The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg – the two civil society organisations who took the South African government to court over its illegal and unconstitutional R1-trillion nuclear deal with Russia in 2017 – are concerned at the new push by the Department of Minister Resources and Energy (DMRE) for more nuclear … [Read more...]
Perfect storm brews after more issues at Koeberg
The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) says a combination of factors currently impacting the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (Koeberg), on top of Eskom’s inability to keep the power on, could result in the perfect storm for the country. SAFCEI’s Executive Director Francesca de Gasparis says, “It is disturbing that one of Koeberg’s two units has … [Read more...]
Lessons learned during landmark SA nuclear court case
On Monday 26 April, it will be four years since the Western Cape High Court found the government’s R1-trillion nuclear deal and associated energy procurement processes to be “illegal and unconstitutional”. South Africa was spared from a corrupt deal under the Zuma government that would have bankrupted the country. This day also marks 35-years since the Chernobyl nuclear … [Read more...]
More transparency needed from national nuclear regulator
The Koeberg Alert Alliance and the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) say they are concerned about the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE) failure to appoint a representative of civil society to the National Nuclear Regulator’s board. According to these organisations, this lack of representation is contributing to the ongoing weak … [Read more...]
Global coalition demands cage-free eggs
Today, the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) joins a large-scale global cage-free campaign launched against Restaurant Brands International (RBI), owner of leading brands Burger King and Popeyes. The campaign – led by a coalition of more than eighty (80) influential animal protection non-profit organizations worldwide – urges the company to … [Read more...]
Call for urgent clarification of SA greenhouse gas objectives
A range of civil society organisations are taking their call for urgent clarification of greenhouse gas emissions objectives to the Public Protector. The complaint regards failure to implement provisions on mitigation in the National Climate Change Response White Paper, adopted by Cabinet in October 2011; most particularly the setting of “desired emission reduction outcomes” … [Read more...]
Plans for 100% renewable energy in SA
As international climate change negotiations are renewed, South African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) is calling on our government to turn to policies driven by science and ethics, not political and economic expediency; and to expand South Africa’s own renewable energy revolution. Scientists have recently revealed that the damage from climate change is … [Read more...]
Shock and disappointment at SA’s fracking plans
What so many of us have been dreading, is now set to happen. The moratorium on exploration for shale gas has been lifted. “We find it both extraordinary and irresponsible that our government continues to pursue fossil fuel energy when South Africa has the best of renewable energy (RE) resources in the world,” Bishop Geoff Davies (pictured) from SAFCEI stated on hearing the … [Read more...]
Free our Chapman’s Peak
On Sunday a wonderful gathering of families with children and dogs met to challenge the proposal of a major office block set to be built on Chapman’s Peak, estimated to cost around R58 million. Robin Carlisle, the MEC for the WC graciously acknowledged the somewhat 2 thousand people gathered on the mountain, saying he had expected only 5 hundred. He said it was essential … [Read more...]
Youth demand climate action in parliament
Women and the youth spoke up strongly during the public hearings on the National Climate Change Response Green Paper in parliament, conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs. Women and the youth spoke up strongly during the public hearings on the National Climate Change Response Green Paper in parliament, conducted by the Portfolio Committee on … [Read more...]
Tragic World Bank decision leads to many questions
'This is a tragic decision,' said David Parry-Davies, environmentalist and editor of the yearly landmark publication Enviropaedia, about the news that the World Bank had approved a loan of US3,75-billion to Eskom to build a coal-fired power plant at Medupi, northern Limpopo. Shockwaves rippled through the South African green community, as David verbalized what many hard … [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...]
