The Barnet Multi Faith Forum (BMFF) were praised by Government minister, Sarah Sackman MP and other local MPs for an inspiring solidarity event organised at the Finchley Mosque last Friday.
The large congregation were joined by local councillors of both parties’, Rabbis, and a diverse gathering of prominent faith and community leaders. This harmonious event followed in the aftermath of the often-violent civic disobedient clashes provoked by far-right groups attaching, refugee centres and mosques exploiting for their own divisive motives, the tragic murders of three young girls in Southport.
In a statement, from the minister read out by Cllr Sara Conway, whilst thanking everyone present, she praised the professionalism of the police in standing up to these attacks, and especially to those that peaceably lined the streets of Finchley the previous week. This sent a powerful message about “who we are, and that this is our home”. In remaining vigilant to these threats, she proclaimed “there is no place for Islamophobia and racism in our society.”
She also explicitly stated that anyone calling themselves anti racist but who chose to promote their cause by patent use of antisemitic language or signs does this virtuous cause no favours. “This is racism, and we will call it out” she declared. “The vast majority of the people in our community come together to stand up to fascism and I could not be prouder.”
To loud applause from the huge gathering the BMFF Chair David Clare read out the Barnet Pledge which commits us to work together for the common good, alongside all who share our values of justice and peace, respect for one another, for the earth and its creatures and to build a better society and a better world now and for generations to come.
In thanking the Mosque and especially the kind invitation of Imam Hamid with the warm reception given by those in attendance for prayers, the coming together of Senior Rabbis, Imams, diverse ministers of faiths, councillors and community leaders to further loud acclaim Esmond Rosen President of BMFF, concluded “In choosing the language, of peace, unity over division, of hope over hate, the community gathered together last Friday, sent a powerful message of strength and friendship to the people of Barnet.
Barnet Pledge
We commit ourselves, as people of many faiths living in Barnet, to work together for the common good and uniting to build a better society in our Borough, in London and in the wider world.
Together, we are grounded in the following values and ideals: community, personal integrity, a sense of right and wrong, learning, wisdom and love of truth, care and compassion, justice and peace, respect for one another and for the earth and its creatures.
We commit ourselves, in a spirit of friendship and co-operation, to work together alongside all who share our values and ideals in Barnet and beyond, to help bring about a better Borough, a better capital and a better world – now and for generations to come.
On July 15th, 2024, the Barnet Net Zero team organized the Barnet Climate Action Month Closing Event at the RAF Museum. Four Barnet Citizen Assembly Action Groups, including the Faith-Based Action Group, reported on progress made over the past six months and outlined plans to achieve net zero for the borough by 2042.
Amir Ohadi, chair of the BMFF Sustainability Committee, presented the Faith Action Group and highlighted the recent Faith Partnership event and eco tour at New North London Synagogue led by Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg. This visit demonstrated how places of worship can inspire sustainable practices such as reducing waste, energy efficiency, biodiversity, gardening and green spaces, and all other aspects of the climate agenda across communities. Representatives from various faith groups and stakeholders, including Anglican, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Bahai, and Middlesex University, made significant contributions.
Looking ahead, the Faith Action Group will continue its mission within the Barnet Multi-Faith Forum Sustainability Committee. Farah Ali, representing the Barnet Council Sustainability team, has joined the BMFF Sustainability Committee to facilitate collaboration and faith partnership with the local government. The challenge is to establish robust data and communication infrastructure to deliver messages and support sustainable collaborations with faith communities. The establishment of a Barnet Faith Leaders Forum will be instrumental in further engaging faith communities in this green transition.
The Woolf Institute, in collaboration with the Muslim World League, hosted a Sustainability and Climate Change Panel during the Encounter Workshop at the University of Cambridge. This event convened distinguished leaders and scholars to explore the intersection between faith and climate action.
