The LSRI is proud to present "Faith, Ecology and Hope", a short film directed by Emma Webster and filmed and edited by Martha Bailey, now available to watch here. 

The 17-minute film was created to spark conversations and inspire action. It offers a broad perspective on the intersection of faith and climate justice, structured around different ways in which faith communities engage with environmental issues - research, education, peaceful activism, disruptive protest, and community building. By showcasing these different approaches, the film invites viewers to reflect on how they, too, might take action in their own context.

The film was conceived in response to the murder of Fr. Marcelo Pérez, a Tzotzil indigenous Catholic priest from Mexico who was killed in October 2024. Fr. Pérez had previously collaborated with the LSRI on a research project examining the role of local Church actors in Latin America who defend communities and ecosystems threatened by extractive and infrastructure projects. Dr Séverine Deneulin, Director of International Development at the LSRI, recalls the profound impact of his death: "It was a real shock. Re-reading his interview transcript after the murder gave me the chill. He knew the danger he was in, but Laudato Si' gave him so much strength and hope to continue his struggles." Faith, Ecology and Hope is dedicated to the courage and vision of Fr. Marcelo, reflecting the motivation and hope that drive faith communities in climate activism.

To create the film, the LSRI teamed up with filmmaker Emma Webster, who for a long time had wanted to tell a story about faith and climate action. “Faith,” Webster says, “can have real influence on the climate crisis and this intersection needs much more exposure.”

The film begins with the story of Fr Marcelo’s work and that of the communities he accompanied. It links this to other stories about environmental defenders, describing how faith communities in the UK and elsewhere can stand in solidarity with such witness. “The film is short," Webster continues, "but I wanted to briefly show five different ways in which faith and climate action can combine meaningfully, be it through academic research, education, peaceful and disruptive action, and community building. I think there’s something to be learned from each of these approaches and it’s interesting to hold them up alongside each other." For Webster, "this film is a bird's-eye view that can inspire people to dig deeper. Each one of those little segments deserves a film in itself." 

“We wanted this film to be above all educational and inspirational,” says Deneulin, “showing that social and ecological action is intrinsic to faith in God. We wanted also for the film to showcase how the LSRI’s work in integral ecology connects to concrete actions on the ground. How we understand our faith and how we act goes together.” 

The LSRI is grateful for the support of the Jesuit Fund for Social Justice (JFSJ), whose aim is to facilitate and encourage social action projects and initiatives amongst works in the Jesuit British Province directed to addressing the pressing issues of poverty, injustice and discrimination in Britain today.