Evangelicals Claim Bible Says Humans Must Fight Climate Change, Evangelical 10 Commandments to Save Earth, Bloomberg’s Green Film Fest

EVANGELICALS CLAIM BIBLE CALLS FOR HUMANS TO FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The National Association of Evangelicals has unveiled a sweeping report on global climate change, laying out what its authors call the “biblical basis” for environmental activism to help spur fellow evangelicals to address the planetary crisis. 

The nearly 50-page report, released last week and titled “Loving the Least of These: Addressing a Changing Environment,” opens with a section that insists protecting the environment is a biblical mandate.

“The Bible does not tell us anything directly about how to evaluate scientific reports or how to respond to a changing environment, but it does give several helpful principles: Care for creation, love our neighbors and witness to the world,” the report says.

The authors go on to cite passages such as Genesis 2:15 (“God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it”), Matthew 22 (“Love your neighbor as yourself”) and Deuteronomy 15 (“Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart”).

“We worship God by caring for creation,” it says. Another section outlines the basic science behind climate change, but the report — produced in partnership with the NAE’s humanitarian arm World Relief — returns often to the real-world impacts, such as how air pollution created by fossil fuels can have negative outcomes for children’s health or disproportionately affect the poor.

DEEPER DIVE: WaPo, NAE

EVANGELICAL TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR SAVING PLANET EARTH

Speaking of evangelicals, I just found the “Evangelical Ten Commandments for Saving Planet Earth. They are:

1. You have no other planet than this one
2. You shall not make idols of corporations and their greediness
3. You shall not take the environment/climate in vain
4. Remember our communities, to keep them healthy
5. Honor Mother Earth
6. You shall not kill of species
7. You shall not screw around with our clean air and water
8. You shall not steal our wild places
9. You shall not bear false witness against science
10. You shall not covet public lands or private profits

Why do these matter to us? The Bible does not tell us anything directly about how to evaluate scientific reports or how to respond to a changing environment, but it does give several helpful principles: Care for creation, love our neighbors and witness to the world.”

BLOOMBERG GREEN DOCS FILM FEST SUBMISSIONS REMINDER        

Calling all filmmakers. Bloomberg Green Docs is still accepting submissions. The world wants to see your short documentaries on climate change. Submit your film by September 16 and compete to win a $25,000 grand prize, plus the opportunity to showcase your work at a special screening in Los Angeles on October 26. 

As reported last spring on The Climate Daily, Bloomberg Media wants to expose eco-filmmakers to the world. Here’s the pitch: What is the compelling story you most want to tell? Bloomberg Green Docs’ inaugural competition is open to all eligible filmmakers who would like to compete to win a $25,000 grand prize for a short climate documentary.

Bloomberg Media wants to explore our climate future in the here and now, with documentaries that reveal the world we are making today. Ecosystems are being restored alongside the formation of tomorrow’s zero-carbon communities. At the same time, extremes in our habitats warn of cascading climate consequences. Details are as follows:

•   Films must address the urgency of climate change and
•   Be Under 10 minutes, including credits.
•   Submissions will be accepted through September 16, 2022

And here are the rewards:

•   A Jury will award a $25,000 grand prize
•   THe Winner will be announced at the Bloomberg Green Docs Film Festival at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on October 26, 2022
•   Top 5 documentaries will be shown at the festival

Click on the links in the Deeper Dive section at the end of this story at theclimate.org/episodes for rules and details, or surf on over to bloomberg.com/greendocs#contest. Go film and good luck!!

DEEPER DIVE: Bloomberg Docs, Green Doc Rules