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St. Margaret’s Eco-create Festival   St. Margaret, Parow prides herself in being a parish that swims upstream. In this spirit of transformation and change we hosted an eco-festival on 24 September 2016 coordinated by our Environmental Action Group Ministry.   The Eco-create Festival was a celebration of and enlightenment to God’s creation, of our responsibility and our God-given gifts and talents in order to co-create a sustainable and purposeful life for all.   The day was about sharing and contributing ideas, knowledge, talents and creativity towards finding solutions and joint actions to address the environmental challenges facing our community, humanity and the health of our planet. All of the speakers reminded us of the huge environmental challenges we face.   The presentations focussed on some of key environmental challenges facing God’s creation.  It also provided some practical solutions and hope, in responding to climate change, the scarcity of water, our consumption pattern and waste & food security or insecurity.  The presentations related to the science and data that addressed the current global, regional and local status quo and the contributors & drivers responsible for this situation.   It demystified the concept of climate change down to our possible response on a practical level.   Some of the key messages were the need to change our behaviour in viewing waste as a resource, and in the sustainable utilisation of water and how we plan our cities and towns to be more water sensitive.  The talk on food security was extremely thought-provoking and challenged us in the ways we think of food security – and reminded us of the values of love and compassion toward those who are food insecure, the most vulnerable in our communities.   The festival involved both young and old, where the Sunday School displayed their creativity though exhibits crafted during the Season of Creation and in rendering poems.  The youth discipleship showed their talents by putting on a mini-fashion show, dubbed from “Junk to Funk” and also rendered a poem.  The festival show-cased the creativity of some very talented parishioners through the “Show and Tell/ Story of Things” crafts made from recyclables.   The younger kids’ creativity was also stimulated through fun activities in decorating crafts made from recyclables.  Further information-sharing and awareness raising took the form of demonstrations focussed on the separation of waste, managing household waste, and using alternative household cleaning products, and the mini-SASS (Stream Assessment Scoring System) river health demo that the youth and younger kids found fascinating.   The morning of learning and sharing culminated in a Creation Sunday Eucharist, led by the Sunday School and youth from the parish. The service portrayed the radicalism that St. Margaret commits to – a challenging and provocative sermon by one of our young women parishioners, Kelly Fortuin.   A “symbolic funeral “demonstrated the killing and destruction of mother earth. The communion in the garden connected us to God’s Creation in a real way! A coffin was transformed into a life- giving- flower- and- vegetable- growing source.   Kelly reminded us that “it is our greed, selfishness and egos that contribute to the destruction we see around us. “We made this mess and it is our responsibility to clean it up.” She concluded with the lyrics from a gospel song by artist Matthew West called “Do Something”.   This call for action we extend to everyone in this Diocese. Let’s start doing something to preserve, restore and heal our planet and humanity.   Gottlieb Arendse & team (St. Margaret Environmental Action Group)  

On the 10th of September 2016 Green Anglicans facilitated a workshop with Anglican Students Federation at Bokone Bophirima, Mahikeng University and from the 30th of September  to 2nd  of October with GBFS in the diocese of the Free state in their annual conference   on the issues of Environment using the church response God’s creation. The workshops seek to address the importance of environment and to encourage people to take care of Gods creation, the attendance was very good and participation was very amazing. As the Anglican Communion we strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the earth. We had several discussions about environment but what caught my attention is that, why should we take care of Environment and we discussed few of them, which are: A clean environment is essential for healthy living “Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases and cancer” The overall temperature of earth’s atmosphere is increasing Your great – great and great grandchildren will appreciate it Biodiversity is important It’s a reflection of your character “What we are doing to the forest of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another” Mahatma Ghandi Earth is our home “it’s where we live, so we better take care of it” In the Diocese of the Free State, Girls and Boys friendly society  event I challenged them to be friendly to Gods creation  and planting trees is one of the best things they can do for the planet, Trees are like the lungs of the planet. While in Mafikeng campus we talked about the need to keep our toilets clean, Toilets are the reflection of society “use public or campus toilets like you use your own toilets at home, you need ethics when using toilets” For those that don’t know, caring for the environment doesn’t require you to become an environmental activist, just care for the environment and make eco-conscious decisions. “When the earth is sick and polluted, human health is impossible, to heal ourselves we must heal  our planet, and to heal our planet we must heal ourselves” by Bobby Mcleod. Finger Mokhobo Diocese of the Free State

On the 8th of  September 2016 Boipelo Tau a green anglicans mover and shaker , met up with other youth members that were heading to Diocese of Mthatha for the Eastern Cape Youth Cluster consulatation to represent Green Anglicans.  The Anglican Youth of Southern Africa (AYSA) this year decided on doing regional consulatations instead of the normal provincial meeting.  The first day of the consultation everyoone  arriced from their diocese, and got the chance to network with people from all corners of the east. The second day , all speakers from ,Diocesan reports, PYC Presidential report, project 2016 report and Green Anglicans had an opportunity to interact with the participants. Boipelo also share a very important message with the young people on care for creation adn why it is important for us to be earth keepers . She highlighted on how its time for Anglicans to take a step and acknowledge that we “humans” are responsible for the damage that is happening to the environment. Green Anglicans is there to assist dioceses to develope initiatives in protecting and keeping the environment safe.  She said “Nature gives us everything for free, nature doesn’t charge us any money, all nature asks of us is that we protect it. “

