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On Saturday 23rd July 2022 the Green Teens from Holy Cross Anglican Church in Nyanga East , Cape Town. Organised a clean-up  and planting session with the help of young from our parish. The planting took place in the church premises. During the planting session, the Green activists took an opportunity to educate those attending  on the importance of planting and maintaining a healthy and green environment. We did all of this because without plants, essentially all life would starve to death. Strategically planting trees can have tremendous benefits on the environment. Not only will you help restore life quality in your community, but it positively contributes to the  environment and help fight the crisis of climate change and also set an example. Therefore, planting a tree is always a good idea. The whole experience made us feel better about the environment, and taught us to be able to take care of what takes care of us. It was also a way of us helping the wildlife flourish which wasalso vital for the planet’s survival. By: Khalipa girlsPhoto Credit: John-Paul Roberts

YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL VOICES AT LAMBETH The Anglican Communion Environmental Network and Anglican Alliance organised a seminar on the Fifth mark of Mission. Archbishop Julio opened the session with a challenge on the Fifth Mark of Mission Mandisa Gumada, Diocesan Youth Worker from Diocese of Natal, South Africa was interviewed by Rev Dr Rachel Mash Impact of Climate Change Just before Easter, the City of Durban was hit by a ‘rain bomb’ where six months worth of rain fell in two day. 500 people lost their lives , and there was a lot of mud slides, so many bodies have still not been found. hundreds are still living in halls which puts the girls at risk of sexual violence. Green Anglicans responding to Climate Change We know that climate change increases drought, but we often dont understand that as the oceans warm, it leads to more flooding and disasters. Young Green Anglicans are involved in clean ups (plastic waste blocks drains causing flooding), eco system restoration by planting trees and pulling out alien vegetation. They are involved in environmental education – and have manuals for youth and Sunday school. And they connect young people with nature through hikes and camps – you will protect what you love! Message to the Bishops Be present at the young people’s events whether it is a clean up or a tree planting. Appoint someone in the Diocese – an Environmental Coordinator, Chaplain or Canon, so that the youth can work directly with them and they can bring information to chapter. Final message? What actions are you personally taking? In the words of the late Archbishop Tutu – Do your little bits of good where you are – it is those little bits of good when put together that overwhelm the world .Photos – Elizabeth Perry

As Lambeth Conference starts, there has been a lot of controversy about the Lambeth call on human dignity. There are a number of Lambeth calls one of which is on the Environment and Climate Change . Our hope was that this would be a strong focus at Lambeth, please pray that it still may have a high profile Please see the text here

On Saturday 16th of July 2022 members of Green Anglicans Teens from St Columba Gugulethu in Cape Town organised a Mandela Day clean-up in collaboration with the members of the local community and the City of Cape Town Municipality. The clean-up took place near the church premises where an illegal dump site has immerged near the lake and recreation park in the area. During the day members took the opportunity to educate community members on the impact illegal dumping has on the environment and the people who live close by these sites, part of the awareness was to empower people on what they can do when they witness someone illegally dumping as the dump does not just end in the Lake but flows down to our rivers and ends up in our oceans.  We did all of this to contribute towards the fight against climate change and show that we care for our precious planet Earth. By: Chwayitile Fumba ( member of the Green Anglican Teens ) Photo Credit: Wendy Mhlaba and John-Paul Roberts 

