Green Anglicans has been quite busy in the Eastern Cape, making presentations to youth conferences in most of the Eastern Cape Dioceses.
Now it is time to look at how to strategize together. So a cluster gathering was organized for key Diocesan Environmental Coordinators and key youth reps. Mthatha, Mbashe, Port Elizabeth and Khahlamba members attended. It was wonderful to meet up an share ideas and resources! This is a cluster with very resourcefulpeople!. The workshop was joined by two reps from Mothers Union.
They discussed important issues and strategies
1. HOW TO MOBILISE AND MAINTAIN INTEREST
Often people start with lots of enthusiasm but then the energy is lost. How can we maintain the movement?
The following strategies were felt to be important.
Formation of Diocesan Environmental Desk consisting of Diocesan Coordinator, chaplain and archdeaconry reps. Reports and feedback by reps
- convene enviro awareness campaign
- practical action is required so that youth can develop interest, testify and be able to demonstrate back
- to their parishes.
- sell the enviro idea and make the young people own it
- use social media to grow the Green Anglican movement
- engage on activities that are relevant to the youth and the environment
- site visits
2. WASTE AND RECYCLING:
Our contexts are so different, what can we do practically around this issue?
- Clean up campaigns in rural, suburban and town churches
- Waste and recycling project that will create jobs/income for unemployed youth
- Educate everyone (mothers and grandmothers) about disposal of nappies.
3. HOW TO MOBILIZE CLERGY
Clergy are so busy with many hats – how do we get them involved?
- Environmental Issues to be included in the modules of Theology – specially around God’s Creation.
- (Theological College – COTT and St Bedes)
- Get the Diocesan Bishop involved– so then it will be his for his clergy to be committed
- Fellowship of Vocation sessions to be based on environmental awareness.
- Have the environmental awareness and God’s creation as a theme for a clergy retreat
- An environmental desk should be established in each parish and come up with local action plans.
- The priests spouse fellowship can be mobilized to support these environmental issues
- Ensure that all guilds are represented at the Diocesan Environmental Desk
- Each guild should come up with its own action plan also
- REDUCE WOOD BURNING/TREE PLANTING
- This is a huge issue , how do we work in this area?
- Start with environmental education on a local basis to find out the situation : cause and effect.
- Why are people cutting trees
- Promote wonder bags (home made ones can be made using polystyrene cups)
- Make dibolobolo using old newspapers. They are soaked, made into balls and then doused with paraffin (home made charcoal)
- Promote and train on solar cookers made from old satellite dishes
- Promote rocket stoves.
- Cut alien trees not indigenous ones.
- Tree planting: emphasize that we must plant indigenous trees. Education is needed regarding trees that have a harmful effect e.g poisonous..
WATER
We are in a drought situation – how can the church respond?
- Awareness and education
- Cut alien invasives
- Do water audits at church and home
- Rain water harvesting and gray water systems
- Water quality testing
- Mulching of food gardens
- Fill a two litre bottle and put it in the cistern of the toilet
- Protect springs from animals by building a wall around.
- Action plans were developed to be discussed with the Bishop and leadership of their respective Dioceses.
Action plans were developed to be discussed with the Bishop and leadership of their respective Dioceses.