Article by Gwenn Tara.

Interfaith opportunities can bring together diverse people with lots in common. This past weekend, the Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment (OCICE) invited the community to an energizing symposium. The OCICE educates, raises awareness, and empowers people to actively protect and preserve Creation through responsible stewardship. The event was held at The Temple of Light in Irvine, CA on Saturday, October 11, 2014 from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

As participants entered the sanctuary, there were immediate opportunities to meet and greet people from several religious traditions.

Looking around, it was evident people were curious about other attendees and how they would relate to each other regarding world issues. The world issues were (and are) also diverse: social justice, economic opportunity, peace for all living beings…concerns connecting everyone. The main presenters were from the Pachama Alliance. Pachamama Alliance is a global community that offers people the chance to learn, connect, engage, travel and cherish life for the purpose of creating a sustainable future that works for all.

Another presenter making world-wide impact is “Compassion Games.” According to their website:

The Compassion Games inspire compassionate action through a win-win challenge to lift kindness and altruism in our community and world.  By playing the Compassion Games you can activate compassion in your community, classroom, organization, business, or play individually in the world’s only compassion coopetition.

Throughout the day, positive energy was generated and each group speaking delivered messages of validation, creative solutions, recognition, respect, and optimism  to improve the world environment for all living beings. This interfaith effort is not exclusive to an elite group. It can’t work that way. You can participate wherever you are in your community. The Orange County Local Council for Covenant of the Goddess  (OCLC) is taking active steps to build interfaith opportunities where they live.

If you have ideas for ways to continue this effort and develop this energy in our own community, please share them. It is through our combined efforts that we can make this happen!