GREEN ANGLICANS CALL FOR GREEN JOBS AND CLIMATE FINANCE AT  COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT (CHOGM) IN RWANDA The Commonwealth consists of 54 countries, the majority of which have strong Anglican presence. The Heads of Government meet every two years, and this year the meeting took place in Kigali. Renew Our World and Abundant Africa invited 13 climate activists from 8 countries across the globe and tasked them to present their advocacy letter to the heads of State attending. We had two teams, one that participated in the women forum which Bishop Brighton Vita Malasa from Malawi attended, the other team was fully engaged with the youth forum between the dates 19 and 21. The youth team consisted of myself; Rev Dennis Nthenge from Kenya, Bino Makalanyane (South Africa) and Erasto Richard (Uganda) who attended as a country rep. Bishop Jeanne Pierre of Rwanda was also a participant at the Conference. The theme for CHOGM 2022 was ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.’ This theme highlights how the 54 member countries in the Commonwealth family are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’ to help achieve some of its biggest goals, like protecting natural resources and boosting trade. The Commonwealth  Youth Forum (CYF 2022), was held in parallel with the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda between 19-21 June 2022 with the theme of ‘Taking Charge of our Future’. This was an opportunity  for young people of the Commonwealth to build cross-cultural connections and networks, deliberate on youth-led initiatives addressing emerging issues impacting young people, strategize on perspectives to influence decision makers and ensure young people have a voice in its future. The theme captures the aspirations of our new generation leaders in championing an inclusive and prosperous Commonwealth where young people are key actors and equal stakeholders in shaping the future. The CYC is the recognized voice of over 1.2 billion young people from all across the Commonwealth, advocating on their behalf on issues such as climate change, employment, access to education, universal health coverage and gender equality. This made our presence at CHOGM the more important and relevant considering the scope of influence it has to the youth of the world. The experience was new for me but I quickly adapted. The assignment was very clear, our work was to sit in the sessions, listen carefully to the presentations made and identify leaders and organizations that had the potential of helping us achieve our collective goal. In-between sessions were the best time to interact and issue out our request letters. I found it interesting that my clerical shirt, which I wore every day, attracted curious delegates who would always ask about the role of the church in the CHOGM and I would take the opportunity to explain about our Christian mandate to be stewards of the environment and connect it seamlessly to our request letter. I grateful to God for giving us opportunities to do radio and tv interviews during that period which helped in getting the message beyond CHOGM. We – the youth and church clergy as part of the Renew Our World and Abundant Africa Movement had a well-prepared letter that requested the heads of states to commit to 3 pivotal issues, namely: Rebuild trust with climate-vulnerable nations by ensuring that there is full delivery of the promised $100 billion annually, including 50% for adaptation. Ensure that finance reaches local communities on the frontlines of climate change. Invest in good green jobs for youth, including through climate finance   My take home from the whole CHOGM experience was that the climate crisis is too important to be left to governments alone. The Church too must pitch in and contribute toward the good work of saving our planet.  Our voice carries a lot of weight in convincing the world to act environmentally responsible. We should be deliberate in engaging and working with governments in bettering our common homes. If we chose to keep quiet and lock ourselves in churches as God’s created world gets filthier and filthier before God, we shall have a case to answer. Our convictions go beyond moral obligation, we are spiritually stimulated to protect what God took careful time to create and termed as beautiful. We have a God given mandate to care for creation to ensure it is productive and protected as summarized in Gen 2:15 The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. After the official youth Forum days I got a chance to visit the Anglican Church of Rwanda office where we were graciously received by the General Secretary Rev. Nathan who introduced us to the staff and gave us a tour of the town and the cathedral. Together with Ben Niblett and Bishop Brighton, we briefed him on our participation at CHOGM and the Green Anglican Movement to which I and the Bishop belonged. He was very excited and receptive. He promised to make plans and invite us back for the Launch of Green Anglican movement in Rwanda. We thank God for everything we saw Rwanda is a beautiful country it was a befitting host for the CHOGM and a great inspiration to the Green Anglican Agents who witnessed how nature and brick and motor can blend so beautifully. Rev Dennis Nthenge : Green Anglicans Movement of Kenya    

GREEN ANGLICANS MOVEMENT TAKING ROOT IN RWANDA At is  81st meeting , held in Kigali from the 28-30th of June, the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Rwanda welcomed the Green Anglicans movement and requested Eco-bishop  Jean Pierre Methode to plan for practical actions to be taken. Green Anglicans ACSA Provincial youth Coordinator, Bino Makhalanyane was attending the Commonwealth Heads of State meeting in Kigali and was able to spend   time  with young people from the Rwanda Anglican Students Association (RASA)  at the St Etienne  Cathedral, with the Diocesan youth leader, Ntahobari Celestin. During their time together they  took a look at addressing three themes as part of making care for creation part of our daily lives,. The first was that of : have we been good stewards of what God gave us dominion over? ( Gen 1:26-28 ),  The second theme was “ Taking accountability for our actions”  ( Gen 3) and lastly we addressed environmental hazards in our local communities. During our discussions the following was picked up Being good stewards: we have failed to take care of that of which God said, “It was good” and we can still do better to try and restore that which we have abused as human beings. Taking accountability: Gen 3 teaches us that we need to be people who take accountability of our action and not stop shifting the blame for the choices we continue to make which are harmful for the environment. Environmental Hazards: three main issues were identified. Deforestation mainly for making charcoal to sell, cook with and keeping warm. Air pollution from vehicles, burning of wood for coal and factories. Water pollution from household waste and factory waste making it hazards to drink the water straight from the rivers. The exercises showed that we have common issues as Africans and hold possible simple solutions which we can easily implement at our local communities including education and awareness which the church has an audience for. It was interesting to note that several of the participants are involved with environmental organizations but this was the first time they had made the link with their faith and Biblical teachings. In establishing the Green Anglicans Movement in the church of Rwanda members need to each do their little bit within the context they’re in. It is these small actions which will see us reconcile as one with all of creation.     The theme for the CommonHealth Youth Forum which sat from the 19-21 June 2022 was “Taking Charge of our Future “ and the future we are talking about starts now. A big thank you to Mr Celestin the Youth leader in Kigali Diocese for organising this session with the young.    Photo credit: Celestin Story Bino Makhalanyane