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A TOXIC TOUR! GREEN ANGLICANS JOIN OTHER FAITH LEADERS AT ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY WORKSHOP Representatives from Four Dioceses (St Mark the Evangelist, Free State, and Kimberley and Kuruman) Mrs Ruth Pule, Rev Thomas Mhunriro, Rev Modise Peme and Makwetsa Ramusi  attended the Faith Leaders Environmental Advocay training (FLEAT) run by Southern African Faith Communities Institute (SAFCEI), in Durban, South Africa. There were faith leaders from different faith groups and denominations. First were introductions  where each person indicated the environmental challenges in their communities. Then an exercise  on “carbon-footprint” was done it was an eye opener of the amount of damage we are contributing towards the damage of the environment. There was presentation by the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) which made us aware how the industrial sector causes harm to the residents whom are living next to these areas. Also there was a documentary by Oceans Not Oil which educated us  on the emergence of faith based movements to assist towards the protection of the marine animals. A “toxic tour” to the industrial Durban was led by Dr Desmond D’Sa, the 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize winner and was an eye-opener. It is because there are many industrial sites which are built and are currently operating within residential areas. Some of these factories have caused harm towards the children and adults living in those areas, as they were affected by Tuberculosis and Cancer. Lastly, each region which faith leaders were allocated to (Cape Town, Joburg and Limpopo, Free State and Northern Cape and Durban), were able to formulate an 8 months’ implementation plan. In this plan, each leader will have to launch an initiative which involves the church and the communities about environmental issues within their communities. The training will have a report-back session sometime next year. Would like to thank SAFCEI and Green Anglicans for this wonderful project of becoming environmental faith leaders of our churches and communities. Makwetsa J Ramusi Diocese of St. Mark the Evangelist

SAY NO! TO TRASH ON THE GROUND The two archdeaconries of Inhambane and Maciene had a wonderful Exchange meeting with the goal of planning their activities.  As part of the exchange programme, we did  a day of cleaning in the city of Maxixe and Grossista Market.  In total 158 young people from the two archdeaconries  of Maxixe and Inhambane took part. It was wonderful to be able to say “ Say  no! to  trash on the ground” Foi realizada o Intercâmbio da Juventude ( Distritos Eclesiásticos de Inhambane e Maciene) com objetivo único troca de experiências na planificação e execução das suas actividades. No âmbito do Intercâmbio realizamos Jornada de Limpeza dentro da cidade da Maxixe e no mercado Grossista. No Intercâmbio fizeram se presente 158 jovens dos dois Distritos Eclesiásticos. Foi muito maravilhoso dizer estas palavras: “NÃO LIXO NO CHÃO”…

The Diocese of False Bay held its annual Confirmation Camp. One of the activities to encourage young people to care for creation was to get them to think about Reduce reuse recycle in a creative way. They had a recycle fashion show.

THE GREATEST  RIVERS WERE ONCE TRICKLES The greatest rivers with famous names – the Nile and the Ganges, the Yangtze and he Mississippi, the Amazon and the great grey-green  Limpopo all set about with fever trees-must have been no more than trickles and flickering streams before they grew into mighty rivers (Aiden Chambers) We must begin thinking like a river if we are to leave a legacy of beauty and life for future generations.” ― (David Brower) From the great rivers we learn that each small rain drop has its value – we must not despise the tiny pearl drops  of change that fall unnoticed and unremarked for they are feeding into streams. We also learn that those small rivers who have names will lose their identity into the bigger raging river. If they choose to keep their identity and flow alone, they will dry up in the dusty earth, but if they flow into the raging river then they become part of a movement that can break down mountains. To do so they will lose their identity… “Mountains & rivers know the secret. Pay no attention to boundaries.”-― (Brian Andreas ) People of different faiths, people who profess no faith, people who are anti-faith , we must flow together into the mighty river of change. “All kinds of fruit trees will grow on both sides of the river. Their leaves will not dry up, and they will never stop giving fruit. They will give fruit every month because their water flows from the holy place. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.” (Ezekiel 47;12) This river of environmental eco-justice born both of anger and love, hope and despair, is bringing fruits of community, of joy and of unity that were more than we hoped for. The movement has started we must not lose momentum now “Said the river: imagine everything you can imagine, then keep on going.”― (Mary Oliver) Wendell Berry said this “The river is of the earth and it is free. It is rigorously embanked and bound, and yet it is free. To hell with restraint, it says, I have got to be going. It will grind out its dams. It will go over or around them. They will become pieces” As adults we have been too slow in tacking the Climate Crisis – decades have passed and the crisis is growing more severe. Now young people are rising up and saying ‘we have got to be going’, will their river pass us by or will we join the flow? “There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! ………, All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” (Hopi Nation) Rev Rachel Mash – reflections from Church in Creation on the Upper Liesbeek River June 2019 Photograph: Milan Radisic “Salty Marsh”

“FUN RUNS” ARE NO FUN FOR THE OCEAN On World Ocean Day a team of young and old gathered at the Blue Lagoon beach – to appreciate nature and clean up the area which has different outdoor events happening every weekend from festivals to walks and runs, and as expected DCR Youth run was scheduled for the same day. Broken beer and wine bottles, polystyrene foam, straws and plastic bottle tops were the order of the day but what was saddening was the fact that the runners that were using were using plastic water sachets and throwing them everywhere while we were picking up; something of great worry as these were children of young age ranging from 7years howards. Reality kicked in right there of the ignorance of these run organisers to have a teaching element in them. these water sachets blow straight into the ocean causing damage to ocean creatures and birds. Not quite what we had anticipated, however worth every second spent cleaning up the lagoon while appreciating the waves and surfers that changed direction. Beautiful ladies who are contestants of Miss Earth pageant also picked up litter reminding us to make cleanliness fashionable. Different prizes were won for whoever brought back more litter, mug ‘n bean gave out vouchers to each participant. Looking forward to our next beach clean up for Mandela Day, 20th July 2019 article and picturesMandisa Gumada #GreenAnglicans #KZNbeachCleanUp#SmileAndWave#DurbanLitterFree

YOUTH ARE RISING IN SOUTH AFRICA – DEMANDING CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION On June 16th,  1976, the young people of Soweto rose up against the imposition of Afrikaans in their education. It was the beginning of the end for apartheid. On Friday, just before youth Day, hundreds of school children marched in Cape Town and Pretoria demanding that Climate Change be put into the school curriculum for all learners. They also demanded that the Government  place a moratorium on new coal, gas and oil mining licences; to have 100% renewable energy by 2030; and that South Africa declare Climate change as an emergency About 500 people marched from Parliament to the City Hall in Cape Town.The march was organised by the African Climate Youth Alliance and was part of the global Fridays for Future youth climate protest.A memorandum was handed over to Marian Nieuwoudt, Mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment. Green Anglicans took part in the march with a banner which said “God so loved the world” John 3:16 and were joined by young people attending the Volmoed Leadership Training Course.