COMING UP....
2012
June 12th: Giving Clevedon Arts Group lecture.
March 19th - 23rd: A Life With ... series broadcast on Radio 4. I'm presenting.
3rd - 9th March: Trip to Nairobi for environment meeting with Catholic Bishops Conference
13th February: Giving lecture in Wells, Henton Hall
3rd March: Leading a day of reflection for the Religious of the Assumption.
January 30th: CTVC's website The Fifth Column publish 10 interviews with people who were there on Bloody Sunday and those who suffered from the legacy of 30 years of violence.
January 29th: BBC Radio 4's Sunday Programme feature a package on Bloody Sunday.
January 27th: Dark Shadows of the Past - article published in The Tablet remembering the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
2011
December 27th: Broadcast of The Yeti's Finger on Radio 4.
December 23rd: Broadcast of Sustaining Life.
November 29th: Sustaining Life - Recording a special edition of Saving Species. A panel debate on the number of people on earth and our relationship with nature recorded in the Great Hall at the University of Bristol.
October 29th - Nov 3rd: Green Pilgrim Cities event in Assisi.
September 9-15th - Running week long retreat on Nature, God and Us at St Beuno's.
May 20th - Attending the launch of the LiveSimply award scheme at Clifton Cathedral
May 19th - Boxing Vicar won God for Best Internet and Just Around the Corner Silver for Best Documentary at the Christian Broadcasting Council Awards.
May 17th - Saving Species
May 13th - I'm honored to be giving a talk at the celebration of 25 years of Columban justice, peace and integrity of creation. Columban 25 years invitation
May 14th - Keynote speaker at a day for environmental justice in Cheddar, Somerset.
May 10th - Saving Species
May 7th - Delivering the Anthony Storey Memorial Lecture at the University of Hull. 11.00 am
May 5th - Broadcast of Pause for Thought on Radio 2, Vanessa Feltz show. Theme is Freedom of Expression (World Press Freedom Day)
May 3rd - Saving Species - Tues 11.00 repeated Thursdays at 21.00
Wednesdays 21.00April 28th - Broadcast of Pause for Thought on Radio 2, Vanessa Feltz show. Theme is The Royal Wedding.
April 21st - Broadcast of Pause for Thought on Radio 2, Vanessa Feltz show. Theme is Power of God.
April 14th - Giving presentation to the general meeting of the British Jesuits in the presence of the Superior General Reverend Father Adolfo Nicolas.
ALSO Broadcast of Pause for Thought on Radio 2, Vanessa Feltz show. Theme is Triumph Over Adversity.
April 7th - Broadcast of Pause for Thought on Radio 2, Vanessa Feltz show. Theme is World Health Day. Click the link to read the thought.
May 7th - Keynote speaker for the Anthony Storey memorial lecture in Hull University.
March 31st - Giving a joint talk with Professor Tina Beattie at the Lauriston Jesuit Centre in Edinburgh called "God in the Garden. This will be a new approach for both of us. Tina will discuss her work on Hortus Conclsus - medieval paintings showing an enclosed garden, often with the Virgin Mary and other saints - and I will talk about the symbolism of the animals and plants and what they tell us about the medieval view of humanity and nature.
Also - Broadcast of Pause for Thought on Radio 2, Vanessa Feltz show. Theme is Mother's Day. Read the thought by clicking the link.
March 21st - Attending Climate Week Launch at Lancaster House, London, on behalf of Bishop Declan Lang.
March 19-20th - Running weekend retreat in St Beuno's Jesuit retreat centre. God In All Things
March 17th - Publication of an article in The Tablet on the Japanese Earthquake.
March 1st - Just Around the Corner shortlisted for the Sandford St Martin Radio Awards, 2011
March 1st - Broadcast of Vatican Radio reflection
March 1-3rd - See here for write up - To Ireland to give talks to Jesuit Centre for Spirituality & Culture, Galway at Colaiste Iognaid (St Ignatius College).
February 17th - Publication of book review on Thinking Faith, the online journal of the Jesuits - Cuttle Fish, Clones and Cluster Bombs by Michael Northcott
January 25th - Please listen to Saving Species on Radio 4, 11.00 am, repeated the following Thursday at 21.00
January 14th - Recording a Vatican Radio piece on ecology
January 12th - Opening a series of lectures on the environment and Catholicism (Arundel and Brighton flyer) in Guilford for the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
2010:
December 28th and 30th - Saving Species - Listen to my special edition on conservation of tigers in India, presented by journalist Matthew Hill on Radio 4
December 4th - Keynote speech, Plymouth Diocese "Towards the Common Good"
November 13th - Keynote speech at Lancaster Diocese Justice Meeting
November 8th - Attending the BBC Standing Committee on Religion and Belief
November 3rd and 4th - Attending the Communicate Conference, Bristol (Bristol Natural History Constortium)
October 21st - Just Around the Corner won Best Internet Programme and was Shortlisted for Best Documentary
October 21st - Jerusalem Awards announcements. Fingers crossed for Just Around the Corner
October 12th and 19th - Listen to my two Saving Species programmes. 11.00 am on Tuesdays repeated at 9..0 pm on Thursdays.
