when the air itself makes breathing hard. In high school, I started an environmental club because I could see—even as a teenager—that the climate crisis was not only about the planet, but about people: who gets clean air, who doesn’t; who gets to rebuild, who is left behind. Over time, I came to understand that this is environmental racism—and that our fight for climate justice is inseparable from the struggle for racial justice and human dignity.

As I organized this event, I carried with me the memory of Katrina as both devastation and resistance. The storm exposed the depth of racial inequity in this country, but it also revealed the strength of communities who organized, resisted, and rebuilt with courage and faith. Two decades later, those lessons still guide us.

In my work with GreenFaith, I lean on spirituality not as something abstract, but as a grounding force. Faith reminds us that justice is sacred. That resistance can itself be a form of prayer. That telling the truth in community, through story and song and witness, is an act of healing. At Katrina 20, I felt this sacred power in the room—elders and youth, pastors and organizers, scientists and poets—holding each other in grief and hope.

The witness shared at the TEP Center will not stay in New Orleans. It will travel to COP30 in Brazil, where world leaders will again debate how to respond to the climate crisis. Our message is clear: frontline communities in the Gulf South are not sacrifice zones. Our lives, our stories, our faith, and our future must be part of the path forward.

Katrina 20 was remembrance, but it was also resistance. It was a testament to the power of people who refuse to be forgotten and who believe, with every breath, that another world is possible.

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Therefore, Casa Galileia, GreenFaith, the Interfaith Initiative for Tropical Forests (IRI-Brazil), and the Institute for Religious Studies (ISER) are mobilizing partners and religious leaders for this process of coordination and political advocacy.  The Sacred Climate Alliance aims to highlight the importance and potential of religious communities in Brazil in addressing the challenges of the climate emergency. We hope this activity will foster constructive dialogue and concrete actions that contribute to a more just and resilient future for all.

In August, we organized two YouTube webinars on oil exploration and deforestation with experts from INPE (National Institute for Space Research), the Arayara Institute, and ten religious and popular leaders from the Amazon and Atlantic Forest regions. 

Watch the webinars here

Based on the data and reports presented in the webinars, we drafted a Public Letter signed by religious leaders and supporting organizations, highlighting the importance of climate action and calling on government sectors to take concrete steps to achieve the 2030 targets. We urge the government to:

• Zero deforestation : Immediate and effective implementation of the Forest Code, focusing on the full protection of the Amazon, the Cerrado and all Brazilian biomes.
• The country has 873 oil and gas blocks under concession, two-thirds onshore and one-third offshore. This exploration could double, with 769 new blocks currently on offer. We demand an end to these concessions and new offers.
• Investments in Renewable Energy: Redirect investments currently allocated to fossil fuel exploration to the development of clean and renewable energy sources, which respect the premises of a just and popular transition, in line with the international climate commitments assumed by Brazil.
• Adopt a NDC compatible with keeping the planet’s average temperature rise to around 1.5 degrees Celsius and influence other countries during COP 30 to do the same.
• Demarcation of Indigenous Lands , titling of Traditional Territories, land regularization and fair agrarian reform, with a focus on food sovereignty and the promotion of agroecology, valuing family, peasant and artisanal fishing production, and the indigenous economy, guaranteeing the generation of income to combat hunger, poverty and social inequality.
• Suspension of active mineral operations and processes on indigenous lands, quilombolas and fully protected conservation units.

On Amazon Day in Brasília, September 5th, we held a meeting with six women religious leaders from different regions of Brazil , who participated in webinars and in drafting the letter to deliver the document to the executive branch. First, we held an internal meeting to align ourselves with the presentation of the letter and the action at the ministries’ esplanade.

In the afternoon, we organized an action in front of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MNE) . We registered the letter and had a spiritual moment with video recordings and photographs in front of the building. We also took a photo in front of the Congress building, a symbolic place in Brazilian politics. 

At the end of the afternoon, we had a meeting with the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva , where we were able to personally deliver the letter to the minister and each religious person present was able to choose a point from the letter to present and relate it to their reality and faith. 

Read the public letter we delivered to the minister here! 

