Rachel Mash

On August 5, 2024, at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin, Dr. Mash, Provincial Coordinator for the Green Anglican Movement, hosted by Mrs. P. Koltana, Port Elizabeth Diocesan Chaplain, facilitated a pivotal workshop on plastic pollution and climate change. This event proved to be a transformative experience, illuminating the critical intersection between environmental stewardship and faith. The workshop provided a comprehensive overview of plastic waste statistics in our oceans and the pervasive presence of microplastics in even the most remote regions. It emphasized that addressing plastic pollution extends beyond mere litter removal to encompass systemic issues related to consumption patterns and economic structures. Dr. Mash touched on the theological and ethical dimensions of environmental care, emphasizing how faith communities are engaging with global challenges. The participants were challenged to reflect on their own experiences by focusing on practical steps for reducing plastic use, from personal lifestyle changes to community initiatives, fostering solidarity and collaboration among like-minded individuals.

TO HOPE AND ACT WITH CREATION The theme for 2024 is “To hope and act with Creation” and the symbol is “The first fruits of hope”, inspired by Romans 8:19-25. Creation is groaning in the pains of childbirth (Romans 8:22) This biblical image pictures the Earth as a mother, groaning as in childbirth. Along with our Sister, Mother Earth, creatures of all kinds, including humans, cry out because of the consequences of our destructive actions causing climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, and human suffering as well as Creation’s suffering. And yet, there is hope and the expectation for a better future. To hope in a biblical context does not mean to stand still and quiet, but rather groaning, crying, and actively striving for new life amidst the struggles. Just as in childbirth, we go through a period of intense pain, but new life is coming forth. Creation is standing on tiptoe waiting for the children of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19) Creation is standing on tiptoe waiting for us to act! Creation is not given to humanity to use and abuse, rather, humanity is created as part of Creation. More than a common home, Creation is also a cosmic family that calls us to act responsibly as part of the web of life.. This is how the children of God have an intrinsic vocation and an important role to play in the manifestation of the kingdom of justice (cf. Romans 8:19). First fruits of hope (Romans 8:23-25) We act for a better future because we are people of hope, we know Christ has overcome the death caused by our sins. We know that we have caused a lot of damage to Creation, and to the world we are living in because of our negligence, because of ignorance, but as well, in many cases, because of our unrelenting wish to satisfy unrealistic selfish dreams (cf. Romans 8:22). Hope is not merely optimism. It is not a utopian illusion. It is not waiting for a magical miracle. Hope is trust that our action makes sense, even if the results of this action are not immediately seen (cf. Romans 8:24). We know how much bold action to restrain the climate and ecological crises is urgent, and we also know that ecological conversion is a slow process as humans are stubborn to change their minds, their hearts, and their ways of living. Together with Creation, let us hope and take action www.seasonofcreation.org Women Bishops This year we have invited six women bishops to prepare the sermon notes during the Season of Creation.  They come from Kenya, Brazil, Lesotho, Eswatini and the UK. The role of women in environmental leadership is very important. Women are often more impacted by climate change than men.  In many countries women are having to walk further and further distances to fetch water and firewood, reducing their opportunities for education and paid work. Women are more likely to be smallholder farmers who are dependant on rain fall rather than irrigation. And women are more likely to die in climate related disasters – carrying children and the elderly they are less able to flee. And yet women are also earth keepers and protectors – biodiversity is a source of food and healing.  They will also fight for the health of their children in the face of environmental degradation. And so this year we honour the role of women environmental leaders with these voices of women bishops. THE ICON This year’s icon by Bob Mash represents the Anglican Communion Forest. This is a vision of local activities of forest protection, tree growing, and eco-system restoration undertaken by provinces, dioceses and individual churches across the Anglican Communion to safeguard creation. Together we are united as a global family in this vision. The branches reflect the diversity of nature and the golden tints reflect the sacredness of God’s creation. To plant is to hope To restore is to heal To protect is to love www.communionforest.org “The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations” Rev 22:2 https://www.greenanglicans.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Manual-2024-compressed.pdf