September 27th-29th - Trip top Rome and Assisi for Green Pilgrimage Cities project I am working on with ARC
September 17th - Attending the Pope's lecture at Westminster Hall
September 5th - Meeting boxers in Manchester for new podcast!
August 19th - Visiting Brownsea Island to record Red Squirrels for Saving Species
July 16th, 17th, 18th - National Justice and Peace Conference, leading workshops on biodiversity and food.
July 15th - Keynote speaker at Xavier College, Manchester. I recorded a lovely, short piece with a teacher there, please Podcast on Michael McKee
July 10th - Leading a morning reflection on The spirituality of birds and trees - Emmaus House, Bristol
July 8th - Environment day speaker at St Mary's Secondary School, Chesterfield
July 6th and 7th - Visit to headquarters of the Jesuits for environment meeting
June 29th - Listen to Saving Species on Radio 4 at 11.00 am, repeat Thursday July 1st at 9.00 pm.
June 24th - Speaker, St Osmund's Parish Church, Salisbury, 7.30 pm
June 22nd - Listen to Saving Species on Radio 4 at 11.00 am, repeat Thursday 24th at 9.00 pm
June 7-9th - Attending this year's Church's Media Council at Swanwick in Derbyshire.
June 5th - Speaker at the "taster" at Digby Stuart Research Centre in London on nature and creation
May 27th - Speaker at Bath Lunch Forum - a Spotlight on Sustainability, 17.30 - 18.45
May 27th - Repeat of Saving Species on Radio 4 at 9.00 pm
May 22nd - Haydn's The Creation at St Alban's in Bristol, I am showing visual display to accompany the music
May 25th - Listen to Saving Species on Radio 4 at 11.00 am
May 20th - Repeat of Saving Species, 9.00 pm Radio 4
May 19th - Main speaker in Churches Together in Bath
May 18th - Listen to my Saving Species on Radio 4 at 11.00 am. Live natural history programme
May 10th - Leading Emmaus House Retreat
May 6th - repeat of Saving Species, 9.00 pm, Radio 4
May 4th - 11.00 am, transmission of first of 12 programmes I am producing for Saving Species on Radio 4
May 1st - Publication of A Biodiverse Gift in Faith Today
May 1st - Publication of Just Around the Corner in Justice Magazine You can hear the radio version here.
March 13th and 14th - Giving workshop at St Beuno's Jesuit Retreat Centre, N Wales
March 12th - Main Speaker at More than Gold study day for faiths and the Olympics
March 1st - Publication of More Than Gold article in Faith Today
March 1st - Publication of Justice Magazine with my article on Haiti - Where Was God?
February 25th - Christian Broadcasting Council Media Awards night. A Christmas Robin won Silver.
February 24th - One of the 4 speakers at the Caritas Social Action Network study day in Salford. You can read the speech I gave on the Encyclical - Cartias in Veritate, and what is said about the environment HERE
February 23rd - Chartered Institue of Environmental and Water Management (CIWEM), Faiths and the environment meeting.
February 22nd - Speaker at Shrewsbury Diocese Primary Heads meeting, Macclesfied.
February 20th - Speaker at Wine and Cheese evening, Clifton Cathedral
February 1st and 2nd - Leading Emmaus House Retreat on the environment, part of a series of events throughout the year
January 19th - main speaker at St John's Church in Bath
2009
December 21st and 25th - Broadcast of my latest podcast for Christmas 2009 - A Christmas Robin - on Radio Bristol and BCfm. Happy Christmas.
December 13th - Taking part in the Christmas with the Salvation Army show at the Colston Hall in Bristol. Sell out Christmas special with Charlie Green from Britain's Got Talent as the star turn. Sell out concert to raise money for the Great Western Air Ambulance.
December 3rd - Giving lecture to the World Affairs Society, Keele University - 7.30 pm. "This lecture series routinely attracts an audience of 300 and its aim is to provide talks and open discussion on a range of issues that affect our lives".
November 7th - Article in The Tablet, Preach the Green Word.
November 2-4th - Major event at Windsor Castle where religious leaders from all over the world will meet at the Castle to present their plans for care for the world. they will also meet with secular leaders to form partnerships.