The Sacred Climate Alliance has made significant progress in raising awareness and mobilizing faith communities to advocate for critical climate action in Brazil. In recent months, our activities, including webinars, public advocacy, and direct engagement with government leaders, have helped highlight the urgent need for change.

Through collaborative efforts with religious leaders, experts, and civil society organizations, we issued a powerful Public Letter calling for immediate action on deforestation, renewable energy investments, and Indigenous land rights, among other critical issues. The symbolic delivery of this letter, and the subsequent meeting with Minister Marina Silva, highlighted the value of interfaith collaboration in addressing the climate crisis.

To understand more about this movement, read the opinion article “Opinion: Protecting nature is a spiritual and moral duty”  here.

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We, religious leaders from diverse traditions and spiritualities, unite in this letter to express our deep concern about the successive and growing environmental tragedies our country has faced and the prospect of even worse ones in the near future. The increase in forest fires and burning in the Amazon, Pantanal, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest is destroying our biodiversity, degrading soils and water resources, exacerbating the global climate crisis, corroding our economy, and causing illness and suffering among the population.

We recognize the efforts made by the government to address these issues and restore socio-environmental governance, which was criminally weakened during the previous administration. This commitment has yielded important results, such as the significant reduction in deforestation in the Amazon. However, the country’s environmental situation remains extremely worrying and requires greater mobilization of all strategic government sectors and the involvement of state and municipal governments.

We note with great sadness that the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, and Ministries such as Mines and Energy, Transportation, and Agriculture remain wedded to a vision of development from the past, and continue to defend mining on Indigenous Lands and oil exploration instead of prioritizing the exploitation of the country’s renewable energy potential; the paving of the BR-319 highway, which will favor the destruction of millions of hectares of the Amazon rainforest and forever affect the lives of thousands of Indigenous people living in the region; the expansion of the agricultural frontier into the Cerrado and the Amazon; and the increased use of pesticides that are extremely dangerous to human health and the environment.

Brazil occupies a leading position on the international stage. It hosts the G20 and COP 30, events that will be decisive for the commitments and impacts of environmental and climate policies on our biomes, their populations, and the future of the planet. In this context, it is unacceptable that Brazil, a country blessed with the greatest biodiversity on the planet and with such international prominence, continues to contribute to the worsening of climate change and the destruction of its most precious ecosystems. 

Religious communities have long been committed to climate and socio-environmental justice, and therefore, we join these voices to further advance the process of protecting our biodiversity and the indigenous peoples and traditional communities who are its primary guardians. Nature, in its multiple forms, is a central element in our spiritual practices and in the expression of faith of our communities. Through divine creation, we find the sacred in forests, rivers, the various elements of nature, animals, and people. As we witness the destruction of essential ecosystems, we feel that not only is nature being violated, but also the spiritual principles that guide our lives. Protecting nature is not only an environmental issue, but also a spiritual and moral duty. As religious leaders, we are committed to welcoming and caring for those who suffer the consequences of these catastrophes, but also to preventing them through environmental protection.

We therefore ask that the federal government rethink its policies on the exploitation of natural resources, placing the preservation of divine creation and the protection of human lives as a top priority, as expressed in the following demands:

• Zero deforestation: Immediate and effective implementation of compliance with the Forest Code, focusing on the comprehensive protection of the Amazon, the Cerrado, and all Brazilian biomes. 
• Currently, there are 873 oil and gas blocks under concession in the country, two-thirds of them onshore and one-third offshore. This exploration could double, with 769 new blocks currently on offer. We demand a halt to concessions and new offers. 
• Investments in Renewable Energy: Redirection of investments currently allocated to the exploration of fossil fuels towards the development of clean and renewable energy, which respect the premises of a just and popular transition, in alignment with Brazil’s international climate commitments. 
• Adoption of an NDC compatible with maintaining the rise in the planet’s average temperature at around 1.5 degrees Celsius and influencing other countries during COP 30 to do the same.
• Demarcation of Indigenous Lands, titling of Traditional Territories, land regularization, and fair agrarian reform, with a focus on food sovereignty. Promoting agroecology, valuing family, peasant, and artisanal fishing production, as well as the Indigenous economy, guaranteeing income generation to combat hunger, poverty, and social inequality.
• Suspension of active mineral operations and processes on indigenous lands, quilombolas and fully protected conservation units.

