The South African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) hosted a workshop from 27-29 August that sought to enhance environmental advocacy, bringing together faith leaders, activists, and community members to explore the theme, “Healing Earth: Healing Humanity.”
As a member of SAFCEI, an entity established to empower faith communities to act on environmental issues and foster interfaith dialogues, the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) was in attendance in a show of support and solidarity with local faith-based groups.
During the opening of the workshop, Rev. Mthobisi Wellington Sibanda, UCCSA’s Head of Internal Communications, reflected on Psalm 24:1, the sacredness of creation, and humanity’s responsibility to care for the environment.
Addressing South Africa’s environmental woes and challenges
A key part of the workshop laid in the discussions and dialogues surrounding the government’s stance on nuclear energy. As South Africa grapples with energy challenges, the risks associated with nuclear power are becoming increasingly apparent.
Coming together with a unified purpose, participants engaged in a lively debate on the potential implications of nuclear energy on both the environment and public health.
Participants also engaged in advocacy training, community mapping, and group discussions on climate challenges. The collaborative spirit fostered by SAFCEI allowed attendees to share success stories and lessons learned, creating an environment for growth and collective action.
There was also an urgent clarion call sounded on the need for faith-based, and faith community-led actions on climate change, as South Africa is already experiencing the brunt of its far-reaching negative effects. These include increasingly frequent extreme weather events that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
Throughout the workshop was a consistent cry for the country to move away from its heavy reliance on fossil fuels that contributes significantly to its carbon footprint.
Participants also examined the intersection of climate change with sustainable food systems and food security.
A deeper discussion was formed around the principles of agro-ecology as participants learned about community-based initiatives that harmonize with natural ecosystems, enhancing food security and resilience to climate change impacts.