An essay on the deeper causes and implications of climate-driven societal breakdown, by Professor Jem Bendell. If you have begun to anticipate the climate-driven collapse of societies, what can you wish for? I have written elsewhere about the problems of being attached to hope, if that means we falsely assume we can’t engage in the world creatively unless we have an … [Read more...]
Unpacking the social and financial costs of SA’s energy plan
As the country braces itself for the National Treasury’s Medium-Term Budget, the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) joins other NGOs, faith leaders and citizens from around the country to present its comments on the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018 proposed by the Department of Energy (DOE). In recent years, the IRP has been at the … [Read more...]
Anglican Church of Southern Africa to divest from fossil fuels
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Angola Mozambique and Namibia) passed a motion at their Provincial Synod to divest from fossil fuels. Following the Paris Climate Change agreement, it is vital that global warming does not pass a 2° degree increase, otherwise this could lead to catastrophic climate change. The Province is already … [Read more...]
Interfaith lovefest ‘brings hearts and minds together’
Nobody does pageantry like people of faith — and that was decidedly on display Thursday night as the 2015 Parliament of the World's Religions opened with a lengthy processional at the Salt Palace in downtown Salt Lake City. Chiefs from seven American Indian tribes, wearing traditional feathered headdresses and fur cloaks, led the way to the podium as a drum circle … [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...]
New conservation agriculture manual to launch in Kenya
The first manual in conservation agriculture specifically designed for Muslim farmers in Africa will be launched in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday March 27 - providing a tool to introduce millions of Muslim farmers to sustainable farming practices for the first time. Islamic Farming: A Manual for Conservation Agriculture is a brand new curriculum that integrates Qur’anic … [Read more...]
An Olive Agenda: bridging economy and ecology
Proposing a theological engagement with a metaphor that could transcend the duality between the ‘green’ environmental agenda and the ‘brown’ poverty agenda that has disabled development discourse for the past twenty years, the late Steve de Gruche left his thoughts in a paper entitled “An Olive Agenda: First thoughts on a metaphorical theology of development” before his … [Read more...]
A Prayer for the Gulf of Mexico
Dr. Masaru Emoto is a scientist from Japan who has done alot of research and publications about the characteristics of water. Among other things, his research has revealed that water physically responds to emotions. Many people have the predominantly angry emotion when we consider what is happening in the Gulf. And while justified in that emotion, we may be of greater … [Read more...]
Call to end Mozambique monoculture plantations
In previous years, the Diocese of Vasteras, the Lutheran Swedish Church and the Norwegian Lutheran Church Endowment, have been investing heavily in the expansion of pine and eucalyptus tree monocultures in central and northern Mozambique through the companies Chikweti Forests de Niassa, TectonaForests of Zambezia, Ntacua Florestas de Zambezia and Florestas de Messangulo. To … [Read more...]
Faiths join hands for earth
All the world's major religions share one great belief: that we as humans need to cherish and protect the earth we live on. We are, however, failing in our task. This is a good reason for religions to unite in a common commitment to change, and this is what's happening. The Sisterhood of Temple Israel took a step in this direction last week, when they focused their Annual … [Read more...]
The Green Bible
'As you read The Green Bible starting in Genesis, you will see that after God created birds, fish and animals he created humans to be his viceroys and to act 'compassionately and gently' towards all forms of life. We can be wantonly irresponsible, or we can be caring and compassionate. God says: I put before you a choice. Choose life.' Archbishop Desmond Tutu 'The Green … [Read more...]
