Theory of Change Framework

Mindful Living is a group of people from various spiritual backgrounds united in mindful living through everyday lifestyle changes that will heal and revive the planet, from ARRCC- QLD. Working together under the banner of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) which is a national network, ARRCC QLD is an action group made up of individuals from many different faiths, mostly South East QLD.

In March, Mindful Living & ARRRC QLD hosted a climate change discussion to talk more about how individuals can live mindfully and address climate change. For many people, religion is about more than just a set of beliefs – it is also about taking action to make the world a better place. This is why religious organisations have always been at the forefront of social justice movements, from the civil rights movement to the fight against poverty. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity today, and religious organisations are once again being called to take action.

There are many reasons why religious organisations should care about climate change. First and foremost, it is an issue of justice. Climate change disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable, who are least able to defend themselves against its effects. As people of faith, we are called to stand with the most vulnerable members of our society. Second, climate change is a moral issue. It is caused by our own selfish and irresponsible actions, and it will have devastating consequences for future generations. As people of conscience, we cannot simply stand by and do nothing while this crisis unfolds. Finally, climate change is a spiritual issue. It reminds us that we are all interconnected, that we all share this one planet, and that we all have a responsibility to take care of it.

It was great to see religious organisations and individuals caring about climate change, because when people of faith come together to take action on this issue, we can make a real difference. Speakers at the event shared their personal and professional journeys with the audience to talk about what they do to create a better world, including discussing the impacts of commercial and local farming, food consumption and plastic waste on climate change and the environment.

Among the three speakers was our founder, Tiyana J, who spoke at the event about how mindful living promotes informal, individual/collective change (see our framework for social change below), and how this type of change complements advocacy, activism, and development efforts. This event was the first time out framework for change had been applied publicly, and the audience was very receptive to the theory of change our framework offers, not just for climate change, but its applicability to any issue.

Speaking about both the importance of understanding this holistic approach to social change in the context of climate change, and her own experiences living plant-based and low-waste for the planet, Tiyana combined this knowledge to create an exclusive ebook for the event participants who wanted to learn about this in more detail.