Panel participants included Revd Dr Stephen Cherry, Dean of King’s College; Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence; Amir J. Ohadi, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee at the Barnet Multi Faith Forum; and Dr Tobias Müller, Lecturer at Cambridge’s Department of Politics and International Studies. Discussions focused on pivotal topics such as reform versus systemic change, scientific versus religious approaches, grassroots versus top-down strategies, and the role of ethical frameworks in driving climate action.
Amir Ohadi underscored the significance of Pope Francis’s recent encyclical, Laudate Deum, released in October 2023 ahead of COP28. This influential document articulates key insights on the climate crisis from both spiritual and scientific perspectives, advocating for cultural and personal transformations to address global environmental challenges effectively.
The panel explored how religious perspectives can offer valuable insights into climate change mitigation and emission reduction. They highlighted the potential of faith-inspired messaging to bring optimism, catalyze change, and promote moral responsibility in climate debates.
Additionally, the discussion addressed the Faith Partnership initiative with the Barnet local government, aimed at achieving BarNET Zero by 2042. The initiative underscores the importance of inclusive local partnerships in implementing actionable solutions tailored to community needs.
The event concluded with a significant dialogue at Westminster College with Sheikh Dr Mohammed Al-Issa, head of the World Muslim League and organizer of the Charter of Mecca. This charter advocates for moderate Islam and addresses global environmental concerns, advocating for pollution reduction and global commitment to climate treaties.
Prepared by Barnet Multi Faith Forum, Environment and Sustainability Sub-Group
Caring for people and planet and Commitment to net Zero emission (not adding emissions to the environment directly and indirectly) presents an opportunity to embrace more sustainable practices, cultivating a greener and healthier environment. Let’s remember our accountability as stewards of the planet and make impactful changes by taking small steps that significantly contribute to our collective journey towards long-term sustainability goals and a brighter future for all.
1- Reduce Plastic Use:
Remember to bring your own bags when shopping to minimize the need for plastic bags.
Consider switching to plastic-free alternatives such as soap bars and refillable containers for your toiletries.
Choose foods that have minimal packaging to reduce plastic waste.
Instead of using plastic cutlery, bring your own reusable cups, bottles, plates, and utensils for any gatherings.
Encourage sustainability among children by rewarding them for participating in these practices with non-plastic, recyclable toys and books.
2- Reduce Food Waste:
Adjust your fridge temperature to between 0-5°C to extend the freshness of food.
Embrace creativity with leftovers—freeze them or share with those in need.
Donate unwanted food to food banks or utilize apps like OLIO or Too Good To Go to minimize waste effectively.
Shop with a plan in mind, paying close attention to the use-by dates of fresh food.
Maintain your fridge; clean and use clear storage containers for easy visibility of contents, reducing the chance of food being forgotten.
Consider going meat-free occasionally, to lessen environmental impact.
3- Compost & Recycle:
Start composting organic waste in your garden to decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills. Please see how easy to compost with a wormery!
Boost your recycling efforts and inquire about local services for food waste collection.
If you have access to any type of dry biomass, including greenfield waste and waste materials, consider producing biochar or providing them to nearby biochar production facilities.
Please place any leaves that fall onto your frontage, driveway, or garden in your green garden waste bin if you’re signed up for the service. Or turn fallen leaves into leaf mould to enrich your garden soil naturally.
4- Eco-Friendly Home & Gifts:
Use sustainable materials for decorations.
Create handmade gifts and cards and use minimal wrapping.
Select suppliers committed to eco-friendly practices.
Reduce air travel as much as possible and explore alternative modes of transportation to minimize your carbon footprint.
Review your finances and make responsible decisions with your money, business, and investments to ensure the sustainability and social impact of your finances.
Hold onto your smartphone; resist buying new ones just to follow new trends.
Contribute to charity by calculating your business’s carbon footprint and purchasing voluntary greenhouse gas removal credits to offset emissions. Please be mindful of including scope 3 emissions in your calculations, which refer to the emissions a company is responsible for beyond its own operations.
Please remember that these are suggestions, and you are not expected to implement all of them. However, taking every step where possible can make a significant difference.
