The Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC)

The workshop brought together more than 60 delegates from Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish and Muslim faith groups and secular organisations in London last week (7.4.11) to debate the issue of how to achieve a more faith-consistent and sustainable food and farming system.

Delegates heard about the growing ecological crisis in agriculture caused by the industrialisation of agriculture over the last 60 years or so. Patrick Holden, who left the Soil Association last year to set up a new global organisation, the Sustainable Food Trust, told the workshop we had been depleting our soil fertility, our fossil fuels, our mineral fertilisers and our water reserves to a critical extent.

To find out more visit ARC's website click here.
For more information on ARC's Faith in Food initiative, click here to download the Faith in Food leaflet.

MIC becomes the 50th SME to sign up to the Mayor of London’s Procurement Code.

The Mayor’s Green Procurement Code provides organisations with tailored advice, workshops and guidance, working on areas including policy, training and how to take sustainable procurement forward for environmental and economic benefits.

To find out more click here

We are proud to announce that Emma, Duchess of Rutland and the Chairman of MIC Dr Stuart Burgess are hosting at MIC an evening to Celebrate Women In Enterprise.

An evening of celebration for women in enterprise both in rural and urban areas (the rural economy is only strong because of women running businesses); to share good practice and to see how a further impetus can be given to women.

WHERE: MIC Hotel and Conference Centre. 81-103 Euston Street, London NW1 2EZ
WHEN: Wednesday, March 16th 2011
FROM: 6.30pm –10pm
Cocktails, Hors d’Oeuvres and Dinner will be served.

For further information please contact James Barr This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
TEL: +44 (0)207 380 0001

Thursday 7th April 2011

What can faith communities do to build a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food and farming system, for today’s and future generations? How can faith groups ensure the food they eat, buy and produce is consistent with their values about caring for the Earth and their fellow human beings?
These issues are the focus of a Faith in Food workshop to be held in London on Thursday April 7 for faith leaders and secular groups. It is organised by the UK-based Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) and co-hosted with MIC, the Methodist International Centre, London – the first ethical hotel to win the Social Enterprise Mark last year and shortlisted in this year’s prestigious Sustainability Awards.
We would like to invite you to join us and other faith leaders in the UK at MIC in London on April 7 and help guide the development of faith-consistent ethical and sustainable policies for the purchasing, production and consumption of food, based on your faith’s teachings and practices. We aim to build on our vision of faith communities creating a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food and farming system for us all, and together transforming the world through their food choices – one meal at a time.

Faith in Food
Faith in Food is a global initiative by ARC which encourages people of faith to link what and how they eat much more clearly to their values and beliefs. It is about faith communities ensuring the food they buy, grow, eat or provide – in worship and celebration, in their places of worship, schools, restaurants, retreats and conference centres – honours their beliefs about caring for creation, however they perceive that to be.

The London workshop will:

We would be honoured and delighted if you would join us at MIC in London on April 7. We will benefit enormously with your participation and we will use our collective insight to provide inspiration for action by faith communities around the world.

With all good wishes,

Susie Weldon
ARC Faith in Food consultant
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Christopher Stopes
EcoS Consultancy
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Workshop practical details

Date: Thursday April 7
Time:9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: MIC, 81-103 Euston Street, London NW1 2EZ
MIC tel: 020 7380 0001
Nearest tubes:Euston Square & Euston
Map: click here

We would be grateful if you could let us know if you are able to attend, and also of any dietary requirements you have. Vegetarian lunch will be provided, along with refreshments. We are asking all faith leaders to come with at least one food-related prayer, grace or blessing.

About ARC & MIC
ARC is a United Kingdom-based international secular organisation founded by His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, in 1995, which works with the major religions of the world to help them develop environmental programmes based on their core teachings, beliefs and practices (www.arcworld.org). MIC is a social enterprise providing ethical hospitality in the form of hotel and conference facilities in Euston, London, founded in 1950 by Methodist missionary Hilda Porter (www.micentre.com).

Background to Faith in Food
ARC’s Faith in Food programme grew out of an initiative that began in 2007 when ARC, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, invited the world’s major faiths to draw up long-term environmental action plans to protect the planet from ecological collapse.

As a result of this unique invitation, more than 30 faith groups announced long-term action plans on the environment at Windsor Castle in the UK in November 2009 (to see the faiths’ Seven Year Plans, visit www.arcworld.org). The plans are inspiring and humbling and challenge us all to take action as individuals as well as within our own families and faith communities, educational establishments and places of worship.

Of necessity, food and farming, the way we eat and the role of food in spiritual and religious life were highlighted as of particular significance by many religious leaders at our Windsor gathering. They drew attention to the fact that food – both its consumption and its production – goes to the core of our relationship with the rest of Creation.

The choices we make of what, when and how we eat have an enormous impact upon the Earth, our fellow human beings and other living creatures. At the same time, growing concerns about global justice, food security, climate change and sustainability make our choices around food, and its production, even more important than before.

Faith in Food aims to bring about a lasting change in attitudes to food and farming among faith communities – at the personal, community and wider institutional level – with the long-term goal of creating a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food and farming system for us all.

“When governments, civil society and particularly religious communities work together, transformation can take place. Faiths and religions are an essential part of that equation as together we walk a more sustainable path, one that respects our planet and provides a safer, healthier, more equitable future for all” – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Windsor Celebration