Data basis on Hot issues
Energy disputes
Energy: The supply but also the demand for and the distribution of energy has become a conentious issue. Read an opinion article by Geoff Davies in this regard Read more ...
Genetically Modified organisms
A number of faith-based statements on GMO's gave been made recently:
Statement from the SACC: Read more ....
Archbishop Slams Use of GM Crops. Read more
SACC Conference on GMOs (28-30 May 2004). Read statement entitled "Food is life: The right to food is not negotiable"
SACC Conference on GMOs (28-30 May 2004). Read report ...
A
Statement of the Rural Life Committee of the North Dakota Conference
of Churches
Brazilian Catholic Bishops have declared seeds the "common inheritance of humanity". Read here what they have to say about GMO's. More ..
Read the position document of the South African Catholics Bishops' Conference on GMO's. More ...
Read the statement on GM Food Aid issues produced by the Africa Faith & Justice Network. More ....
Canada's
Catholic Church is concerned that agribusiness is taking control of genetically
modified crops at the cost of poor farmers around the world
The church in the Philippines raised a million signatures against GM Corn. Read more about this story here ...
War in Iraq
Wars are often fought as a result of conflict over scarce resources. Wars often lead to environmental damage that result in resources becoming even scarcer.
Here is a collection of church statements on the environmental dimensions of the current war in Iraq. Read more ....
Perlemoenstropery
The poaching of abalone along the Western Cape Coast has many people up in arms. One may well wonder what the churches in the area are saying and doing to address the problem. Prof Ernst Conradie (UWC) offers some theological perspectives on a culture of exploitation that allows poaching to take place. In the days before Christmas he says: Miskien is dit die perlemoen wat ons moet red! Read more ....
The N2 Toll Road
The proposed N2 Toll Road is planned to go along the environmentally sensitive area between Lusikisiki and Port Edward. Read more about this in a report from Bishop Geoff Davies This is distributed for discussion and further submissions. More ....
World Heritage Areas
NECCSA members Ben & Karen Marais submitted a proposal on World Heritage areas to the Western Cape provincial government. It is placed here to stimulate discussion. Send your comments to them at bkrm@freemail.absa.co.za. Read the submission ....
Wild Coast Campaign
Supporters of WESSA's 'Save The Wild Coast' Campaign are invited to participate in a post-card campaign expressing their opposition to the government plans to build a toll-road through an area of global botanic significance and the proposed Pondoland Park; and secondly to grant a mining permit to mine for titanium within the proposed Pondoland Marine Protected Area. Johannesburg-based Don Pilkington has printed 10 000 postcards, headed "A call to Action." The pre-printed postcards, addressed to the State President, the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs, appeal to the government to carefully consider the implications of allowing major road-building and mining in a sensitive ecological area with a fragile social structure. Read More