By Rev Berry Behr
There is nothing like sharing experiences to inspire and motivate a group of Faith Leaders to greater heights in eco-justice advocacy!
At our July Legacy Advocacy Programme workshop, faith leaders shared the work they had done since our June gathering. The actions taken were creative, brave, expansive and inspiring. Here are a few examples:
Putting it all into perspective, the group undertook an exercise which allowed insight into the diverse experiences of people who join the conversation about energy and nuclear power at different times.
Here is a snapshot of the 28 years between 1994 and South Africa’s first democratic elections, and 2020 when the Covid19 pandemic arrived. The highlighted years contain the names of our youngest delegates, whose experience is somewhat different to those who were born between 1960 and 1993. 1994 First democratic elections
Only 34% of South Africans have access to electricity1997Sanele Tshange born1998Keilidh Clapperton born
Lucinda Jaftha born1998Water and electricity shortages in the news2000Je-anie Rosie Ruiter born2007Start of loadshedding2008Water scarcity leads to limited -time water usage2009Fracking in the Free State2009Uranium Mining (Karoo)2011Greenpeace dumps 5 tons of coal at the entrance to Eskom’s Megawatt Park head office in Johannesburg2011Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer procurement2012Marikana201580,000 workers, or .5% of total employment, is from the coal industry2016Windfarm first phase2017Water cut offs due to severe drought2018South Africa is the seventh largest producer and consumer of coal in the world.
DAY ZERO Looms in Cape Town, Level 7 Water restrictions in place2020Liesbeeck River hijacked by Amazon202084% of South Africans have access to electricity
The group departed from the three-day training in high spirits, inspired by their commitment to report back at regular intervals, to upgrade their social media action and to take the message out into the world that a nuclear-free South Africa is a great gift we can leave to our children’s grandchildren.
We extend special thanks to Shalimar Gardens Hotel & Conference Centre in Rylands Estate who went out of their way to show hospitality and kindness, even though they arrived on the day of Eid Al-Adha celebrations.
SAFCEI (Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute) is a multi-faith organisation committed to supporting faith leaders and their communities in Southern Africa to increase awareness, understanding and action on eco-justice, sustainable living and climate change.
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