"The acts that enslaved and colonized people, are the same acts that have brought the Earth to the point of ecological implosion. The same push for development, narrowly defined is what brought us to where we are today.
The challenge we face is therefore primarily one of integration. We need to stop excluding the Earth from our discussions of forgiveness, reconciliation and transformation and from the ranks of the oppressed, marginalized and vulnerable."
― Professor Tinyiko Maluleke
"Neither the Land nor the Earth Belongs to Us: Exploring New Directions in Eco-Theology" - Keynote from SAFCEI Conference November 2019
In this month's newsletter, we are delighted to share the latest news from our first Policy Conference in ten years and the resulting Johannesburg Declaration; our 2020 calendar which is on sale now; our 33-page submission to the Zondo Commission on State Capture; our comments on the long-awaited Integrated Resource Plan (IRP); our letter to the Government on banning Glyphosate; a recent article in the Daily Maverick by Bishop Geoff Davies, and more.
Next week, we will be hosting our first Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) workshop in the Karoo. The following week, we host our second Faith Leader Energy Programme workshop in Cape Town.
The urgency of the climate destruction is being keenly felt, from severe droughts in parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe and elsewhere, while other areas are experiencing severe flooding. The important role that faith communities perform has never been more apparent. We continue, with greater urgency, to raise our voices calling on governments, institutions, and all of us, to reduce our carbon consumption and to highlight the need to support those who are on the frontline of these extreme weather events.
Upcoming events are listed further below in the newsletter.
The SAFCEI Team
Policy Conference 2019
We hosted our first Policy Conference in ten years, from 5th to 7th November 2019 at eMseni Christian Centre in Benoni, South Africa, marking ten years since our last policy conference.
Entitled “A New Vision for Sacred Life and Living Earth”, the conference brought together faith and thought leaders and activists from communities of many faiths from nine countries across Southern and Eastern Africa.
On the final day we reached consensus on a call to action on six themes in the Johannesburg declaration. Participants worked from six discussion papers. We hope you will share these widely among your faith communities and with anyone interested. We want to encourage wider engagement on the most pressing eco-justice issues of our time, and to inspire more committed action.
Read more about the Policy Conference here, you can find out about the conference, our speakers and read the inspirational Keynote Speech from Professor Tinyiko Malueleke.
SAFCEI Calendar 2020
We have just launched our 2020 calendar featuring photography by local Cape Town/Garden Route artist, Andrea Nixon.
The calendar includes religious and environmental days, and lunar cycles, which makes it a thoughtful gift this festive season! By purchasing a calendar you will be supporting increasing awareness, understanding and appropriate action on eco-justice.
Click here to order yours.