Rev Dennis Nthenge was invited by the Archbishop of Uganda to conduct a two day Eco-theology course in the Diocese of Kampala.  The goal was to equip and commission lay and clergy to promote and practice stewardship of the environment. Rev. Dennis Nthenge Kiilu is the Chaplain to the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya and Coordinator of the Green Anglican Movement of All Saints Cathedral Diocese 50 members of the Diocese of Kampala attended the two day   event which was opened by the Diocesan Secretary and took place on the 18th and 19th of July . The venue was the beautiful setting of Lweza Retreat Centre The first day started with  an introduction to Eco-theology and the Biblical basis for Creation Care. The next topic was understanding climate change and its impact on communities, with theological reflections on Climate justice and the prophetic role of the Church. Then we moved on to practical eco-theology, considering sustainable agricultural practices and waste management and recycling in a church context. Participants then  broke into groups to develop sermons and songs focused on creation care. These were presented and refined, fostering creativity and practical application of the training. The second day focused on the practical side of the Green Anglicans movement, looking at case studies of successful eco-theological initiatives in the Green Anglican Movement Kenya. These were followed by group discussions on implementing eco-theology in local parishes. This was followed by a session on Engagement and Advocacy, looking at strategies for community engagement and raising awareness as well as advocacy for climate action at local, national levels. The final session  was spent in developing action plans.       Each participant created an action plan for implementing eco-theology principles in their home parishes. The course ended with a commissioning where  participants were commissioned to work for the Lord in caring for and protecting His creation. The eco-theology training mission in Kampala was a significant success. The enthusiastic participation and commitment of the attendees underscore the vital role of the Church in addressing environmental issues. This mission has laid a strong foundation for ongoing eco-theological education and action within the Diocese of Kampala. The seeds have been sown for the launch of the Green Anglican Movement.  I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda for the invitation to his diocese of Kampala, a special thanks to Rev. Canon Rachel Mash and my sponsors who purchased the return air ticket and the church leadership at Lweza Training and Conference Center for their unwavering support. Your investment in this mission is already yielding fruit, and I am confident it will continue to inspire and effect positive change in the stewardship of God’s creation. Additionally, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Rev. Chrysostom Akwetch Manager of the institution and Richard Erasto Coordinator of the Green Anglican Movement in Kampala Diocese for their kindness in hosting me and going out of their way to make my time in the Diocese of Kampala comfortable. Next Steps will involve continued support and follow-up with the trained members, through WhatsApp platform, to ensure the implementation of their action plans. This will be followed by planning additional training sessions and expanding the initiative to other dioceses. Rev. Dennis Nthenge Kiilu

Canon Thandekile Zulu from Eswatini, Nyendo Kinyonga from Tanzania and Rev Victoria from Namibia   attended a workshop for women faith leaders  organized by SAFCEI.  (Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Institute) held in Johannesburg Women Faith Leaders  from across 11 African countries are gathered  for a training on climate Advocacy. Climate change affects women and children the most ,women of faith play a crucial role in climate Advocacy.  The attendees of this workshop were all environmental activist who each shared an emotional story of inspiration. Amongst the topics discussed were: Issues of renewable energy-  a Russian Activist  Vladimir shared some of the risks of nuclear energy which is being promoted in Africa –  -risky, expensive a form of modern day slavery to countries that may be funded. The importance of indigenous foods in curbing climate change. Methodologies of environmental advocacy. The use of the different media platforms There was also a field trip to an aquaponics farm We are grateful to SAFCEI for the opportunity for this training Photo will Francesca Gasparis the director of Safcei Canon Thandekile Zulu

From cradle to grave, plastics are producing carbon emissions. According to the  World Economic Forum   about 4-8% of annual global oil consumption today  is associated with plastics. If this overuse of  plastics persists, plastics will account for 20% of oil consumption by 2050.[i] Extraction and transport Many people don’t realise that plastic is made from oil . Oil and gas  are the fossil-fuel building blocks of plastics. Natural gas and oil are often extracted from the earth through fracking and then transported to other facilities via pipelines, trains, and trucks. Extraction and transportation of these fossil fuels is a carbon-intensive activity. Refining and manufacturing Refining plastics  is also greenhouse-gas intensive. In 2015, emissions from manufacturing ethylene the building block of plastic , were about as much as 45 million passenger vehicles emit during one year Waste management Globally, about 40% of plastics are used as single use packaging. This packaging can be processed in three different ways: landfill, incineration, or recycling. Incineration:  Waste incineration has the largest climate impact of the three options. Landfilling has a much lower climate impact than incineration. The plastic traps organic waste which then releases methane, which is more than 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere Recycling: Compared to the low costs of virgin materials, recycled plastics are high cost with low commercial value. This makes recycling profitable only rarely, so it requires considerable government subsidies. Research from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation suggests that only 2% of plastics are recycled into products with the same function. Another 8% are “downcycled” to something of lower quality. The rest is landfilled, leaked into the environment, or incinerated. To combat climate change, we have to also fight plastic pollution. We need a plastic detox! [i] https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/08/how-plastics-contribute-to-climate-change/