The Amazon: Source of Life
The Amazon: Source of Life - Symposium VI
The eight-day Amazon Symposium will begin in Manaus, the capital of the State of Amazonas in Brazil, and will travel up the river in ten boats visiting various environmental sites, giving the delegates an opportunity to examine the Amazon’s conditions with their own eyes and to meet and discuss issues with local residents and experts. Over 200 religious leaders, scientists, environmentalists, and government officials from Brazil and around the world will gather on the Amazon River to examine the environmental challenges and ethical issues relating to the protection of nature.
The Symposium will visit the SIVAM satellite mapping facilities and the K34 rainforest observation tower, and will travel to Santarem, Jau National Park, the Anavilhanas archipelago and the Mamiraua Reserve. Throughout the voyage, international and regional delegates will discuss topics ranging from environmental ethics to specific issues relating to the Amazon, such as deforestation and biodiversity loss, the introduction of genetically modified organisms into Amazon ecosystems, the rights and struggles of indigenous and traditional peoples and the Amazon’s impact on global climate change.
The Symposium is taking place at a time of intense international diplomacy, and also theological debate, about how to tackle the global challenge of climate change in ways that respect national sovereignty and local communities. At last year’s Montreal Conference, Brazil played a leading role in calling for well-designed economic incentives to stem deforestation, and limit carbon emissions. At the same time, discussions among many religions about the spiritual duty of stewardship of the earth are hitting the headlines in many countries.
The Amazon Symposium visits Brazil and the magnificent Amazon Basin, not with preconceived answers and solutions, but in solemn recognition of humanity’s concern for the future. The aim is to develop ethical codes for environmental action and policy.
Religion, Science and the Environment