We believe these actions are necessary and, above all, urgent, to ensure that Brazil can continue to be an example to the world of how development and sustainability can go hand in hand, as a guardian of life and biodiversity. We count on your commitment and leadership to transform these demands into reality.

This document is signed by: 

Pastor Andrea Alechandre (Foursquare Gospel Church) – Rio Branco/Acre 

Dom Roque Paloschi (Archdiocese of Porto Velho) – Porto Velho/Rondônia

Maria da Rocha (Guardians of Good Living) – Lago Grande, Santarém/Pará

Mother Jô Santos (Terreiro of Saint George Tumajamacê) – São Luís/Maranhão

Rayana Burgos (Terreiros Network for the Environment) – Recife/Pernambuco

Sister Maria Irene Lopes (Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network – REPAM)

Pastor Romi Bencke (National Council of Christian Churches – CONIC)

Mametu Nangetu (Terreiro Manso Massumbando Who Who Granddaughter)

Denildo Rodrigues de Moraes (National Coordination of Articulation of Black Rural Quilombola Communities – CONAQ) 

Supporting organizations:

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The first to arrive at the scene were artisanal fishermen, members of local fishing organizations, such as the Magé Mangrove Association of Crab Harvesters and Friends (ACAMM) and the Association of Seafarers (AHOMAR). They reported the incident to environmental agencies and publicized the incident on social media, demanding urgent action to remedy the situation. 

The concern is especially great due to the crab closed season , when fishing for certain species is prohibited so they can reproduce. The mortality of these animals during this period can negatively impact the income of crab gatherers.

The Municipal Environmental Department’s remedial action involved installing containment barriers in the river to prevent the materials from spreading, but the spill was only stopped the day after the incident. The State Environmental Institute (INEA) and the Environmental Emergency Operations Management with Hazardous Products (GEROPEM) collected samples to assess the level of contamination and plan a monitoring protocol. These environmental agencies are monitoring the area to ensure residents stay away, avoiding the risk of explosions, as the materials are flammable. 

The Guanabara Bay and Maricá and Jacarepaguá Lagoon Systems Watershed Committee (CBH Baía de Guanabara) issued a statement expressing its concern about the contamination caused by the accident on the Suruí River and the potential impacts on both the ecosystem and the surrounding population. The committee is taking steps to develop a Risk Management Plan for the Watershed Region , aiming to mitigate climate and environmental damage that could affect the rivers.

The Suruí River is an important body of water that flows through the Suruí neighborhood in the municipality of Magé. It is a historical and ecological landmark of extreme importance to the local community, being one of the best-preserved rivers in Guanabara Bay, despite the environmental changes that have affected it over the past few decades.

Accidents like this highlight the vulnerability of our water bodies and the environmental injustices experienced by traditional fishing communities in their territories affected by the oil industry. In addition to the need for preventive measures against environmental damage and a collective effort to conserve these ecosystems, it is crucial that the companies responsible for these operations be held accountable for the damage caused, making concrete commitments to repair the negative impacts on the environment and the affected communities.

We stand in solidarity with fishermen, defending their rights and preserving our ecosystems, with hope and unity for a more just and sustainable future, one that is not based on dependence on the oil chain, but on alternatives that respect life and the environment.

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On June 15th, we gathered women of faith for an intense journey of dialogue and action for climate justice. As part of the global GreenFaith movement, we explored ways to strengthen our connection to the environment in a community-based way, connecting with our faith. 

We began the morning with a warm welcome, emphasizing the importance of unity among different religious communities. We formed a dialogue circle, where each participant shared their experiences fighting for the environment and their faith. This exchange created an atmosphere of genuine connection among the women present.

The activity included the screening of a video of the Suruí Suruí River , followed by a detailed presentation of the initiatives carried out by GreenFaith Global and Brazil , talking about the stories and struggles shared in favor of nature and people in various places on the planet. 

Using photos that represent the socio-environmental imagery of Magé, especially Suruí, showing the Suruí River, mangroves, churches and squares, we address the memories of each of those present about their connection with the territory and reflect on the intersection between religion, the environment and the community.

