Mercy Sisters and friends, under the banner “Mercies”, will join the Rising Tide Protestival in Newcastle on November 28-30.
The group of about nine people, including Sisters of Mercy, staff and Young Mercy Links who are members of or connected to the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea.
They will join other organisations, such as the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, at the event,.
Sally Neaves, integral ecology animator for the Sisters of Mercy, said a long-held commitment to integral ecology, along with urgent calls for Christian action from Popes Leo and Francis, compel the Mercies to join the event.
“As part of our faith, we honour the sacred depths of all creation. How can we not take a stand as this is destroyed?” Ms Neaves said.
“The Port of Newcastle is the largest coal port in the world and we will be attending this protest to draw attention to Australia’s long history of ignoring the impacts of burning fossil fuels on the global climate, including its effects on our Pacific neighbours and those in Australia experiencing extreme weather events.
“We stand with those people and places under threat, who are currently and will be impacted by this injustice, and we stand with those calling for change for the sake of future generations.”
Sr Mary Tinney RSM, who will be travelling from Brisbane for the event, said that it is widely known that mining communities receive little in return for the extraction of their resources.
“We have witnessed the impacts of the coal industry in Australia on the communities in which we have ministered,” Sr Mary said.
“ We have seen the economic benefits for some, but also its impacts on local education, human health, local extinctions and pollution. We also know the impacts this is having around the world, especially for those rendered poor.”
The Mercies involvement in the protest will include leading a prayer ritual at the gathering on Saturday, November 29.
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Mercies for Climate Justice Join Rising Tide Protestival (Sisters of Mercy)
