Dot Stewart, member of the Eco Common Concern Network, considers what working for justice and peace means to her.
Almost 35 years ago I read a book by Bernadette Vallely called “The Young Person’s Guide to Saving the Planet”.
When it was published in 1990 the climate crisis was still referred to as the greenhouse effect:
“One of the most terrifying new problems to confront the planet is the greenhouse effect, or global warming. […] The greenhouse effect is recognised as a serious crisis and much research is devoted to it. It will take world action to deal with the greenhouse effect, but there are many basic things every single person can do to help reduce it.”
That book inspired me to start making changes in my own life to try and live in a more sustainable way. Some changes suggested in the book are the ‘basic things’: it is the reason I first became vegetarian. Other changes wouldn’t have occurred to many of us in 1990. The concept of trying to reduce my digital carbon footprint wouldn’t have made much sense to me then!.
I still think it is important to try and live in a sustainable way, and I continue to learn and make changes in my own life. But personal lifestyle changes on their own are not going to be enough to halt, or even to significantly slow, climate change. As that book said all those years ago: world action is needed. And sometimes I find it difficult to know what to do when action is needed on a global level.
North Sea Knitters
A few months ago, I came across a post on social media from a group called the North Sea Knitters. The group were knitting and crocheting a ‘thin red line’ of red scarves, representing the critical threshold of 1.5C above pre-industrial surface temperature. This is the red line which should not be crossed.
Knitting a scarf definitely felt like something I could do.
The North Sea Knitters started off as a group which sat knitting as a protest in places like oil company reception areas. They are now part of a larger Knitting for Climate movement. People use knitting and crochet to express their concern over climate change and the inadequate political response to the crisis that is affecting us all.
The movement is spreading. The Knitting for climate website now lists contacts in 13 countries stretching from Norway to Zambia. People have gathered with red lines at the European Parliament, at the Scottish Parliament and outside the Court of Session in Edinburgh (where a case is being heard to stop the development of the Rosebank oil field). Scarves have been presented to MEPs and MSPs, including First Minister of Scotland John Swinney.
Living on Iona, I often watch from afar as people gather together in cities to make their views known. So far, I haven’t been able to join the North Sea Knitters in person. But I am encouraged by the things I can do, even at a distance. I posted some scarves to be part of the red line outside the Scottish Parliament. Two of them were later given as a token of support to the lawyers representing Greenpeace and Uplift in the Rosebank Court Case. I sent a scarf and explanation to our local MSP. Perhaps most importantly, when people ask casually “So, what are you knitting?” I try to give a good answer!
One Monday evening in September, I invited those at the Service for Justice and Peace in Iona Abbey to join together in creating some knitted and crocheted ‘thin red lines’. Some people added stitches themselves, some asked for help to make a stitch or two. Others asked for stitches to be added on their behalf.
The red lines we started together that evening are completed now. I’m not sure yet where they will end up. Perhaps Edinburgh? Or Brussels or COP30 in Brazil next year? We might decide to use them more locally.
Wherever they end up, each scarf and each stitch represents our concern over climate change and a demand for political action.
Knitting for justice on Iona
We don’t (yet!?!) have a knitting week on the Abbey programme. But any time spent at Iona Abbey – as staff, volunteer or guest – offers the chance to take part in creative activities, share in conversations, build community and learn from one another. And along the way, we explore some of the concerns of the Iona Community.
I look forward to spending time in community here on Iona with some of you in 2025. I’ll be interested to hear about a book which had an impact on your life, and feel free to ask me what I’m knitting (currently a gingerbread house – but that is a different story…!)
Dot is a Member of the Iona Community, currently the volunteer coordinator at Iona Abbey and a member of the Eco Common Concern Network.
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