We then reflected deeply on the impact of the oil industry on our territory and its social and climatic consequences. We also realized that for a more critical environmental education in our region, we depend on fostering a sense of belonging in people, especially children, to foster a connection with our natural and cultural elements. 

Women’s Circle held at the NGO Água Doce, on June 15, to discuss the relationship between spirituality and climate change.

The highlight was the contributions of each woman present at the panel of ideas and proposals, entitled “What can we do to change this reality as people of faith?”, such as: Simplifying access to natural points of ecological interest (transportation); Enhancing the vision of our city in relation to its natural monuments; Inserting knowledge about local ecosystems in textbooks; among others. 

We conclude with the certainty that each of you contributed significantly to strengthening our faith-based environmental movement. This activity not only strengthened our community bonds but also renewed our commitment to protecting the environment and promoting climate justice. We hope the impact of this gathering continues to reverberate, driving positive action toward a future that is possible for all.

Join us on this journey of faith for Climate Justice!

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“I learned a lot about the different experiences that arise from our cultures and religions, as well as about awareness of privilege.” (Participant Generation GreenFaith 2025)

The first in-person meeting of Generation GreenFaith took place in Karlsruhe from July 25–27, 2025 – a weekend full of encounters, spirituality, and shared visions for climate justice. As joint hosts for the first time, GreenFaith France and GreenFaith Germany invited around 25 climate activists from very diverse backgrounds to Karlsruhe.

“…that I have gotten to know my story and my motivation better – this strengthens my vision.” (Participant)

Experience community and spiritual strengthening

The opening event was all about arrival and multi-religious solidarity . After a warm welcome, we lit the green GreenFaith candle as a symbol of our shared hope. Then the participants got to know each other better during speed dating. 

“What spiritual or deep experiences do you connect with the earth/nature/environment?”

In small groups, we shared our ” climate biographies” with each other . This was an invitation to understand our own story as part of this change. Because our spirituality, our own experiences, and the values ​​and attitudes that shape us are powerful resources for climate engagement.

The concluding “Shabbat prayer for Gaza” by Sophie from Paris made the call for justice loud.

“I found the connections and the various spiritual and creative impulses so enriching.” (Participant)

Combining theology, art and climate activism

Kicking off on Saturday: This generation of GreenFaith is musical and spontaneous, so there was jamming, stomping, and singing. And prayer.

Afterwards, Amélie Franco from GreenFaith France got us laughing and feeling with a playback theater workshop—a playful way to listen to one another. In the day’s keynote speech, Dr. Simone Sinn from Münster traced the historical arc of interreligious cooperation, connecting theological tenets of world religions with climate justice.

In the afternoon, we met with local climate activists such as the Karlsruhe Climate Alliance , the Resistance Collective , and the GreenFaith Circle Karlsruhe . Local climate struggles against fossil fuels and deforestation are also taking place, strengthened through actions, alliances, and spiritual moments. 

Shortly thereafter, we found ourselves in the elements – due to heavy rain, our planned excursion was spontaneously relocated to a forest hut. And this created a very special atmosphere for exchanging activist experiences.

Popular Ecology – a decolonial perspective

In the evening, Nadia Omani (Marseille) introduced us to the concept of Popular Ecology – a decolonial ecology that visualizes the connections between ecological crisis, colonialism, and capitalism. The key points:

• Ecology is not only nature conservation, but also resistance against power structures that justify the exploitation of people and the earth.
• It needs the voices of indigenous communities, postcolonial diasporas and alternative cosmologies such as Pachamama , Ubuntu or Vivir Bien .
• Decolonial ecology also means demanding ecological justice – for example, through the fight against environmental racism and for reparations approaches.
• As people of faith, we bear a double responsibility: horizontally within our communities and vertically before God, the Creator.

Nadia’s message to the GreenFaith generation: Resistance requires autonomy, connection and spiritual strength

Nadia Omani

New perspectives on intercultural and decolonial cooperation

The last day was dedicated to two central themes:

Decolonization and intersectionality in the climate movement – ​​with inputs from Khadidja Lahlali (Marseille) and Micheline Pham (Paris), who made power relations, racism and global injustices visible.

