Rachel Mash

#fast4earth Pick up Litter I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable. Jer 2: 7 It is not my litter, but it is my community. One of the ways to reduce littering is if we all take part. As you go for a walk or jog, commit to picking up three or five pieces on the last part of your run. You will influence others around you and begin the change the culture of people dropping litter. “plogging” is an idea which started in Sweden. Plogging is a combination of jogging with picking up litter (merging the Swedish verbs plocka upp (pick up) and jogga (jog) gives the new Swedish verb plogga, from which the word plogging derives).] It started as an organized activity in Sweden around 2016 and spread to other countries in 2018, following increased concern about plastic pollution. As a workout, it provides variation in body movements by adding bending, squatting and stretching to the main action of running, hiking, or walking Plogging is considered a perfect activity, as it is positive both for the body, and for the environment. An estimated 20,000 people Plog daily in 100 countries and some plogging events have attracted over 3,000,000 participants. Become a plogger, get fit and improve your community! https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-dorset-43912683

RESOURCES FOR WORLD WATER DAY  Liturgy for World Water Day service https://www.greenanglicans.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/World-Water-Day-service-2021-1.pdf Work sheet for Sunday School teachers https://www.greenanglicans.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Worksheet-for-Sunday-School-teachers-1.pdf Ground water fact sheet (Cape Town) https://www.greenanglicans.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Groundwater-fact-sheet-Cape-Town-1.pdf  

#FAST4EARTH  FIND CONTACTS FOR REPORTING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS “Speak up for those who have no voice” Prov 31:8 One of the most important things that we can do to prevent illegal dumping and water leaks, is to make sure that we know the how to report these issues and what are the contact details. It is often quite difficult to find out who to report to, you can hunt on your municipality website, or if there is someone in your congregation who works for the municipality , ask them to find out for you. Even when you have the correct email address or contact number, you will often have to contact them multiple times.  The best is to get a group of different people reporting the issue, to raise it up the municipality’s priority list. Share the contact details on your community whatsapp or facebook group or your church group. Tag your councillor when you post pictures of the problem on Facebook and social media. And if you get nowhere  then the next stage it to go to the press, that will normally get some action!!

#fast4earth Candlelit dinner Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (Matthew 5:15) Having a candlelit dinner can be very fun, and also makes us appreciate the value of electricity and commit to saving it when we can ATMOSPHERE The flicker of candlelight produces a lovely ambiance that simply cannot be replicated. Lighting a few well-placed candles in your home can really add effect and create a cozy and intimate atmosphere. Adding a candle here-and-there will create softness in your room and instantly make it feel warm and welcoming. DESTRESSING Candles are known for their soothing, healing properties and are often used by therapists, such as massage therapists, to create a peaceful ambiance in their therapy rooms. The sheer act of lighting a candle, its lovely flicker and the gentle glow it creates, helps ease and soothe the mind. Give it a try the next time you have a stressful day: light a candle, watch the flame and just breathe for a few minutes – even just 60 seconds can make a big difference. CELEBRATION Lighting candles and eating in the dark can turn a regular family dinner into a celebration or into a romantic dinner for two! FRAGRANCE Scented candles are a perfect way to subtly add a wonderful fragrance to your space, and cover-up unwelcome odors. Candles such as Citronella can keep flies away. MEDITATION & PRAYER Lighting candles during meditation is a wonderful way to support your practice. You can focus on the flame of a burning candle while praying, it helps you to concentrate. https://litupcandleco.com/blogs/get-lit/benefits-from-burning-candles

#fast4earth Environmental Movie Night Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8) There are a great number of wonderful environmental movies to enjoy with your popcorn! Here are some suggestions by category DRAMA Dances With Wolves Deepwater Horizon Erin Brockovich Gorillas in the Mist The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind SCIENCE FICTION Avatar The Age of Stupid The Day After Tomorrow CHILDREN’S  MOVIESFern Gully: The Last Rainforest Bambi Free Willy Happy Feet Moana The Lion King The Lorax Whale Rider Wall-E DOCUMENTARIES Before the Flood  (Leonardo di Caprio) An Inconvenient Truth (Al Gore) A Life on Our Planet (David Attenborough) My Octopus Teacher Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret Who killed the electric car? The Best Environmental Films of All Time an En

FAITH LEADERS HOLD SILENT PROTEST TO SAY ‘STOP THE DRILLING IN KAVANGO’ #sacredpeoplesacredearth #faiths4climate Faith leaders from the Anglican, Lutheran and Unitarian Churches gathered on the steps of St George’s Anglican Cathedral in Cape Town to protest the drilling which has commenced in Namibia Inspired by the Bishop of Namibia, Rt Revd Luke Pato, who brought the concerns to the broader faith community, they protested the drilling by Canadian Company ReConAfrica in Northern Namibia. The following concerns were raised The potential impact on the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Okavango Delta which could be impacted by drilling operations in the kavango Basin. The region is a World Heritage and Ramsar Wetlands Site, and one of the seven natural wonders of Africa The rights of San indigenous people. Drilling in these areas will disrupt the culture and ancestral heritage protected under UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous People Namibia is the driest country south of the Sahara. There are serious concerns about Recon’s planned “unconventional drilling” Climate change. Namibia is one of the countries of the world most impacted by Climate Change. According to ReConAfrica the oil generated “could be billions of barrels”, the ‘biggest oil play of the decade”. With almost unrivalled solar energy potential, Namibia should be supported by the international community to develop solar energy Inadequate public participation process. The EIA submitted by ReconAfrica does not comply with strict Namibian Government regulations Moral and Spiritual concerns. Reconafrica calls drilling in the Kavango basin ‘pretty much a no-brainer” we call it a sin. To destroy eco-systems and trample the rights of indigenous people is wicked The protest formed part of a global day of climate action called #sacredpeoplesacredearth Speakers and prayers included Bishop Joshua Louw, Diocese of Cape Town, Rev Gordon Oliver, unitarian Church, Bishop Geoff Davies , patron SAFCEI, Kate Davies- SAFCEI, Margie Pretorius : Sustaining the Wild Coast, Rev Rachel Mash, Green Anglicans, Bino Makalanyane Green Anglicans , JP Roberts Green Anglicans, Pastor W. Schwär, Evangelical Lutheran Church and Celeste, Unitarian Church The protest was supported by other organisations such as SOUL and Extinction Rebellion. Please sign and share the petition https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/faith_leaders_call_on_canadian_reconafrica_and_gov_stop_the_drilling_in_the_kavango_basin/