Why Sigh and Not Reduce Carbon Emission? | Tiffany

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[ ‘SHARE’ Mar-Apr 2014 -Taking Precaution ] TAKING ACTION

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Author> Tiffany Lam

When a disaster strikes, everything valuable seems to vanish in a moment. What can man do but sigh? You might think that the photo was taken from a landfill, but it is Basey, a picturesque and fertile land west of the Philippines with a thriving fishing industry.

Human beings seem to be very passive and can do nothing to avoid or control an unforeseen disaster. Disasters happening far-away seem surreal and irrelevant. But is it really true that we have no relation to the disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan hitting the Philippines in 2013, severe droughts and famines in East African countries in 2011, floods across South Asia in 2010, Africa’s droughts and floods in 2009, and the Sichuan Earthquake in 2008?

Human relationships with God, others and the earth are broken. Immeasurable destruction is caused by selfishness, naivety and greed when human exploit and thoughtlessly develop natural resources. Melting glaciers in the North Pole caused by global warming may take years to affect Hong Kong, but this is a grave matter for people living in low-lying lands. Residents of Basey told us, ‘Super Typhoon Haiyan causes massive destruction. In recent years, we, especially the coastal inhabitants, have been threatened by frequent flooding and what worse is the flood level gets higher every year – a mere “amber rain warning” can mean a rise of water level of over a meter.’

How do Christians respond to ecological imbalance and ever greater hardship of disadvantaged groups? CEDAR is holding her annual Carbon Fast during Lent so that Christians can through meditation and reflection renew their personal life and their relationship with God, individuals, communities and the earth. This year’s theme is ‘Reduce Carbon Emission ~ Share Our Love’, with an objective to show that our action is not merely a virtue or purely for preservation of environment, but should reflect external practice of our internal reflections, our belief turned into action, and real practices to care for our neighbours and faraway people who suffer from climate problems. Dear readers, rather than sighing over natural and manmade disasters, let us take positive action and reduce carbon emission. Carbon Fast 2014 awaits your participation!

‘Carbon Fast’ website: http://cedarcarbonfast.wordpress.com/

Tiffany graduated from bible seminary and joined CEDAR last August, taking part in mobilising churches to practise Integral Mission. 

This issue

Participation Is Good, Mobilisation Is Better | Wendy

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[ ‘SHARE’ Jan-Feb 2014 – Who Is Willing to Be Their Neighbour? ] TAKING ACTION

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Author> Wendy FUNG

Thank God for leading me to a number of CEDAR’s events in the past two years. In January 2013, I joined the exposure trip to Ethiopia where I learned and witnessed God’s power; the trip also helped me understand CEDAR’s operation. The impact of CEDAR Carbon Fast during Lent on me is the most apparent; I was invited to be a member of ‘Carbon Fast Army’, assist posting photos on Facebook about Carbon Fast. With the aid of Scriptures prepared by CEDAR, I have gained better understand of the purposes of our daily Fast actions and God’s will at creation. Some of the Fast actions such as waste sorting and bringing my own water bottle/cutlery have become my daily habits.

On a missions trip to Madagascar in 2012, the missionary not only took home leftovers from the table, she also reused plastic boxes after cleansing as the refuse collection system there is inadequate and people just dumped all wastes into big garbage bins on road-sides. Besides doing evangelisation and church planting, I saw the missionary’s effort not to produce waste and perceived her integral love towards the land and inhabitants thereon.

The Philippines was hit by severe Tropical Storm Haiyan that killed thousands and affected over nine million people. It is irrefutable that human activities aggravate extreme climate changes and the frequent natural disasters make the poor’s lives harder, even taking away many precious lives. Isn’t it ironic that we seek to take the gospel to the ends of the world, whilst our lifestyles bring about changes that would reduce the chance of the poor hearing the gospel?  I used to question the effect in turning off one lamp on carbon emissions reduction!  But if all Christians change our current lifestyles and practise the bible’s teaching, I believe that by the Holy Spirit we can change the world. Living an Integral Mission may sound grand and hard to start, but we may live it out a bit in a day. Let us start today and with God’s help exert influence on people around us doing small things in loving our world. (Watch a clip by Tearfund UK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vph2oLKb1qM)

In January 2013, Wendy joined CEDAR’s exposure trip to Ethiopia; taking part in Carbon Fast and as a member of ‘Carbon Fast Army’ practising and mobilising low carbon living for better environmental protection in February and March; Wendy further joined CEDAR Barefoot Walk in November showing support for impoverished children.

Support Philippines Typhoon Victims at this Critical Time

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Super Typhoon Haiyan, struck Philippines on 8 Nov., killed more than 5,200 people, 13 million affected and almost 4.3 million displaced. Victims are in dire needs, and some of them lost their homes and even saw their beloved ones swept to their deaths in the storm surge.

Photo 1_PHL-TFUK-13 the remains of a home
Houses were destroyed as storm-surge waves hit Basey, Samar

Photo 2_ PHL-TFUK-13 washing clothes
Women wash clothes by the roadside

CEDAR is responding the dire need of the victims through the local partner PHILRADS, by delivering food packs to affected families in Leyte and Samar provinces. Shelters and emotional support during disaster recovery will be provided. Besides, CEDAR together with other Integral Alliance members are establishing an Integral team on the ground to strengthen our joint response, both operationally and through the work of our local church based partners.

