Weekly Action - 7 November 2022 - Pakistan Floods
Pakistan Floods
Pakistan has been devastated by appalling floods in recent months, the worst in its entire history. This year’s monsoon rains lasted twice as long as usual, with continuous rainfall for more than two months. The worst affected areas have received five times as much rainfall as the thirty-year average. Over 33 million people have been affected, and a third of the country is under water. At least 1,400 people have been killed and 12,700 injured. Some 1.7 million homes have been destroyed or damaged, and over 900,000 livestock lost. Millions of people have had to flee, their land swamped. Homes, roads and bridges have been swept away, sewers are overflowing. Millions of people are in desperate need of shelter, food, clean water, toilets, medical aid and the other basic necessities of life.
What is causing the floods?
These devastating floods are undeniably being driven by global climate change. Scientists from around the world have for decades predicted that global climate change will result in more intense storms and flooding. In recent years we have begun to see this happening more and more, with records for the highest temperatures, and worst droughts, floods and storms being broken over and over again, almost every year. It is developing countries like Pakistan, whose greenhouse gas emissions are a fraction of those of more developed nations, that have done the least to cause climate change, but are now being hit first and hardest by a changing climate.
As Christians what should we do about it?
As Christians we know we are called both to care for God’s amazing creation, and to love our neighbours, especially the most vulnerable. At this tragic time for Pakistan, the world, the church and each of us needs to rally round. We need to meet immediate urgent needs for those whose lives have been devastated by the floods. And we also need to tackle the long-term underlying causes, and urgently get out of fossil fuels which are driving global climate change, and instead shift to 100% clean renewable energy, which does not lead to climate change, and is cheaper as well.
Arise’s 4 Shifts Campaign calls for a rewiring of our global economy to be green and fair, so it still creates the jobs and wealth that lift people out of poverty, but does so without relying on fossil fuels and overconsumption which is wrecking our planet. As part of that campaign we need to transition as rapidly as possible to 100% clean renewable energy, whilst also supporting countries like Pakistan who are already feeling the impacts of climate change right now.
Will you take action as part of Arise’s 4 Shifts campaign this week, to meet the immediate needs of flood survivors in Pakistan and shift to a clean energy economy?
Take Action
Speaking out in advocacy
Write to your MP in your own words asking them to take urgent action to:
1. Meet immediate needs of flood victims in Pakistan by urging the government to dramatically scale up the amount of emergency humanitarian support they are channelling to Pakistan.
2. Address the long-term causes of the climate crisis by urging the government to bring forward and strengthen the UK’s plans to transition out of fossil fuels, so that we shift to zero emissions and 100% clean renewable energy, and ban the use of fossil fuels by 2030. Implement this in every sector (energy, transport, buildings, industry etc.)
Find your MP, and their contact details here
Pray
Pray for all those impacted by the floods in Pakistan. Pray that their immediate needs for food, water, shelter, clean toilets, medical supplies and other basic essentials are met. Pray that they will quickly be resettled. Pray that the government of Pakistan can help the country to adapt to a much more volatile climate.
Give
The Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) of UK overseas humanitarian aid agencies has launched an urgent appeal to support the victims of floods in Pakistan. Give to Christian organisations like Christian Aid, Cafod, Tearfund or World Vision who are members of the DEC and are supporting communities in Pakistan who have been devastated by these climate floods.
Practical Action
Reach out to friends and neighbours in your community with roots and family in Pakistan. How have they and their families been affected? How can you and your church support them?
Ethical Consumption
Speed the shift to a 100% clean energy economy by switching you electricity provider to a renewable energy company like Ecotricity or Good Energy.
Encourage us and others by letting us know what actions you have taken – message us at info@ariseuk.org, or via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Find out more
It’s great to take this action as individual Christians, but even better to come together with others to pray, discuss, worship, learn, have fun and take action together. Contact Arise if you are interested in joining or starting a local Arise group in your church or area. If you are already in an Arise group, take this action to your wider church, and get them all to do it too.
Find out more about why the world needs 4 Shifts to transition to a green and fair global economy in Arise’s 4 Shifts Report, and how this forms part of God’s bigger vision for our world in the Arise Manifesto.
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