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The Anglican youth of the Diocese of Libombos has developed actions to raise awareness in the communities as well as in the Municipality of Maputo (City), as the main objective of reversing the current situation in which the environment finds itself. The city of Maputo has as main problem the Sanitation, the city has most of the ditches of sewage drained of garbage, also in several points of the city has litter scattered, in the Bay and in the Beach. And this time the Youth, more specifically the Maputo District (Maputo Anglican Youth Office), chose the Costa do Sol Beach, where they collected bottles from the beach, for this activity, Youth counted on the Support of the City Council of Maputo City and the Environmentalist Dr. Carlos Serra and also the MIRAMAR Television that covered the event in order to show the impact to the other provinces of the Country. This is a Continuous and Non-Profit Project, so any Material as well as Financial support is welcome. -David Junior

Mbabane River Clean-up Campaign in Swaziland for Season of Creation The Anglican Diocese of Swaziland and the Lutheran Church held a river clean-up campaign in Mbabane river on  16th September 2016. The Diocese of Swaziland had visitors from Episcopal Diocese of Iowa (USA)  and the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Brechin  who participated in the event. the campaign was supported by Municipality Council of Mbabane and Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA). Rev. Zama Sigudla who is the Environmental chaplain for Anglican Diocese of Swaziland shared a sermon where he stressed that to be a true Christian one has to take care of God’s creation. He stated that nature is waiting for the children  of God to be good stewards. He said to be a good steward it means  to ensure that river pollution must come to a stop as water is a basic resource for our living in the environment. We must also adopt  other green practices. After the clean up campaign a Eucharist service was held under a tree on the river banks. Mr Msibi from Swaziland Environmental Agency  also stressed that river pollution and poor waste management is still a national crisis that we all need to take seriously. He appreciated the role played by the Anglican and Lutheran Church known as LUSHE in its role towards environmental protection. He encouraged  the movement to  stretc to other denominations and the entire faith community. Samkelisiwe from the Municipality Council of Mbabane also appreciated the role of  the church in environmental protection especially waste management. She encouraged the church to participate even in other environmental protection aspects such  as back yard gardening which they are promoting as a council. She shared some manuals on green gardening to the Church to use especially with women and youth.   Mncedisi Masuku   #greenanglicans #seasonofcreation            

International Coastal Cleanup September 16th, 2017 Every year thousands of tons of rubbish ends up in the oceans and 60% of that is plastic. Plastics last for a very long time in the ocean. By 2050 it is estimated there will be more plastic by weight in our oceans than fish. Plastic is very hazardous to marine life and kills more than a million birds, and over 100,000 seals, turtles, whales and a vast amount of fish in our ocean.  Plastics are now coming being found in drinking water. The International Coastal Cleanup day involves nearly 12 million people.  This year the Diocese of Saldanha Bay joined the Clean up at Milnerton  beach.  Young people from St Chad’s, St Oswald’s, St Paul’s in The Valley, St Andrews Northpine  and St Stephen’s took part in the event and a lot of fun was had by all. You can measure how much litter you collect by downloading this app from google store How much trash Why not join us for Coastal Clean up on 15th of Sep 2018 and be part of the solution !     International Coastal Cleanup

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MAKING THE LINK WITH  CLIMATE CHANGE The Diocese of Oxford (UK)  and the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman are link Dioceses and held a Summit to build on the relationship and to see how they can journey together.  One of the topics discussed was Environmental Degradation and Climate Change. David Morris from “K and K” challenged the concept of being “on earth” (as we say in modern Lord’s Prayer wording and might think rationally through pictures from the moon etc) or “in earth” (as per Cranmer et al) which is actually scientifically, environmentally and theologically better. Rev Rachel Mash who coordinates the Environmental Ministry of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa known as Green Anglicans, challenged the delegates with the reality of Climate Change in Africa. The reality is although Southern Africa is producing much less carbon emissions that the UK, the impacts will become more and more devastating. Temperatures will rise by double the global average so when the Paris treaty talks of  1.5 degree rise , we will experience 3 degrees. Agricultural productivity will be reduced devastatingly. All of the impacts of climate change, drought, flooding and sea level rise, will impact most severely on the poorest of the poor. One of the biggest challenges in the UK is apathy to climate change . In this context,  Link Dioceses can be an extremely important way of taking the reality of climate change to the Churches of the North . Numbers and statistics don’t change hearts, but real stories about people affected by climate change can lead to change. We also looked at the theology of Care for Creation and how it needs to be mainlined into our life and ministry as part of the gospel message, it is not an added extra but a key part of our theology. In a workshop delegates identified their own heartbreak issue – whether it was plastic and waste, the loss of rivers, the blockages to a fossil free future or water wastage and worked in groups around those issues. Both Dioceses will explore how to make this issue more central to their life and ministry and how to journey together sharing stories of change and hope.  We were challenged by the quote to explore our particular role as people of faith in the environmental movement. “I used to think the top environmental challenges were biodiversity loss, eco-system collapse and climate change.  I thought with 30 years of good science we could address those problems. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy. And to deal with those we need a spiritual and cultural transformation . And we scientists don’t know how to do that” Gus Speth. US Environmental Advisor to President Jimmy Carter. On the Sunday delegates  visited various churches throughout the Diocese, and a group were blessed to join the Season of Creation celebration at St Barnabas.  Rev Rachel spoke on the theme of Water justice and  Maranda St John Nicolle on caring for the earth. Some high energy team building took place at a fun outing to an obstacle course followed by a wonderful Braai.  It was a wonderful event to be celebrating the Season of Creation with brothers and sisters from around the World! In between lots of hard work and learning together at the Summit much fun was had, with great input from the youth and a beautiful gala dinner to mention but a few! #KandKOxford #SeasonofCreation #greenanglicans

EUCHARIST ON THE MOUNTAIN To celebrate the start of Season of Creation and the World Day of Prayer for Creation, the Diocesan Environmental Group (Cape Town) held a beautiful Eucharist on Table Mountain. An intrepid group of about sixty people of all ages led by Rev Shaun Cozett joined the service with a difference! We gathered and read the first reading where Moses met with God on the mountain , present in the burning bush and we spent sometime considering our walk with God. Then a hike followed to a waterfall, where after the reading we meditated and gave thanks for those who journey with us on our life walk. Next a steep uphill reminded us that life is not always easy but with the support of others we will arrive. The gospel reading reminded us that God may be calling us to do things that are difficult – will we accept or will we say like Peter “not on my watch!” And finally we reached an amazing spot overlooking the whole city where we shared at the Table of the Lord in God’s Sanctuary – the Earth. We could not have come to a more beautiful Cathedral of God’s beauty! #greenanglicans #seasonofcreation Photos: Donovan Davids