Green Anglicans Anglican Church of Southern Africa’s Environmental Network AUTUMN NEWSLETTER MAY 2017 CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2016 Water is sacred – Archbishop Thabo speaks at the International Justice Conference Archbishop Thabo Magkoba at St Georges Cathedral Cape Town Arch Thabo, St Cyprians eco club, chaplain, Bishop Margaret and Bishop Geoff I, like you believe in God. I believe in we are talking about. tion facilities (1 in 3 people).[1] Not the realities that God has put in front only is the access of water a health of us.. today I want to address some The book of the prophet Amos gives threat, it is also one of the biggest of these uncomfortable truths. We us a strong challenge business risks to our country and. live in a VUCA world. with climate change drought and “Let Justice flow down like rivers, and flooding become more common. Yes; VUCA: a world of Volatility, Un- righteousness like a never ending We have forgotten the sacredness of certainty, complexity and ambiguity. stream” Amos 5:24 water. Water does not come from a tap – it comes from a river and that and nothing is more VUCA that the is- Justice and water are closely linked. river comes from our Creator. Water sue of water justice. Millions can live In our city on one side are homes with is mentioned 722 times in the Bible. without love.. but no one can live more bathrooms that people, with Water literally frames the Biblical without water. Clean drinking wa- big swimming pools and vast lawns story. The first book, Genesis, starts ter is the most fundamental human for a couple of children to play on. On with a wonderful poetic image of right. It is central to the well being of the other side, a dozen families share water and Creation- CONTINUE READING all people on the planet and the lack one communal toilet and tap and on of access to clean , fresh water is one some days we are not sure the tap is of the most serious threats to human working or there is clean water com- health. Unsafe drinking water, to- ing from it.. gether with the lack of basic sanita- tion, causes 81 percent of all sickness Girls are afraid to use the facilities and diseases in the world. at night for fear of being raped and children play in the filthy water seep- In the end our harsh uncomfortable ing from the poorly services toilets. truth reality is, we don’t inherit the In South Africa it has recently been earth from our ancestors, we borrow estimated that sixteen million people it from our children.. it’s their water do not have access to basic sanita- Page 2 Green Anglicans Green Anglucans Pretoria Lutherans and Anglicans join hands for visits local parishes a Green Swaziland The Lutheran Church and the ing with the Church. Although have an enviro fun day on the Anglican Church (Isheshe) have they signed an MOU several 22nd of July , with a march , Our aim in the diocese is to visit parishes joined forces for a greener Swa- years ago with the Council of fun activities and a green talent from Mamelodi and advocate on living a ziland. Inspired by the Green Churches , the Anglican Church show. They will have environ- green lifestyle and to plant 60 trees around Anglicans, the Lutherans have was the first to really take up mental debates in clusters. Each the community joined in the green movement the challenge church will have a local tree and a joint organisation LUSHE planting and environmental The green Anglicans team went to Ma- has been formed Rev Dr Rachel Mash, Provin- education activity. They will cel- melodi to advocate to the parishes, we cial Environmental Coordina- ebrate world environment day started at St Agnes Mamelodi and head The youth of both denomina- tor of the Anglican Church with an outdoor service with on to All Saints Mamelodi with our main tions met for an exciting work- gave a presentation on the the Bishop. aim to push the gospel of going green and shop in Mbabane where they theology of the care for cre- experiencing the presents of God living a looked at the challenge of cli- ation, and we were blessed to ANGLICANS green lifestyle. mate change and the theology have a visit by our very own The anglican Youth is commit- We did our green presentation, gave tasks of caring for creation. Eco-Bishop Ellinah Wamu- ted to a Green Youth July. They or projects to the parishes and while driv- koya. Then it was action plans will have outdoor green servic- ing around the area we noted a few envi- inspiring presentations were and these are very exciting! es and outings and use mainly ronmental issues and asked the congrega- made by the Swaziland