When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
As we say goodbye to Summer and welcome Autumn, we take time out to reflect on all our bountiful blessings. Autumn, it is the perfect time for us to learn deep life lessons from nature and begin to make our own preparations for the days ahead.
Last month we mourned with New Zealand with Muslims around the world as we heard about the tragedy of the mosque shootings in Christchurch. We also saw the devastating effects of cyclone Idai that caused catastrophic damage in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, leaving more than 1,000 people dead and thousands more missing. We send our prayers, love, and offers of peace to those affected. Climate change can no longer be ignored. We need to act now.
In this month's newsletter, we news from our Faith Leader Environment Advocacy Training in Zimbabwe, support of the Cape Town Schools Climate Strike, and Sisters of the Wilderness film screening.
We share our comments on Eskom’s electricity price increase; How Zuma's R1-trillion nuclear deal led to the Eskom crisis; the secrecy of nuclear "incidents" at Koeberg; our Animal Justice feature on SABC2’s The Kindness Project; In God's Image article by SAFCEI Board Director, Steven Jacobs; article on Environmental Justice by SAFCEI's Science Advisor, Jan Arkert; call for applications to join our Board of Directors; our Social Media Intern job post; and more news from and other faith-based and environmental organisations.
We also paid tribute to our outgoing Energy Justice Lead, Liz McDaid, with a special Legacy Meeting on 7th March. McDaid and Makoma Lekalakala's (Earthlife Africa) won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018, recognising their leadership in the struggle against an unlawful nuclear energy deal in South Africa.
Ahead of the General Elections, SAFCEI and partners invite you to participate in the Party Political Public Dialogue taking place in Cape Town on 25th April. Find more events taking place this month listed further below in the newsletter.
We wish our Christian friends and family the renewal of life, love, and happiness this Easter. We wish our Jewish friends a blessed Pesach, may this Passover bring you peace, happiness, love and every blessing from above.
The SAFCEI Team
FLEAT ZIMBABWE
SAFCEI hosted a Faith Leaders Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) follow-up workshop at Cresta Lodge, Harare, Zimbabwe from 26th to 28th March.
Faith Leaders were asked to document and present their journeys since making their sustainable commitments at last year's workshop.
Over the three days, we hosted talks on Sustainable Leadership by Kelly Ngeti from the Center For Sustainable Development Kenya (CESUD-KE), Environmental Law by Lenin Chisaira from People and Earth Solidarity Law Network (PESLawyers), Agroecology by Lewis Mashingaidze from Pelumand, and Environmental Stewardship by Evans Mdadzungira. Faith leaders were also given a tour of Passionate Plastics recycling plant in Harare, which is headed up by entrepreneur Spencer Mukuku.
The workshop concluded with faith leaders planning the next phase of their FLEAT journey, which will be the formation and running of the Faith Leaders Environmental Advocacy Trust- Zimbabwe (FLEAT-ZIM TRUST) by the elected Steering Committee.
The workshop was supported by Act Alliance.
View the photo gallery and presentations here.
SCHOOLS STRIKE FOR CLIMATE
On Friday 15th March South African youth, inspired by Greta Thunberg from Sweden, rose up to join their peers across Europe, Australia and the UK in peaceful protest against government inaction on climate change.
SAFCEI supported the Schools Strike For Climate by standing in solidarity with future generations who will inherit the Earth.
View the photo gallery here.
SISTERS OF THE WILDERNESS FIML SCREENING AT ERIN HALL
SAFCEI hosted a screening of Sisters of the Wilderness at Erin Hall in Cape Town on 19th March.
We were fortunate enough to have the screening opened by the director, Karin Slater. Following the screening was a Q & A session facilitated by Nomacebo Mbayo, which was joined by Slater and the producer, Ronit Shapiro.
Thanks to all who attended the screening.
More information about the film here.
POLITICAL PARTY PUBLIC DIALOGUE
SAFCEI, Project 90 by 2030, African Climate Reality Project, and One Million Climate Jobs cordially invite you to participate in a Political Party Public Dialogue, entitled “Does your Party care about the Environment we live in?”
After the national elections on 8 May 2019, those parties elected into office will direct policy on key issues that affect our people and our planet. As a broad coalition of environmental organisations and movements, we have analysed manifestos. We have invited senior representative from political parties to a public dialogue, entitled “Does your Party care about the Environment we live in?”, where they will share their party’s position on environmental issues.
Date: 25 April 2019
Time: 4-7 PM
Venue: Ashley Kriel Hall, Community House, 41 Salt River Road, Salt River, Cape Town
The audience will consist of members of the public, environmental organisations, unions, civil society and social movements, faith communities, human rights organisations and community organisations. National media will be in attendance.
Questions will include climate change policy, just energy transition, health issues including air quality, water, and food security.
Please confirm your participation, or alternatively who will be attending on your behalf by Monday 15 April to Natalie Geyser natalieg@90by2030.org.za cc Vainola Makan vainola@safcei.org.za. Information on parking, security, and a detailed agenda will be supplied on RSVP. Or call Vainola on 073 893 7140.