Both Prince Philip and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will be present. it will be wonderful. See the Windsor website.
October 17th - main speaker at Deanery Day, Manchester
October 15th - Jerusalem Awards 2009. Prisoner and Budgerigar won Best Internet Programme
October 13th - attended Operation Noah lecture at Southwark Cathedral by Archbishop Rowan Williams. Here is the speech.
October 12th - Attending dinner debate on faith and the environment at the Reform Club, Pall Mall. Guest speaker Bishop James Jones.
September 23rd - Article published in The Guardian. Religion can Succeed Where the Environment Movement Has Failed
September 16th - Transmission of Nature - The Severn Estuary - Radio 4, 21.00
"Fascinating programme, I loved the image of the " jewels" in the cave like pirates' treasure.
And 2,000 species on Steepholm. Amazing!! A lot covered and a lot to think about. Excellent programme. Thank you."
September 9th - keynote speech at Loreto Grammar School Centenary celebrations, Manchester. Here is the write up in The Herald.
Loreto Grammar School is an all girl's school whose aim is to:
"nurture young Catholic women who will take leadership roles in our local, national and indeed global society, women who will be, in the words of Mary Ward ? ?No half women, no half measures?. " Here is the speech.
September 6th - Transmission of Living World - Grasslands - on Radio 4, 06.35
September 4th - Publication of two articles. The Tablet, Faith in Farming, and Justice Magazine, Mud, tides and Energy
To listen to an extended interview with Victor go to my YouTube site.
September 2nd - Transmission of interview with Vatican Radio on Catholicism and the environment called Green Pope
August 30th - Transmission of Living World - Great Bustards - on Radio 4 and I was on Songs of Praise
August 2nd - 16th, Wild Gardens being Repeated on UKTV Blighty
July 15th public talk at Keynsham at St Dunstan's, 7.30 pm.
July 24th - Come, Let Us Pod published in The Tablet. An article on why and how to podcast.
July 11th and 19th visiting Steepholm and Flatholm for NATURE programmes.
July 6th Prisoner and the Budgerigar won the World Gold Medal at the New York Radio Festival awards
July 1st visited Streart Point on Severn Estuary for NATURE
June 19th - talking to all the RE coordinators of the Shrewsbury Diocese about care for the natural world and faith.
June 8th - 10th I am attending the Churches Media Council Conference in Swanwick in Derbyshire and giving 2 sessions on the relationship between the media and religion.
Friday 5th June I am giving a public talk in Weston-Super-Mare
June 2nd transmission of Seabirds programme on Radio 4
June 1st, more crossed things for the Sandford St Martin Awards.
May 25th I am in Edinburgh giving a talk at the Lauriston Centre.
16th and 17th May was in Northern Scotland recording a programme for Radio 4, Nature, on the state of our seabirds.
May 12th - 14th I gave an eco-retreat at Emmaus House in Bristol.
May 11th I won GOLD for Best Internet Programme at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.
May 8th I am gave a public lecture in Winchcombe.
May 5th - BBC Radio 4 Nature programme on The Future of the Amazon. It is repeated again on Wednesday 6th at 9.00 pm.
May 3rd I was on Songs of Praise.
CLIMATE CHANGE COMMENT
I was asked to write an article for the Guardian Online on Friday 24th April 09 0n the recent launch of a US initiative on climate change.
Here is the full version.
EARTH HOUR WORKED
A comment I received about Earth Hour...
"I wanted to say thank you for your inspiration and encouragement to keep the earth hour on Saturday night. I asked my two boys to take
it seriously with me and we had the most wonderful hour: no lights, no screens, no music, just reading by candlelight. The peace was tangible
and it was very special. We clocked the electric meter and used 2 units in the earth hour and 28 in the next hour with lights and screens back on.
Even the boys were impressed at the difference!
Thank you so much"
Click Here to find out how Earth Hour went around the world
CAFOD and CLIMATE CHANGE LAUNCH
Last night (Wednesday 25th March 2009) I was on the question and answer panel of the CAFOD's climate change launch in Bristol, click on the
link to read the report and listen to a short podcast I made with the speakers. It was well attended but I find climate change meetings unrelentingly
depressing. It seems to be a subject people find hard to view positively. I personally believe it is a time of great creativity and opportunity to change
the world for the better - although I am not naive about how hard that will be to achieve - but it is always presented in terms of horror and destruction.