THE WORLD IS OUR HOST – HELP CONSERVE WATER The Diocese of Swaziland hosted its Season of creation service in the open  under a tree in Manzini (one of the biggest cities in the country) Millennium Park by having a Eucharist service. The Diocese of Swaziland invited all member churches under the Council of Swaziland Churches in their service. The service started with a procession from St George and St James Anglican church to the park (about 500m). Bishop Ellinah (who is the current chairperson for ACEN and Bishop of Swaziland) in her sermon insisted that we are the temple of God thus good things should flow from us as she related to the river of life in Revelations 22 that flowed  from the temple. The theme of the day was water. She stated that sustainable Development Goal 6 advocates for clean water and sanitation for all. Rivers  are polluted by improper waste management, deforestation has led to soil erosion that leads to dam siltation. Wastage of water is also an  environmental challenges in water availability. She invited every believer to be an environmental steward and take good care of water which is important even for our baptism as Christians. She then officially launched a plastics artwork competition by Mothers Union and Anglican Women Fellowship where winners will get Rocket stoves which are also friendly to the environment. The relationship between the Anglican Church and Lutheran Church in fighting Climate Change is getting stronger. Bishop Mnisi of the Lutheran Church was part of the service and co- celebrated with Bishop Ellinah. Bishop Mnisi came with other members of his church, mainly youth. Bishop Mnisi in his address stressed the importance of keeping wetlands and water sources protected and in its natural state so that streams will flow consistently (he cited an example of one community that has protected its streams for years). Speaking on behalf of Council of Swaziland Churches encouraged all member churches to join the Green Movement introduced by the Anglican Church. The Diocese of Swaziland is also working with the Government in Environmental Protection through Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA). In the service SEA was invited to give  a talk. Shabalala of SEA  said the church can play a major role in environmental protection as it has the capacity to deal with the spiritual being that can control the physical being from acts that destroy the environment. Speaking on the theme (water) she said God created water first before anything else because man and entire ecosystem need water for survival. She also gave some national water regulations laws within the country and neighbouring countries. Bishop Ellinah, Bishop Mnisi and SEA delicate officially awarded Mncedisi Masuku his certificate of achievement in the Active citizen Program. The Active Citizen Programme in an initiative by Anglican Youth of Southern Africa where the youth was encouraged to participate in different categories (Environment, social outreach, education and entrepreneurship). Masuku was awarded position 1 on the environmental category. Masuku was encouraged to keep up the good work and thanked for flying  high the flag of the Diocese.    

“The nuclear procurement programme may be an albatross around the necks of our children, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren” Archbishop Thabo Makgoba The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Angola and Mozambique) voted at its Synod to oppose the expansion of nuclear energy. The proposer, Rev Lundi Joko,  noted that it  is estimated that the nuclear procurement programme could incur debts of over 1 trillion rand. This would leave our children and grandchildren with generations of debt.  He stated that it is is an issue of inter-generation injustice to leave generations to come to deal with our nuclear waste.  He noted  that South Africa has just been declared the fastest growing country in the world for renewable energy. 72 renewable energy projects have been successfully started on time and within budget. The Synod unanimously voiced its opposition to the expansion of nuclear energy and encouraged the government  to choose the path of renewables. The Anglican Church also called on the government to take the citizens into its confidence in terms of the rationale for the change in policy direction. The Archbishop was requested to write an open  letter to the government reflecting the views of the synod.

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Angola Mozambique and Namibia) passed a motion at their Provincial Synod to divest from fossil fuels. Following the Paris Climate Change agreement, it is vital that global warming does not pass a 2° degree increase, otherwise this could lead to catastrophic climate change. The Province is already experiencing the impact of climate change in terms of drought throughout the countries and flooding in Mozambique. The total known reserves of fossil fuels are currently 2860 Gigatonnes of CO₂ the carbon budget is only 565 Gigatonnes – this is the amount that  can be burned to limit a rise in temperature to below 2°. In order to be good stewards of God’s earth, we need to move from fossil fuels. But we also need to be good stewards of God’s money and the reality is that due to those reserves that are cannot be used, the value of fossil fuels will drop  – which is known as the carbon bubble.  The Bank of England has warned of  huge financial risks from fossil fuel investments. Unlike in other countries where it is relatively simple to divest from portfolios which include fossil fuels and reinvest in fossil free portfolios, in South Africa there are currently no such fossil free portfolios. So the Anglican Church of Southern Africa will be negotiating with financial institutions to encourage them to create such a portfolio. The Motion follows: MOTION TO SYNOD: Divesting the Provincial Reserve Fund from fossil fuel This Synod noting God’s creation is under threat Human induced climate change is now widely regarded as the most pressing issue of our time. Extended droughts are a direct consequence of global warming, with extreme weather events occurring more often. Southern Africa is set to warm at twice the global average. The current severe drought and the resultant food price increases will affect the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society. A growing number of churches, universities and foundations have called upon the world’s major fossil fuel companies to support the required shift to renewable energy Respectfully requests: Requests Provincial Trust Board to adopt the principle to  divest from fossil fuels Synod of Bishops mandates the South African Anglican Theological Commission (SAATC) to identify ethical fossil fuel free portfolio options This report to be tabled at ACSA relevant body and negotiate with financial institutions for these to be created where necessary. Proposer : Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya Seconder: Bishop Steve Moreo