Suggested topics

The Micah Course, sessions 1-6 (see http://www.tearfund.org/Churches/Leading+and+speaking/Just+people+-+the+Micah+course.htm for more info) Living Witness studies Exercises on living sustainably; see www.livingwitness.org.uk http://www.livingwitness.org.uk/home_files/Personal%20GHG%20calculator.pdf http://www.livingwitness.org.uk/home_files/ecological%20footprint.pdf http://www.livingwitness.org.uk/home_files/wcsl.pdf In a ‘global village’ who is my neighbour? Priorities and opportunities for everyday Christians to engage in local and global justice issues Sustainability – what does it mean for us? Biblical background, and practical perspectives in the 21st century ‘Climate change: just deserts’ Man-made climate change – how real, how serious, how tackleable? Can't cope! How to respond when the problems are too huge What’s stopping us We may know what the priorities and big issues are, but what stops us from responding to the extent we secretly know we should? And what measures can help us break through these barriers? Understanding opinion and debate in our society Media diet etc; how to assess reliability/authority The forces that drive our society. With lobbies, vested interests, ideologies and agendas on all sides, how can we get a balanced view? Heads in the sand The psychological responses we all show to challenges such as poverty, climate and resource use – and how to overcome them! Not enough? Will efficiency, renewables and recycling do the trick? Or do we need to change our lifestyles more radically? And would life be harder/more unpleasant as a result? The pursuit of happiness Looking at different cultures and what makes a good life (happy contentment) Simplicity Is a simple and sustainable life feasible in the 21st Century West? And what would it look like if so?