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Christchurch, Kenilworth in Cape Town was the scene of  great activity  and creativity over the last weekend of October. On the Friday evening a wonderful variety of stalls selling fresh, wholesome food to be enjoyed  while troubadours set the mood for an evening of relaxed entertainment. Later, a highly original presentation of music, poetry and drama was presented in the church, poetry, music, a rich mix of talents was displayed. All in all, a time to relax and share the gifts and fruits of Creation.   On the Saturday morning the focus shifted to “Learning Zone” with four  interactive talks focused on our environment: “Water in the Western Cape – the critical issues and a Christian response” – Kevin Winter “Climate Change” – Chris Jack “ Morality, oil, movement and space” – Lisa Kane “Christianity, Food, Environment  – the buck stops here” – Brendan Argent Here Mike Kane gives some feedback on the brilliant Saturday morning talks: “One potential risk of attending green talks on subjects such as climate change is that you can be bludgeoned into submission by a deluge of facts and figures. This was definitely not the case with the talks at the Green Fair on Water by Kevin Winter, Climate Change by Chris Jack, Transport by Lisa Kane and Food by Brendan Argent. I found each of the talks to be insightful, personal and very convincing. What stood out for me was that the speakers who are “experts” in their respective fields synthesized the mass of knowledge they have into personal interpretations of the key implications which were very accessible to us. They also spoke about how our faith provides the context and platform for our response to these challenges. Another risk of such talks is that you are left overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems and your seeming inability to do anything meaningful about it. However in this case each speaker gave practical examples from their own lives of how to make small contributions to making a difference in each of these areas. It was a privilege to benefit from their insights and using some of their suggestions we could as a community consider ways of facilitating and encouraging more coordinated responses to these real issues.”   Parallel sessions were run, there was the  ART FOR ALL workshop- With a variety of flowers and foliage, landscape photography and natural objects, to inspire you, those artistic at heart were able to spend the morning creating their own drawing or painting. And for those who are more creative with words than paints, Sally Argent hosted  A WRITER’S RESPONSE – based on a meditation around some object from the natural  world. The planned walk on the Liesbeek after church on Sunday  was shelved due to heavy rains, but if you had listened to Kevin Winters talk on the looming water crisis – then this was a cause for great rejoicing! What a wonderful , creative weekend. If we are made in the image of God, then we are co-creators with God. This weekend enabled us to share our gifts and creativity with God and to celebrate God’s beautiful world.

  Dr Kumi Naidoo addressed faith leaders and interested citizens at a workshop in Cape Town on the topic : preparing ourselves for the 22nd Century “We must come to terms with the inconvenient truth that without the Faith community we will not be able to avert catastrophic climate change. The numbers of people that we need to be  standing up and making an appeal to our governments will not come from NGOs, trade unions or student movements, only the faith communities can mobilise so many. There is a lot of burden on the shoulders of religious shoulders. There is enough environmental wisdom in every religious text that we have.  The silence of religious leaders has been deafening in terms of standing up for what God created. He didn’t only create human beings, God made the whole world. Over all religious leaders have failed us they must read their scriptures again and fulfil the promise and obligation” He posed the question – “have you become well adjusted  to injustice? In his speech – I have a dream – Dr Martin Luther King said “ I refuse to be well adjusted to the idea that we will take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few while Gods children are trapped in poverty” A WWF report indicates that “if we were to deliver the same quality of life that folk in developed and elites of developing enjoy “ we would need five planets. As we plan for the 22nd Century – we need to ask ourselves “ what is an equitable distribution of wealth?” We have become  maladjusted to patterns of consumption that do not add quality to life. Planning environmentally for the next century means not just thinking about environmentalism. The struggle for environmental justice is part of human justice. Stop thinking in silos;  environmental challenges  v human justice. The women’s movement gave us an important word “intersectionality” you cannot advance gender justice without understanding class, religion etc. We need to break the divide between “red” and “green” movements, between labour movements and environment movements If you care about the environment you must also care about jobs. Ensuring the transition to a new green economy must take into account that it is within our grasp. Those who are holding us back are those who are unjustly benefitting from profit making at the top end of the fossil fuel industry. When there are profits they are privatized, when there are mess-ups – they are socialized. Nuclear is too expensive, too dangerous and too little, too late” The nuclear deal is an distraction from where we need to be going. No one will get exclusive licenses for the wind or the sun. Renewable energy is more decentralized. We either win on environment and poverty or we lose on both. Climate change is hitting us now and big time. The tragedy for Africa is that even though we are facing the worst impact of climate change , the world does not see it. Why?? The Philippines or New York disasters were huge cataclysmic media moments. The main impact of climate change in Africa is desertification and drought , a slow burning accumulative process. We need to make the link with the refugee crisis. What is the good news? As environmentalists we want to save the planet , but  “the planet does not need saving. The planet will warm to a point but when humans are gone, the planet will still be here – bruised and battered,  without us, the forests will grow again, the oceans will recover. The planet does not need saving. The challenge is this – can humanity coexist with the  planet for centuries and centuries to come? Can we  save the future for our children’s children. Preparing for the next century is going to take boldness, and we need to reclaim our democracy. We are in this for the long haul – it is more than being willing to give your life for the cause – we need to be willing to give the rest of our life. This is a marathon, not a sprint. A position of neutrality, to sit on the sidelines is a choice to be part of the problem. When our grandchildren look at us in the eye and say what did you do when the science was clear, what will you feel? .        

On the 17th October 2015 the archdeaconry of Bellville hosted environmental workshop at St Faith parish in Epping. It was opened and inspired by vibrant, green archdeacon Ven. Andrew Wyngaard who reminded everyone about the importance of taking care of the environment and that it is everyone’s duty to make to make a difference. The workshop included lay leaders and clergy training (Season of creation), Youth (How to be Young Green Anglicans) as well as Sunday School Environmental Program (Ryan the Rhino, the story of creation). After insightful sessions the archdeaconry decided on the following actions :  ACTION PLANS: BELLVILLE ARCHDEACONRY ST FAITHS EPPING Activity             When Who is responsible Environmental Green March and Season of Creation              September 2016 Youth initiate , whole parish Reduce littering in the church and get Recycle bins                   ASAP Parish office/luyanda Garden: Request trees from Stodels and create an outside garden.                By Easter Mr Bouwers Change the security lights to motions sensors. Target which lights can be left off during services. Change to low energy globes.                  ASAP Parish Office Have an environmental portfolio on parish council. Luyanda Nyubuse was chosen.                  Done     Mr Luyanda Nyubuse will bring these action points to parish council and follow through   ST ANDREWS EUREKA Will Invite Green Anglicans to the parish to introduce the program This year and next year Louisa will speak to the church wardens     ST JOHN BELLVILLE Invite green Anglicans to a Sunday service    Water week (March),                    (June)   Youth Month Ezra Theme one of the youth services after seasons of creation            June 2016 Ezra Environmental friendly camp site              2016 Ezra Sunday School teachers bought Rhino Books and will start immediately        17/10/2015 Hayley, Antoinette Suggest that the Diocese all use Ryan the Rhino during 2016. Take the suggestion to Diocesan Council.all S/S use rhino for the first 10 weeks of 2016 (Diocese) Next Diocesan Council Meeting Brigette Percy Matanda will send cd of songs in book (Ryan the Rhino) 2016 Percy Give feedback to the parish  on workshop 2015/2016 Hayley/Antanette