Faith is about integration and building bridges, not about isolation and erecting barriers. As leaders and senior figures of faith communities, we urge our co-religionists and others to think about the implications of a Leave vote for the things about which we are most passionate.
The past 70 years have been the longest period of peace in Europe’s history. Institutions that enable us to work together and understand both our differences and what we share in common contribute to our increased security and sense of collective endeavour.
What’s more, so many of the challenges we face today can only be addressed in a European, and indeed a global, context: combating poverty in the developing world, confronting climate change and providing the stability that is essential to tackling the migration crisis.
We hope that when voting on 23 June, people will reflect on whether undermining the international institutions charged with delivering these goals could conceivably contribute to a fairer, cleaner and safer world.
Rt Rev Rowan Williams, former archbishop of Canterbury; Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, Movement for Reform Judaism; Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary general, Muslim Council of Britain; Jasvir Singh, chair, City Sikhs Network
Rt Rev Dr Ian Bradley, Church of Scotland & Reader in Church History and Practical Theology, University of St Andrews
Baroness Butler-Sloss, Chair, Commission on Religion and Belief in Public Life
The Rt Rev Professor Lord Harries of Pentregarth, Emeritus Professor of Divinity, Gresham College, Honorary Professor of theology, King’s College London & Former Bishop of Oxford
The Rt Rev Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool
Ben Rich, Former Chief Executive, The Movement for Reform Judaism
Rabbi Danny Rich, Chief Executive, Liberal Judaism
Laura Marks OBE, Co-Chair, Nisa-Nisham, The Jewish-Muslim Women’s Network
Fiyaz Mughal OBE, Chair, Faith Matters
Vivian Wineman MBE, Former President, Board of Deputies of British Jews, Co-Chair, Interfaith Network
Dr Ed Kessler MBE, Director, Woolf Institute for the study of Interfaith Relations
Bharti Tailor, Executive Director, Hindu Forum in Europe
Manoj Ladwa, Founding Trustee, Sewa Day
Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy, University of Westminster and University of Hull; Former Vice-Chairman, Commission for Racial Equality
Rt Rev Dr Robert Innes, Bishop of Gibraltar In Europe
Rev Dr Richard Frazer, Convener Church and Society Council, Church of Scotland
The Very Rev Dr John Arnold OBE, Dean Emeritus of Durham, Former President, European Conference of Churches
Anthea Sully, National Coordinator for England, Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Women in England and Scotland
Fiona Buchanan, National Coordinator for Scotland & Central Committee member, Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Women in England and Scotland
The Rev Dr Ashley Beck, School of Education, Theology and Leadership, St Mary’s University Twickenham
The Rt Rev Thomas McMahon, Bishop Emeritus of Brentwood
Oliver Robertson, Clerk, Quaker Council for European Affairs
The Very Rev Michael Sadgrove, Dean Emeritus of Durham
The Rt Rev Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ely
The Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales
Dr Hari Shukla CBE, Former Chair, Inter Faith Sub Committee of the Tyne and Wear Racial Equality Council
Imam Qari Muhammad Asim MBE, Chief Imam, Makkah Mosque Leeds
Rev Steve Chalke MBE, Founder and Leader, Oasis Global & Senior Minister, Oasis Church Waterloo
Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic and Inter-Religious Studies and Assistant Principal Religion and Society, University of Edinburgh
Steve Miller, Founder, Tzedek & Senior Consultant, Faith Based Regeneration Network
Dr Deesha Chadha, Committee Member, Hindu Forum of Britain
Khurshid Drabu CBE, Former Chairman, Medina Mosque
Stephen Platten, Rector of St. Michael, Cornhill, Assistant Bishop, Diocese of London & Chairman, Governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome
Rt Rev Dr John Inge, Bishop of Worcester
Green is the new black
It’s good news that the world’s largest oil companies at last realise there is “tremendous growth” in the renewable energy sector (“Green really is the new black as Big Oil gets a taste for renewables”, Business, last week). Despite the fall in the price of oil, 2015 saw a new record for global investment in renewables – more than double the amount invested in new coal and gas power plants.
In Italy, for instance, more than 39% of gross electricity generation came from renewable sources in 2015. In Germany, the figure was 32.5% and the department of energy and climate change recently announced that the UK’s renewables sector won 24.7% of the country’s total generation last year. This month alone, Portugal has managed to run entirely on renewables for more than 100 consecutive hours.
Quite suddenly, Europe’s future looks both cleaner and safer. This investment not only ensures lower carbon emissions, but it also has implications for the EU’s energy independence and the knock-on effects of that independence on security.
A burgeoning renewables sector is cutting our import bills for energy and helping to keep the price of oil low. Consequently, Russia will be less likely to threaten to stop the flow of its gas to Europe and less able to indulge in military adventures on the EU’s eastern borders. Equally, certain Gulf operators will be less able to afford peddling pernicious versions of Islam around the world. The growth in clean energy promises improved security and a more robust diplomacy.
Eurof Thomas
Cardiff
Gentrification of the Co-op
I was pleased to read that the Co-op is to relaunch its food business with not only a revived logo but also, in an attempt to attract a million more members, a reintroduction of the “divi” and other rewards schemes (“Co-op hopes to leave the past behind with revival of its classic 60s look”, Business, last week). In recent years, the latter have been sadly lacking.
However, I am not convinced that these measures will be enough to revive the Co-op’s fortunes. The movement has abandoned its former customers (working people) for the more expensive convenience market that they, for their main shop, cannot afford. It is my view that the Co-op, like the Labour party, no longer serves its historic constituency. The Rochdale Pioneers of 1844 would not have approved of what can only be described as the gentrification of the Co-op, something that also appears to have happened to Labour. The Co-op needs to get back to its core values. I do support its mutuality, its community ambitions and the changes outlined in Angela Monaghan’s excellent article, but these will not be enough to restore the Co-op to its rightful position.
Roger Frost
Burnley, Lancs
For crying out loud
Shame on you for omitting Truly, Madly, Deeply, the best British weepie in living memory, from your list of “films that made us cry”. Viewing it for the first time, it grabbed me by the throat so viscerally that it took all my might to hold back what threatened to be a wave of uncontrollable sobs, leaving me awash in sweet sadness – and, like all those around me, silently mopping copious tears from the corners of my eyes.
Ms Lee Robinson
London N19
Jennifer Lawrence is no starlet
Misogyny alert! To quote: “Jennifer Lawrence ‘the Oscar-winning starlet’, who ‘seems to delight in mocking herself during interviews’” (Palais gossip, New Review, last week). Does Nigel Smith hanker for the 1950s, when “starlet” was an acceptable term for women actors, featured more for their skimpy clothing than their acting?
Jennifer Lawrence has rightly stood up for equal pay for men and women actors. She’s won an Oscar, for heaven’s sake. But Mr Smith seems not to rate her intelligence.
Margaret Waddy
Cambridge