Faith communities, supported by the Right2Know (R2K) Campaign and others gathered outside the Cape Town Parliament to demonstrate against the government’s continued secrecy around the nuke deals. On 1 September, Minister Joemat-Pettersson, Minister of Energy, told members of Parliament that she was committed to a transparent process around the nuclear deals. That same … [Read more...]
Archbishop Thabo calls for worldwide climate justice prayer
The Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, has called on Anglicans everywhere to join Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and other Christians in a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September. The first day of September has become a significant date for Christians caring for the environment. The Orthodox Church has … [Read more...]
Pope Francis seeks swift action on climate change
Pope Francis on Thursday called for a radical transformation of politics, economics and individual lifestyles to confront environmental degradation and climate change, blending a biting critique of consumerism and irresponsible development with a plea for swift and unified global action. The vision that Francis outlined in a 184-page papal encyclical is sweeping in ambition … [Read more...]
The world is our host – a call for climate justice
Climate change is a spiritual, moral, as well as scientific, economic and political issue, said a group of Anglican bishops on Good Friday during an urgent call for climate justice action at the Volmoed Conference and Retreat Centre outside Hermanus. Of course this involves not only Anglicans, or Christians, but people of all faiths, and all spiritual folk, who revere this … [Read more...]
Eco bishops meet to uphold dignity and integrity of creation
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Chair of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network called together a group of bishops from various countries impacted by climate change. Bishops have been chosen from countries reflecting the great challenges we face, from the sea level rise of Fiji, the deforestation of Argentina, the droughts of Namibia, the tsunamis of the Philippines and the … [Read more...]
Archbishop Tutu joins students’ call for fossil free UCT
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has endorsed a campaign amongst staff, students and alumni at the University of Cape Town calling on the university to freeze and phase out its fossil fuel investments, to help stop dangerous climate change. The Archbishop’s call came 10 days before the formal launch of the UCT campaign during a public meeting on 30 July.. His statement … [Read more...]
Risk being seen in all your glory
"The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is." "Hope walks through the fire, faith leaps over it." So much wisdom emanated from one of this world's kings of comedy - Jim Carrey during his commencement address to the class of 2014 at the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA recently. Watch this most inspiring address and "risk … [Read more...]
Desert Rose launches Climate Change song – Bring Back the Life
A new song about Climate Change, called Bring Back the Life was launched yesterday by our local band Desert Rose. The song was composed by to drive and promote Fasting for Climate Change. It draws on ancient wisdom and cultures as it speaks about the suffering of millions of innocent people and the need to return to the ancient philosphy of aligning our economy to preserve … [Read more...]
Wearing away the stone of climate change
We sometimes have very strange ways of imagining small island states and global warming, writes Dr Terry Brown, former Bishop of Malaita, Anglican Church of Melanesia (1996 to 2008) for World Environment Day. For example, we may think of the small island as a kind of oil rig, locked forever at a certain height from the bottom of the sea, being overwhelmed by the rising sea … [Read more...]
Church leaders pledge support for strike
A range of high-profile church and community leaders have issued a petition calling for humanitarian support to families in the platinum belt. “There is a humanitarian tragedy unfolding on the platinum belt. While supporting current attempts to reach a settlement to the dispute, the reality on the ground is that children, women and men do not have food, and hardship will … [Read more...]
Living Hope Centre helps develop skills and build food security
From the outside, the Living Hope Farm tunnels in Masipumelele, Cape Town, look just like any large vegetable tunnel filled with lush growth. Look inside and you will see texts from the Bible hanging between the tall rows of tomatoes. Joey, the farm operations manager from Tennessee, explained that during the difficult early days spent mastering farming skills, he was … [Read more...]
Prayer for Earth Hour
Lord, you often spoke of your 'hour,' the hour of a new consciousness, the season of a new way of being human, a decisive moment in history - Wake us up in this 'hour' of our days; remind us that our future is connected to the earth and all its abundant life. May we act selflessly in this hour with a new sensitivity to life in all its variety, And not just for today, but for … [Read more...]