Intercultural Collaboration – led by Eleanor McCormick (Stuttgart) and Büsra Cebi (Tübingen). Exercises in deep listening and interreligious dialogue helped us explore new forms of collaboration. In small groups, we planned a fictitious interreligious climate action – a glimpse into what’s possible when our spirituality(ies) and commitment come together.

“We are so grateful that we have all met each other and that there are so many wonderful people who keep the hope for a just and loving world alive.”

Voices and projects from the community

The retreat was also a space to share personal projects and inspirations. 

Tabea (Leipzig) presented her book project , which brings together poems and stories from Lebanon – a product of the “Lebanon Poetry Project.” Dayana (Berlin) reported on a project in her home country of Colombia, where local groups are protecting turtles from extinction. Micheline (Paris) spoke about her work with Collectif Vietnam Dioxine in France, which supports victims of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War. Milka (Pakistan) presented interreligious cooperation in times of natural disasters. Khadija (Marseille) shared her approach to decolonization, and Svenja (Berlin/Nairobi) is currently starting her own sustainable safari business in Kenya. Peggy composes her own songs and lyrics that revolve around the search for spirituality and closeness to nature. We met so many amazing people of faith who are working for a compassionate, just, and loving world.MichelineSvenjaMilkaKhadija

Our conclusion

The retreat in Karlsruhe demonstrated that climate justice is more than political action—it is a spiritual, cultural, and communal task. Through encounters, shared learning, and shared hope, we are beginning a movement that is locally rooted and globally connected: the “Generation GreenFaith.” 

👉 Follow us on Instagram and stay connected with #GenerationGreenFaith – and in 2026 there will be exciting new formats that you can register for soon.

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From September 19 to 21, 2025, we demonstrated with broad and new alliances that climate protection requires our commitment, our spirituality, and our diverse voices.

Friday: First climate demonstration in Ettlingen

On Friday, around 350 people took to the streets in Ettlingen and the southern district of Karlsruhe for climate justice. We were overwhelmed by the energy: Two powerful expert presentations – by Dr. Andrea Meyn (Helmholtz Energy Office) and Prof. Peter Knippertz (KIT) – were combined with a creative role-playing game by Omas for Future and rousing live music.

Over 20 clubs, institutions, and churches participated in the demonstration—a strong signal that climate justice has arrived in our urban society. Thank you to everyone who participated and raised their voices!

Saturday: Ecumenical climate prayer in Horbachpark

“Today we want to give space to spirituality. It is a source of strength and motivation for loving care of our planet.” (Ruth, Omas4Future)

At the ecumenical climate prayer service in Horbach Park, we felt that climate justice is also a question of relationships. 

“Today we want to open a space to experience relationships: relationships with myself, with my fellow creatures, with the earth and with God.”

“Too much, too long, too hot, creation is starving and thirsting, species are becoming extinct, people are losing their livelihoods, and must leave their homes if they want to survive.” (Silke, Catholic Deanery of Ettlingen)“The soil secures our existence; we speak of Mother Earth and Mother Earth.” (Ruth, Omas4Future)

We explored our relationships at four stations: the earth that supports us, the ground beneath our feet, the sun around us, and life with one another.

“ Who is my climate neighbor? Climate justice means neighborliness across borders.” (Caroline, GreenFaith eV)

At the subsequent participatory picnic, project presentations were held, including the upcycling workshop by Scientists for Future: “Build your own balcony power plants from old, but functional, solar panels,” and formulating wishes for a “future city of Ettlingen” based on the models of Paris and Tübingen. With the original globe from the photo project “my globe your globe,” one’s own view of the world became an experience.

Sunday: Climate art exhibition and church service

Sunday morning: Choir singing, clear sermons, a full church, a strengthening community. After Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart Church , photographs, paintings, and poems from the “Life in Crisis – Solidarity in Art” exhibition were shown, touching many people and sparking conversations about the climate crisis.

This climate weekend has shown: We need both – protest on the streets and the spiritual strength that sustains us. And we need each other as a community that inspires courage.

