The New International Engaged Buddhism Study Group
2018 Spring Series
March 5 (Mon.)
Theme: Interfaith Solidarity for the Environment & the Potential of the Eco-Temple Movement
Guest: Rev. Fletcher Harper
Executive Director of GreenFaith (U.S.A)
Rev. Harper is an Episcopal priest and the Executive Director of GreenFaith, one of the oldest religious-environmental organizations in the United States. GreenFaith’s mission is to inspire, educate, and mobilize people of diverse religious backgrounds for environmental leadership. Under Rev. Harper’s leadership, GreenFaith has developed numerous educational and training programs for religious communities on environmental justice and protection. Rev. Harper teaches and speaks at houses of worship from a range of denominations nationally and internationally about the moral, spiritual basis for environmental stewardship and justice. Author of GreenFaith: Mobilizing God’s People to Protect the Planet (Abingdon Press, 2015), Rev. Harper served as a parish priest for ten years and in leadership positions in the Episcopal Church before becoming GreenFaith’s leader.
Rev. Harper is presently travelling through Thailand and Japan, in part to meet with Buddhists and members of INEB/JNEB to develop GreenFaith’s partnerships in Asia. At the 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) held in Bonn, Germany, GreenFaith launched a multi-faith sustainable living initiative. The plan is to demonstrate to religious followers “the public” ways of making behavioral changes in one’s own locality and home, for example using less energy, adopting a more ecological diet, and taking less wasteful transport. INEB and its new environmental network, the Inter-religious Climate and Ecology network (ICE), has a number of members in Asia promoting such work in religious communities. Our host for the event, Rev. Hidehito Okochi, is one such religious environmental pioneer, having established two “eco-temples” in Tokyo over the last twenty years. Come join us for a lively evening of exchange on these critical issues!
Time:
18:30 Opening and Introduction
18:45 Rev. Harper & GreenFaith
19:15 Rev. Okochi & INEB Eco-Temple
19:45 Questions & Open Discussion
20:30 Dinner Party @ local Indian restaurant
Entrance: free; dinner 2,000 yen plus drinks
Location: Kenju-in Temple
3-4-14 Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0002
Tel: 03-3812-3711, Fax: 03-3815-7951
e-mail: kenjuin@nam-mind.jp
jneb.net 