Photo 3_PHL-TFUK-13 food distribution
Relief items arrived in a town in south Samar which was completely destroyed

As Philippines was severely devastated, CEDAR has submitted a relief proposal to HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee to support the relief work by our partners in Samar and Northern Iloilo.  One of our partners Food for the Hungry is going to provide at least 4,000 affected families in two municipalities in western Samar province with items like food, kitchen sets and hygiene kits for children.

Pray for victims and relief work in Philippines:

‘Heavenly Father, we trust in you as our comfort, strength and hope.
In this time of disaster and crisis in the Philippines would you help every agency in their aid effort.
By your Spirit we pray you would lift up the broken, give comfort and strength to those who mourn the loss of loved ones.
And help us as we respond to aid the work of rescue and rebuilding.
Put hope in the hearts of all your children Lord.
Through Jesus our Saviour. Amen’
(source: Tearfund UK)

Emergency and Relief Donation

(Please mark “Philippines Typhoon Relief”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institution and trust of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief-approach/

This project has been carried out as part of an Integral Response.

Philippine Aid Operation Hampered by Scale of Destruction

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[ePrayer – Pray for the Typhoon victims and the relief work]

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CEDAR Fund’s local partners are responding to the desperate need of 9.5 million people affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines, working with local churches to deliver food packs to 7,000 affected families in Leyte and Samar provinces. Poor communications and access difficulties are still hampering relief efforts. Integral Alliance, in which CEDAR is a member agency, is currently meeting local partners to carry out a crisis mapping to further support relief operations in badly hit areas. Integral Alliance members from UK, Switzerland, USA and CEDAR partners from India and Indonesia who are well experienced in disaster management are arriving the Philippines to support relief effort there. [CEDAR’s Philippines Typhoon Relief]

Pray for the Typhoon victims and the relief work:

  • Pray for God’s healing and protection to the victims; and for His comfort to those who have lost their beloved ones and homes;
  • Pray for debris clearing of roads so that the main supply route can be passable for transporting necessary relief goods and reach affected populations;
  • Pray for smooth emergency operations and for the safety of all types of frontline aid workers;
  • Pray for good planning and coordination from the Philippine government on disaster relief and rehabilitation.

Emergency and Relief Donation:

(Please mark “Philippines Typhoon Relief”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institution and trust of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief-approach/

* Integral is a global alliance of 19 Christian relief and development agencies, working together to present a more effective response to poverty worldwide. CEDAR is one of the member agencies.

The World Is Longing for a Climate Change Deal

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[ePrayer – Pray for progress on global climate action]

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The United Nations Climate Change Conference opened on 11 November in Warsaw, Poland, with a call to reach a new agreement to cut climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions. According to the UN Official, there is a groundswell of climate action for environment, security, energy, economic and governance reasons and the world is ready for a climate change deal. Clarifying finance that enables the entire world to move towards low-carbon development and launching the construction of a mechanism that helps vulnerable populations to respond to the unanticipated effects of climate change are the main areas that delegates should work hard on in order to hammer out a universal UN-backed treaty on climate change by 2015 which would enter force by 2020.

The conference takes place against a backdrop of devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan. The Philippines’ lead negotiator, Yeb Sano, called the climate crisis “madness” and urged the international community to act.“We can stop this madness. Right here in Warsaw,” Mr. Sano said. “Typhoons such as Haiyan and its impacts represent a sobering reminder to the international community that we cannot afford to procrastinate on climate action.” He also added that this Typhoon is not natural when people continue to struggle to eradicate poverty and pursue development and get battered by the onslaught of a monster storm. [UN News (1), UN News (2)]

Pray for progress on global climate action:

  • Pray that all nations will work together to deal with the problem of climate change by breaking through the bondage of economic and political considerations;
  • May the voices and wishes of those people who are vulnerable to or being suffered by climate change, such as small farmers, rural poor and those people living in disaster prone areas, be heard.

Emergency Appeal: CEDAR Emergency Operations for Super Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines

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CEDAR Fund’s local partners are responding to the desperate need of the 9.5 million people affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan since 7 Nov in Philippines. Reportedly, the worst natural catastrophe in Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan is estimated to have killed more than 10,000 people and the death toll is expected to rise.

According to CEDAR’s local partner PHILRADS, at least six provinces are severely damaged, including Leyte, Samar and Cebu provinces. In this very first stage of emergency operations, PHILRADS works with local churches to deliver food packs to 7,000 affected families in Leyte and Samar provinces. Depending on available resources, PHILRADS would like to reach out to other badly hit provinces.

As a member agency of Integral Alliance*, CEDAR has also been working very closely with Integral Alliance members on the disaster relief work for Super Typhoon Haiyan. Another local partner is now providing basic necessities such as food, water, medicine and shelter to all those affected by the disaster.

Pray for the Typhoon victims and the relief development work

  • Pray for God’s healing and protection to the victims; and for His comfort to those who have lost their beloved ones and homes.
  • Pray for smooth emergency operations and for the safety of all types of frontline aid workers.
  • Pray for good planning and coordination from the Philippine government on disaster relief and rehabilitation.
  • Pray for God’s protection for the people in China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as Typhoon Haiyan moves toward their direction.

Emergency and Relief Donation

(Please mark “Philippines Typhoon Relief”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institution and trust of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief-approach/

* Integral Alliance is a global alliance of 19 Christian relief and development agencies, working together to present a more effective response to poverty worldwide. CEDAR is one of the member agencies.

This project has been carried out as part of an Integral Response.