We conclude by asking for blessings for all our future actions: 

God, Creator of heaven and earth, let rain fall upon us like blessings, protect us like the animals and plants. Be with us on every path, no matter how rocky. Amen.

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The sun is always shining, sometimes more, sometimes less. We’ve all gotten sunburned at some point, even though we thought it wasn’t that hot, right? And not just in faraway countries, but right here on our doorstep. It’s often irrelevant to our everyday lives, but the fact that the sun shines every day, the same for everyone, is breathtaking. What’s more, it costs absolutely nothing to lie in the sun and work on your tan a little. So why not use the same effect to make your own lifestyle more sustainable.

What is photovoltaics?

Renewable energies are on everyone’s lips in the face of the climate crisis, and this includes solar energy, the conversion of solar radiation (light and heat) into usable household electricity. We use electricity every day and pay for it, even though we could produce it ourselves for free in the long run – and in a climate-friendly way, too. All you need is a few solar panels on your roof or even your balcony. A few square meters of open space are enough to cover part of your electricity needs, reduce CO2 emissions, and save money.

The exhibition: Knowledge to take away

If you’re still unsure whether this could be something for your balcony or roof, how much it costs, and whether it’s worth it, then we’d like to recommend the exhibition “Photovoltaics – Solar Power – By Everyone for Everyone .” The exhibition answers all these questions and more on information panels that can even be sent by mail. This makes the exhibition ideal for churches, environmental groups, clubs, or community centers – as an information offering at action days, lectures, or in the foyer. You can also turn it into a campaign and place a group order at the end to order even more effectively and cost-effectively. Solar energy can be harvested almost anywhere these days. The exhibition aims to encourage and impart knowledge – in a practical, understandable, and motivating way.

Preserving the earth is always worthwhile – for this generation and even more so for those who come after us.

Summer and winter, sowing and harvest—as long as the earth endures!!! These foundations must not be shaken. Therefore, it is high time to focus on the energy we can harvest from the sun, to see this as a blessing, and to give thanks for the sun’s harvest.

– Andreas Krone, initiator of “Photovoltaics by all for all” and author of the book “Solar Thanksgiving”

Because one thing is clear: the energy transition will only succeed if we all participate. And photovoltaics, in particular, makes it easy for us – decentralized, scalable, and affordable. The exhibition shows how it’s done.

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Why bees preserve our environment

Bees pollinate approximately 75% of the world’s plants that produce food for humans. Fruit, vegetable, and nut trees are heavily dependent on effective pollination by bees – and thus, so are we humans. Bees also pollinate plants that don’t produce food, such as wildflowers, which in turn provide habitat for other animals. Thus, bees maintain the food chains on which all life depends.

“Planetary boundaries are defined for those nine biophysical systems and processes that regulate the functioning of life-support systems on Earth and thus ultimately determine the stability and resilience of the Earth system.”  (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

Six of these nine “planetary boundaries” have currently been exceeded. These include climate change and changes in the integrity of the biosphere. For this reason, in the “Bees for Peace” project, we want to work together to preserve biodiversity in our habitats and places of worship. 

Bees as ambassadors for interreligious dialogue

Our board member, research associate at the University of Cologne, postdoctoral researcher, and activist Dr. Carrie Dohe first launched the “Bees for Peace” project in Canada. Her research focuses on how faith, environmental protection, and climate protection intersect and influence religious traditions. Now she wants to expand the project in Germany.

The project has two goals:

1. To increase public awareness and commitment to the protection of pollinating insects and the conservation of biodiversity.
2. To promote peace by connecting faith and non-religious communities with each other, as well as with schools, bee conservation organizations, and horticultural experts.

