Green Pilgrimage Network launches with joy, hope, faith and practical plans for 100 million pilgrims

The Assisi city banner leads the procession that began the Sacred Land Celebration Launch and Celebration of the Green Pilgrimage Network

A ban on cars on pilgrimage routes; solar panels for cathedral roofs; provision of fresh clean, water for pilgrims, and the planting of thousands of trees around sacred sites – these are just some of the initiatives which the founder members of the Green Pilgrimage Network today pledged to implement.

The Green Pilgrimage Network was launched today at the Sacred Land Celebration in Assisi, Italy, organised by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) in association with WWF.

Representatives from 15 faith traditions from around the world gathered in the holy city of Assisi, Italy – one of the founder members – with secular and environmental organisations to launch the world's first global commitment to green pilgrimage.

ARC Secretary-General Martin Palmer said: “Cities from China to Norway and faiths from all around the world today commit to making one of the most powerful religious experiences – pilgrimage – a living witness to a commitment to protect our living planet."

"This is an invitation to all holy places to put into practice what they preach – namely, that when we walk upon this Earth, we walk on sacred land"

“This idea does not belong to these founder members or even to ARC or WWF. This is an invitation to all holy places to put into practice what they preach – namely, that when we walk upon this Earth, we walk on sacred land.”

Around 100 million people a year become pilgrims, whether for a few hours, days or even weeks, according to figures compiled by ARC.1 The Green Pilgrimage Network brings together faiths and local governments to make their pilgrim cities and sacred sites as environmentally sustainable as possible, according their own theologies and understanding of the natural world.

A ban on cars on pilgrimage routes is part of the Green Pilgrimage plan of Kano, Nigeria; solar panels are to be installed on St Albans's cathedral roof in the UK; provision of fresh clean, water is to be provided for pilgrims to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, while the planting of thousands of trees around sacred sites is an initiative of Etchmiadzin, Armenia.

Other plans announced today by the 12 founder Green Pilgrimage Network members include measures to protect nature (Louguan, China), teaching children about conservation (Luss, Scotland); protection of sacred forests (Jinja Honcho, Japan), reducing waste and encouraging recycling (Haifa, Israel); organising nature tours for pilgrims (Assisi, Italy)

In addition:

• Trondheim, Norway, is developing environmental award certificates for local restaurants and hotels, as well as for church buildings;
• The city authorities of Jerusalem will work to restore the currently polluted Kidron Valley, the major pilgrim ascent to Jerusalem for Jews, Christians and Muslims;
• St Pishoy Monastery in Egypt, already a model of environmental sustainability, plans to become self sufficient in food for monks, labourers and pilgrims.

Founder members of the Green Pilgrimage Network include:

• Amritsar, India (for Sikhs);
• Assisi, Italy (Roman Catholic);
• Etchmiadzin, Armenia (Armenian Orthodox);
• Haifa, Israel (Bahà’ì);
• Jerusalem (for Jews, Christians and Muslims);
• Jinja Honcho, the Association of Shinto shrines in Japan;
• Kano, Nigeria (Islam’s Qadiriyyah Sufi tradition);
• Louguan in the People’s Republic of China (Daoists);
• St Albans, England (Church of England);
• Luss, Loch Lomond, Scotland (Church of Scotland);
• St Pishoy Monastery, Wadi El Natroun, Egypt (the Coptic Orthodox Church);
• Trondheim, Norway (Lutheran Church of Norway).

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Get your copy at a special offer price: HERE