Moderator Mardi Tindal at the end of the Global Day for Action march on December 3, 2011 in Durban, South Africa.

Before leaving home for the COP17 climate talks, my climate advisor, environmental journalist Alanna Mitchell declared, “It will be like going into the epicentre of an earthquake before it happens, knowing that you might be able to do something to prevent it.”

I'm praying especially for former Moderator Bill Phipps this morning, as he is half way through his two week Fast for Courage for climate justice.

As Bill said in a recent blog posting: "Endless consumption of the Earth, our only home, is no longer possible.... We need a new paradign for our economic future. Climate change needs to be addressed seriously NOW."

Our gratitude for your witness, and our prayers are with you, Bill.

As you plan to worship and pray tomorrow, Sunday, December 4th, please consider joining your prayers with ours as faith leaders at the COP17 climate change conference in Durban, South Africa.

The President of COP17, Her Excellency Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is bringing African wisdom to her leadership in these negotiations. This represents a tremendous opportunity for the global community.

During yesterday morning’s briefing, Canada’s Climate Ambassador Guy St- Jacques explained that Her Excellency has invited nations into an Indaba – a gathering of the chiefs, where, as I understand it, each voice is honoured and equal.

The high-powered Canadian Youth Delegation here at the COP17 has the look of hope. Today hope looked like a bake sale to, as the youth say: ‘buy back our future’.

Canadian youth delegates have been busy cooking up “bitumen balls” to sell here in Durban, a bid to offset Canada’s rich subsidies to the oil and gas industry. To the youth delegates, those subsidies mean that Canada’s climate policy that has been “bought by the fossil fuel regime.” They’re orchestrating a buy-back, one tasty ‘bitumen ball’ at a time.

Moderator Mardi Tindal at COP17 Interfaith Rally, Durban, South Africa.

One of my tasks here at COP17 is to pray for courage.
 
It takes courage to listen humbly.

In her opening words to the COP17 this morning Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) quoted Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it is done.”

Desmond Tutu was at his best yesterday at the Interfaith Rally here in Durban. As one new friend put it, “Tutu is liberation in human form” – an apt description as the ‘retired’ Archbishop compares the struggle to end apartheid with the struggle to mitigate climate change.