I believe that religious communities have great potential for protecting our shared planet, but don’t always utilize it. Often, they have other concerns. Today, many religious communities are addressing growing social tensions and engaging in interreligious dialogue as a possible solution. Although most religions today possess well-thought-out eco-theologies and knowledge about protecting the environment, this knowledge is not accessible to all members of faith communities. “Bees for Peace” combines a commitment to peace and social cohesion with the scientific insights and practical know-how to easily fulfill their ecological obligations.” – Dr. Carrie Dohe

To help achieve these goals, various initiatives are available: You can book age-appropriate and tradition-sensitive events to educate children about the importance of bees, plan a (interfaith) children’s camp where children develop an understanding of biological and cultural diversity, or create “Paths of Peace.” These are imaginary paths leading from one place of worship to the other. Both communities create a small pollinator garden to attract bees. The idea is that the bees pollinate both gardens, creating a bond between the different traditions, all of which share a common goal of protecting the earth. Bees for Peace thus brings together environmental protection and interreligious dialogue. The project thus creates opportunities for different faith communities or other social organizations that share a common goal: the preservation of our precious earth.

“Bees are messengers of peace: They fly across our self-imposed borders to feed on the flowers in all our communities and unite us in a network of peace. May we follow the bees’ example.” Dr. Carrie Dohe

How can I participate?

If you’d like to be part of Bees for Peace, contact Carrie. Whether as an individual or as a faith community, Carrie would be happy to talk with you.

Carrie Dohe

carrie.dohe@beesforpeace.org

Instagram: @beesforpeace

Web: www.beesforpeace.org/

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For three weeks, the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Church in Tübingen became a space for art, spirituality, and global solidarity. Under the title “Life in Crisis – Solidarity in Art,” the Protestant Student Community of Tübingen (ESG) and the Muslim Student Group of Tübingen (MST) presented the GreenFaith art exhibition.

“Life in Crisis – Solidarity in Art”

The exhibition, curated by the interfaith climate movement GreenFaith, brought works by five international artists to the Tübingen community. Their paintings, poems, photographs, and installations powerfully visualized what often goes unheard: the voices of those most severely affected by climate change. The artistic contributions came from Brazil, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Germany—united by the desire for a more just, livable future.

GreenFaith – a global, spiritually driven movement – ​​sees itself as a coalition of people of diverse faiths working together for climate justice. At the heart of their work is the conviction that all life is sacred and that religions everywhere share values ​​such as compassion, justice, and the preservation of the Earth. The exhibition “Life in Crisis – Solidarity in Art” is an expression of this attitude: art as resistance, as a spiritual tool, and as an invitation to hope.

Art with attitude: The artists

Among the artists featured was Lucy D’Souza-Krone, a Christian-influenced painter from India whose works draw on biblical and Hindu symbolism and address spiritual responsibility for creation.

Paul Podbielski, a photographer from Saxony, documents political protests – from anti-fascist resistance to climate struggles – and uses his camera to reveal the contradictions of our society.

Micha Sass from Dortmund combines music education and photography. His project “My Globe, Your Globe” demonstrates that the globe connects us all – regardless of continent, religion, or origin.

Anne Njambi Gacheru from Kenya is committed to self-empowerment and environmental protection through art and practice – including through beekeeping and educational work with young people.

And finally, Zeegyasa, a young activist from India, poetically embodies the voice of the earth through texts, collages, and installations. Her work calls for understanding nature not as a backdrop, but as a fellow being.

A space for hope and encounter

The opening on May 25th was a successful launch. Visitors from the city and religious communities gathered to explore the works and engage in conversation.

The closing event on June 15th marked the emotional and thematic climax: Caroline Bader, GreenFaith’s Germany coordinator, visited Tübingen and provided deep insights into the global work of the network, which advocates for a just transition to renewable energies, social justice, and spiritual depth in environmental engagement. Her visit was a gift—and a living testimony to global interconnectedness in faith and action.

Particularly noteworthy is the interreligious collaboration between the Protestant Student Community (ESG) and the Muslim Student Group Tübingen (MST). At a time when cultural divides often seem greater than bridges, this cooperation has demonstrated what is possible when common ground is placed at the center: concern for life, respect for creation, and responsibility for future generations.

Thanks and outlook

Our sincere thanks go to the Bonhoeffer congregation in Tübingen, which made its church available as an exhibition space – not just as a backdrop, but as an active place for discussion and dialogue.

This exhibition has enabled encounters – across cultural, religious, and linguistic boundaries. It has presented the climate emergency not only as an ecological problem, but as a spiritual, social, and political challenge of our time.

May it provide an impetus for further discussions, further cooperation and a growing solidarity that goes beyond words.

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