Faith in the Public Square

 Members of local religious groups are gathering at the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in Hudson on Sunday, October 17 to promote climate justice. The event is part of an international project called Faiths 4 Climate Justice . According to a news release from the organizers, “thousands of people of faith with support from over 200 high-level faith leaders are calling on political and financial leaders to meet a series of ambitious climate demands that get at the heart of the problem.” Those demands include an end to new fossil fuel projects and tropical deforestation; universal access to renewable energy; policies creating green jobs and a just transition for impacted workers and communities; support for those forced to migrate due to climate impacts; and reparations from the countries and industries responsible for the lion’s share of the problem.   The local event is sponsored by GreenFaith and the Buddhist Action Network. Participants are asked to park on either the of the bridge at...

Jonathan Kuttab, a Palestinian Christian and human rights activist who served as the head of the Legal Committee negotiating the Cairo Agreement of 1994 between Israel and the PLO, will discuss the current crisis in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on Sunday, October 21, at Trinity Community Center, 705 Curry Road in Rotterdam. Billed as a Community Conversation entitled "Beyond the Two-State Solution," the session is hosted by Messiah Lutheran Church of Schenectady, with support from the New York State Council of Churches.   In this YouTube video , Kuttab explains that the two-state solution (that he supported) is no longer viable. He proposes a one-state solution that challenges both Zionism and Palestinian Nationalism.    Kuttab is the co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and co-founder of Nonviolence International. A well-known international human rights attorney, he practices in the United States, Palestine, and Israel. He serves on the Board of Be...

 The Capital Region Interfaith Creation Care Coalition (CRICCC) has announced the passing of its founder and first chair, David Cullen, following a seven-month long battle with lung cancer. From the announcement: David had a gentle, all-inclusive leadership style. He listened intently and offered good direction, two qualities that encouraged others to take action. He will be sorely missed. A memorial service will take place sometime in October. According to his obituary , David also was   one of the founders of Covenant House in New York City. Memorial donations in his memory may be made to CRICCC, checks payable to  CRICCC , 1 Marion Avenue, Albany, New York 12203.