Not likely to inspire anyone. However I was very interested to hear two Cambodians talk about how changing weather patterns are affecting crop yields,
and explaining how that is impacting on the poor and vulnerable. But apart from climate change they very much wanted to get across their huge concern
about the colossal rate of deforestation that is happening in their country. Take a look at this from Wiki
It is easy to forget that many people in the world face immediate and desperate environmental problems at that are not climate related. The concern for
the earth is not just about climate change. But it is hard to get that message through in the West.
Here is a link to a NASA photo showing the huge extent of deforestation in SE Asia - it is very alarming.
REPORT ON EARTH HOUR
Here is my report on the Earth Hour evening at Clifton Cathedral (24th March 2009):
"Most of us have forgotten what it is like to spend much time in candle light. It is very serene and calming and the light has a particular quality that
rests the eyes. On Tuesday 24th March 50 parishioners from Clifton Cathedral spent about an hour in this peaceful atmosphere listening to music,
hearing readings and reflections on the earth and taking part in silence. The Earth Hour vigil was organised in response to WWF's Earth hour call to
action on Saturday 28th March, between 8.30 and 9.30 pm.
The Cathedral was booked on Saturday evening and so we decided to hold our own low energy service to remind people to take part on Saturday and
to spend time together thinking about how many resources we use and how so many people in the world have so little.
Readings began with the first paragraph of "A Tale of Two Cities". The tense has been changed to the present, but the sense of what Dickens was trying
to convey remains as strong today as ever. We stand at a junction and can decide which way to go, both paths are open to us, but we have to choose.
As the earth's resources are put under more strain, and the climate changes faster and with more sever consequences we can't delay our decision any longer:
It is the best of times, it is the worst of times, it is the age of wisdom, it is the age of foolishness, it is the epoch of belief, it is the epoch of
incredulity, it is the season of Light, it is the season of Darkness, it is the spring of hope, it is the winter of despair, we have everything before
us, we have nothing before us, we are all going direct to Heaven, we are all going direct the other way."
Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
We then heard from the Creation story in Genesis as well as an alternative destruction story which highlights how quickly we are able to destroy what has
taken so long to form.
But the evening wasn't depressing, it was uplifting and thoughtful and the main comments from those who took part were - "I shall never forget this evening it
was beautiful", "thank you for the chance to think about this in a church", "A wonderful idea, thank you". Afterwards the candlelight theme continued with a
glass of wine or juice. It was a beautiful, friendly and memorable evening.
TALK AT PRIOR PARK, BATH
On Monday 23rd March I gave a talk at Prior Park school in Bath to the 6th formers. It is a stunning public school set in landscaped gardens.
Its good to see schools taking this issue right to the children and young people.
Earth Hour event at Clifton Cathedral
On Saturday March 28th WWF is urging people all round the world to switch their lights off between 8.30 and 9.30 in the evening to show
global solidarity about climate change. I like it because it is asking people to do something practical, to think about it beforehand, plan it
and then do it. It is a ritual or symbolic gesture for all to see. So Clifton Cathedral is having a pre-Earth Hour vigil to encourage people to
take part. We will have an hour's candlelit service and quiet reflections set to music.
Click here for details in press
Click here for Earth Hour website
Click here to listen to my short podcast on Clifton Diocese website
STOP PRESS NEWS!!
The Bereavement Podcast (see below) has just been shortlisted for the Sandford St Martin Radio Awards. The awards ceremony will be
held on June 1st in Lambeth Palace.
Click here for details of the award
BBC Radio Bristol interview on my trip to Brazil
In January 2009 I went to Belem in Brazil in Amazonia. I went to two meetings, one was a meeting of Jesuits to talk about their role in
protecting all of life, and straight afterwards I went to the World Social Forum. It was a wonderful experience and raised many questions
about the future of the Amazon. The day after I returned home I went on the Sunday Starts programme on Radio Bristol to talk about my
experience. Please visit my BLOG for comments on that visit
0;">Click here to read the Jesuit Pre-Forum blog and my contribution to the meeting
Click here to read my article on the Future of the Amazon
Click here to listen
THE COPENHAGEN COP
This is a crucial year preparing the ground for the Copenhagen COP which is happening in December 09, but there are other major dates
to bear in mind.
Click here for details of the COP
This is also the 200th anniversary of the birth of Darwin and so public awareness of the importance of biodiversity is rising.
Click here for Darwin information
And next year - 2010 - is the International Year of Biodiversity. We are supposed to have halted the worrying trend in extinctions, so many
people are organising events to help people understand how important it is to protect life on earth.
Click here for information on 2010
I hope to be as involved as possible in helping raise awareness about the wonder and importance of all life on earth, I hope we can all work
together to make the future a very good place to head for. Part of my work will continue to work with the Alliance of Religions and Conservation
I am also continuing to make TV and radio - see the Radio Page and TV Page for details.