Environ- hymns and choruses which talk tion to take a stand in those issues (every mental Agency who expressed LUTHERANS about the environment. corner was full of rubbish which people their excitement to be partner- The Lutheran youth plan to -Rev Dr Rachel Mash intentional put there, the dams are full of dirt, bushes/unattended land is on fire due to people burning things and pets/ ani- mals are all over the streets. CARING FOR CREATION WITH A BRAND NEW BISHOP Challenges we noted was put forward to the congregation and noted. The main is- The Diocese of Niassa in Northern Mozambique deacon Eugenio Rafael and Jaime Samuel, who sue was the rubbish at every corner and had a wonderful day of celebration as they wel- are part of the Green Anglican movement, invit- the task was that congregation to see to it comed their brand new Bishop, Dom Vicente ed Rev Dr Rachel Mash, Provincial Environmental that its removed and to sent us before and Msosa as the fourth bishop of the Diocese. Arch- Coordinator, to conduct a workshop on caring for after pictures. bishop Thabo Makgoba conducted the service creation while the clergy were gathered. Our aim was reached but trees were not and was joined by Bishop William Mostert (Bish- planted due to the supplier not being able op Vicente’s “twin” consecrated on the same day) The day started with looking at the theology to deliver for the second time. Except the Bishop Steve Diseko, Dean of the Province and of creation, that the first commandment giv- tree problem our green day was a success. Bishop Carlos Matsinhe from ACSA. Bishop Rob en to humans was to be keepers of the earth. We are happy to report that people in the from the Diocese of London attended to repre- We then looked at the way in which humans Diocese are now taking environmental is- sent ALMA. Bishop Fanuel Magangani of North- have damaged the Earth we were called to sues serious. - Katlego Motswagae ern Malawi was accompanied by clergy from his look after and the impacts of climate change. Diocese, Upper Shire and Lake Malawi. CONTINUE READING A day of great celebration and vibrant worship from the many choirs as parishes and organisa- tions brought gifts to welcome their new bishop. Travelling is difficult in Northern Mozambique, with some clergy taking as long as three days to make the journey on difficult roads and so Arch- Green Anglicans [email protected] 021 763 1300 december 2016 Page 3 Anglicans say no to nukes On the day of the State of the Nation address, Green Anglicans joined the “Occupy the Bridge” action to protest the R1 Trillion secret nuclear CHRIST CHURCH’S GREEN TEAM power deal. MOBILISES TO SAVE THE AQUIFER! Civil society voiced their News of the threats to the Philippi Horticultural Area calls on the President, as the and underlying Cape Flats Aquifer came to the atten- head of the South African tion of the Green Team of Christ Church, Constantia. government, to give power They approached the convenor, Nazeer Sonday, with back to the people, to be ac- the offer of hosting an information session so that con- countable and to uphold the cerned citizens, and particularly people of Faith, could constitution of the country. The R1 trillion deal was hatched in secret and hear the facts around the threats to the Philippi Horti- money spent on the nuclear deal will mean much less money for education, cultural Area. More than 130 people attended the infor- healthcare, social grants, transport, housing, sanitation, jobs etc. The deal mation meeting. will bankrupt us, the citizens, and keep us in debt for decades. It is esti- mated that we will have to pay R100-billion a year to cover the bank loans, The Cape Flats Aquifer is Cape Town’s hidden treas- which will mean increases in our already high cost of living. At a previous ure. A vast area of some 630 square kilometers of po- State of the Nation Address, the president promised that any decision to rous rock lies beneath the City – stretching from the procure nuclear would follow a fair and transparent process.In 2014, the Cape Flats to the West Coast – it holds vast stores of South African government signed an international agreement with Russia underground water. Studies by the United Nations En- to build nuclear power stations in South Africa. This nuclear deal and as- vironmental Programme reveal that the Aquifer has the sociated government decisions have taken place in secret, without consult- potential to supply more than two thirds of the Mother ing wit the public, and have already seen friends of President Jacob Zuma City’s basic water needs: benefit from tenders awarded.