WE the peoples of the Pacific, affirm the biblical and Christian tradition that the land and sea are the creation of God. We affirm that the Spirit and the Word are actively involved in God’s “very good” creation. We affirm that the triune God is present both in and beyond the land and sea, and in these we the Pacific peoples “live and move and have our being”. As peoples of the Pacific we acknowledge that the land and sea are God’s gifts to us – gifts to be used for the livelihood and well being of not only the present generation but all generations to come. We are, therefore, called upon to respect and care for these gifts as children of God through Jesus Christ. In caring for these gifts we acknowledge that human life is vitally connected to all other lives in the land and sea. Together we are a living community in God.
MINDFUL of the stewardship placed on us by God, over our fenua/vanua (terrestrial ecosystems) and our moana (marine ecosystems), it is painfully clear – from convincing scientific evidence that the human release of carbon dioxide through the continued burning of fossil fuels is causing and will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the earth's atmosphere and disruption of the earth's climate – our response has been inadequate to the scale and pace of Earth’s degradation. And to continue to walk the current path of ecological destruction is not only recklessness; it is sin.
WE the peoples of the Pacific, as custodians of our fenua (lands) and moana (ocean); urge our Pacific Islands Forum Leaders (PIF) to call for an ambitious and forward looking agreement in Denmark – Conference of Parties 15th session [COP15] in December 2009.
WE the peoples of the Pacific, call on PIF Leaders to impress upon the international community the urgent need to set an ambitious limit to the release of greenhouse gases to protect our fenua and moana and to safeguard the health and welfare of Pacific peoples.
WE the peoples of the Pacific, urge our PIF Leaders to use this critical opportunity in the COP15 process to negotiate for a just RESETTLEMENT framework for Pacific Peoples affected by climate change.
We the peoples of the Pacific, urge PIF Leaders to consider the issue of ‘the Right to Comprehensive Resettlement’ be recognized in the International Human Rights Law framework and International Law for a more binding commitment from all states.
WE the peoples of the Pacific, urge our Pacific Leaders to consider the informed Civil Society Position on Climate Change which has been endorsed by regional and national civil society organizations including Pacific churches.
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Thank you for your support.
Please return this petition to: Pacific Conference of Churches Secretariat, G.P.O Box 208, Suva Fiji by September 1, 2009.