Network of Earthkeeping Christian Communities in South Africa

NECCSA Update: May 2005

A monthly newsletter on Church and Environment in South Africa

 

1. Environment Sunday: 5 June 2005

Environment Sunday will fall this year on 5 June. As in the past, NECCSA calls on its members to use this opportunity, with other Christian communities around the world, to discuss environmental issues within the context of the liturgy and Christian worship so that an environmental awareness can be raised amongst all Christians in South Africa.

The reading for Sunday 5 June according to the Revised Common Lectionary is the second half of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11-16). An exegetical and theological discussion of the ecological layers of meaning in this text (in English), prepared by Ernst Conradie, has been posted on the NECCSA website.

Some general liturgical resources have been prepared.  In due course they will be placed on the NECCSA website.  In the meantime they may be obtained from andrew.warmback@diakonia.org.za.

2. SAFCEI

The steering committee of the South African Faith Communities Environment Institute met from 26-28 May at Koinonia Conference Centre in Botha’s Hill KwaZulu-Natal.  Time was spent working on the vision and aims and objectives of the new organisation.  The co-ordinator of the SAFCEI is Bishop Geoff Davies (geoffd@intermail.co.za).

The formal launch of the Institute will take place on 20 July in Gauteng.  Prof Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner will be present for the opening.  All are invited.  More details will be sent to you in due course.

 

3. Wangari Maathai on Earth Day

 

The following is an extract from an Earth Day message from Prof Wangari Maathai entitled Fourth 'R' for Earth Day - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ... Repair published on Friday, April 22, 2005 by the Christian Science Monitor:

 

In 2004, the Norwegian Nobel committee made a revolutionary decision. In awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to an environmentalist for the first time, the committee broadened the concept of peace. The message the committee sent was this: If we want a peaceful world, we have to manage our environment responsibly and sustainably. We also have to share natural resources equitably at local, national, and global levels.

 

Since winning that prize, I have traveled to many parts of the world sharing the groundbreaking message of the Nobel committee. Friday, the 35^th celebration of Earth Day provides us the opportunity to rededicate ourselves to doing all we can in our daily lives to protect and nurture the Earth. There can be no better time. The recently released Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report shows that nature provides so many "services" that the decline of ecosystems worldwide has measurable deleterious effects on human well-being. The 1,300 scientists compiling the report found that 60 percent of nature's vital services that make all life possible - including fresh water and the flood protection and climate-stabilizing capacities of forests - are already degraded or in danger.

3. Support for Biowatch over GMO court case

 

Biowatch SA is seeking leave to appeal court order costs. The following extract, in which support is offered from the religious community is taken from The Biowatch Bulletin March/April 2005:

 

A wide cross-section of South African religious communities, including the Christian, Muslim, traditional African, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha’i faiths have supported Biowatch South Africa’s attempt to appeal the costs order granted to Monsanto South Africa (Pty) Ltd.

 

In a letter to Biowatch, Bishop Geoffrey Davies, co-ordinator of the South African Faith Communities Environment Institute said Biowatch’s appeal should be evaluated to consider the withdrawal and setting aside of the court decision regarding costs. “We believe there has been a transgression of justice,” Davies said, “in the Department of Agriculture’s refusal to grant Biowatch access to information (and) in the court then requiring Biowatch to pay the costs of the action undertaken on behalf of the citizens of South Africa.” Davies said the Institute was “alarmed that Biowatch was required to pay the costs of court action for what should be public knowledge.”

 

A national meeting of religious communities in March had called for full public participation in decision-making around genetically modified crops. The meeting noted with dismay the “underhand” promotion of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the monopoly of transnational companies in food production and the destruction of biodiversity through monoculture agriculture and forestry. “We believe that the rights of our people are being seriously compromised by multinational corporations seeking monopolistic control over the essentials of life. We are particularly concerned with access to and control over food and water. “We are most concerned that the Department of Agriculture would not give Biowatch the information they requested. Biowatch had to resort to the courts to obtain information that should have been public knowledge,” Davies said.

 

He added that the Institute was “most disturbed” that GM food was not labeled, whereas organic food, which was not controversial, was licensed and labeled.

 

For further information on this case and the work of Biowatch visit their website: www.biowatch.org.za

4. Anglican Environment Network Meeting in Canberra

This meeting, held last month, in Canberra was attended by Bishop Geoff Davies from the Anglican Church in Southern Africa attended. The following report is taken from the Anglican Communion News Service:

Rising sea levels, droughts and climate changes were among the issues considered by delegates at the inaugural meeting of the Anglican Communion's Environmental Network in Canberra, Australia.  The Network, which currently includes representatives of over 20 of the Communion's 38 provinces has been established at the instigation of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).

The meeting hosted by Rt Revd George Browning, Bishop of Canberra and organised in association with the Communion's UN Observer's Office, enabled delegates to report on issues affecting their individual provinces, report on local initiatives both underway and planned, and included presentations by leading Australian experts including Professor Ian Lowe and Professor Peter Cullen.

The Anglican Environmental Network aims to provide the Anglican Communion with support, encouragement and expertise to enable churches and church organisations to take positive action including auditing, training and theological education to ensure all levels of the Church follow good environmental practice and awareness.

For Further information visit the website: www.aco.org

5. Nuclear issues

There has been much in the news recently about Pelindaba.    Below is part of a statement that was made by the Nuclear Energy Costs the Earth Campaign (NECTEC) on the commemoration of Chernobyl.  It interesting to note that the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference is part of the campaign:

The Chernobyl Black Day Commemoration

There has been a move to increase nuclear power in Africa and within South Africa, with Eskom's proposals for the Pebble Bed Modular nuclear Reactor (PBMR). Nuclear waste is being generated at Koeberg and the Nuclear Energy Corporation's (NECSA) site at Pelindaba, and people are dying of nuclear related diseases. As an Apartheid military hangover, the nuclear industry has no room in a rights base society.

 

The Nuclear Energy Costs the Earth Campaign (NECTEC) is committed to the total eradication of the nuclear industry in Southern Africa. We oppose all aspects of nuclear power generation including mining, fuel production, transport of nuclear materials, reactors, waste and the consequent lack of safety for people and our environment.

 

Africa is not a dumping site for nuclear waste or a testing ground for unsafe nuclear technology.  It is unjustifiable to use public funds to sponsor nuclear plants that are a threat to people and the environment.

 

Please note

·        The NECCSA Update for June will be edited by Andrew Warmback (andrew.warmback@diakonia.org.za). Please send your contributions to him by the due date.

·        Any person who wishes to take responsibility for two or three editions of NECCSA Update during the remainder of 2005 may contact Ernst Conradie in this regard (econradie@uwc.ac.za).

 

NECCSA website address: www.neccsa.org.za where membership and banking details can also be found. You are invited to accept ownership of this website in order to use it to share information on Christianity and earthkeeping practices. Please send any information to the email address below.

You are welcome to distribute this NECCSA Update electronically to any other interested person. You are also welcome to send news to be included in the next NECCSA update to andrew.warmback@diakonia.org.za by 17 June 2005. You may send such contributions in the language of your choice.

If you prefer not to receive the NECCSA Update in future, please send a message in this regard to the email address mentioned above.

Distributed by AE WARMBACK 30/05/2005