Students and leaders of all faiths met together at the inter-faith second eco-conference at Slough and Eton CofE Business and Enterprise College.
The main speakers for the day were Bishop Mary, who leads the diocese on environment matters, who spoke about our connection to the planet from a Christian perspective followed by Seeta Lakhani who gave the Hindu perspective of our responsibilities for the planet. Later in the day, students also heard from a Muslim point of view from Dr Mohamed Kharbouch, Chair of Governors Board, Slough and Eton College and Chairman of Wokingham Muslim Society.
The highlight of the day was the students presenting their digital poster art on the theme of the climate crisis. This work had been supported by David Sparrow at Art Beyond Belief. Students from the college as well as Grove Academy, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School and Eden Girls’ School showed their work, inspiring the audience with their creativity.
Bishop Mary said: “It was fascinating to have the opportunity to listen to how different faiths understand reconnecting with creation, encouraging to see how much our approaches have in common, and very good to be challenged by the distinctiveness of each faith, too.
“It was humbling to witness the responses of students to the climate crisis, and to consider carefully the question they put to us: ‘What are you afraid of?’”
Father Scott, part of the Oxford Diocesan Committee for Interfaith Relations which organised the event, reflected on what he would take away from the day. He said: “If we are going to address the global environmental crisis then world faiths need to work together and they can do so. There is a lot that is shared and we saw that at the conference.
“Young people have a privileged perspective on these issues they see things differently and they feel the crisis differently. They have the best ideas and insight here I think.”
The conference was opened by Graham Barker, the Vice Lord Lieutenant, for Berkshire.
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