Faith communities committed to cherishing living earth...
We are an institute of people of many faiths, united in our diversity through our common commitment to earthkeeping. Our aim is to support the faith communities in fulfilling their environmental & socio-economic responsibility.
In the spirit of our respective faiths, through collaboration, networking, research & action, our objectives are to:
- Raise environmental awareness.
- Engage in formulating policy & ethical guidelines within our faith communities.
- Facilitate environmental responsibility & action.
- Confront environmental & socio-economic injustices.
- Support environmental training and learning.
We uphold as core values the principles of the Earth Charter:
- Respect and care for the community of life, following these four broad commitments:
- Respect Earth and life in all its diversity
- Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion and love.
- Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful.
- Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for present and future generations.
- Ecological integrity
- Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
- Social and economic justice
- Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative.
- Democracy, non-violence and peace
- Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making and access to justice.
- Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.
- Promote a culture of tolerance, non-violence and peace.
Southern African faith leaders speak out on climate change
Extract from the "Lusaka Faith Leaders’ Statement" :
As people of faith from southern Africa, we have gathered and reflected at a faith-based regional workshop on climate change organised by the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCISSA) in Lusaka, Zambia (4–6 May). We believe we are confronted with a common challenge that threatens the wellbeing of the planet, indeed of humanity. We, as faith communities, acknowledge that we have not always played our stewardship role as we should. We acknowledge that each of us has a responsibility to care for our planet and we call on all communities to join us in accepting fully this responsibility.
It is clear that Africans are already profoundly and directly affected by climate change. We faith leaders of Southern Africa wish to remind South Africa that it is part of Africa, and that we stood with South Africa during the dark years of apartheid. We now call on South Africa to stand again with its neighbours rather than continuing with a growth path that will help make all our countries victims of a climate change disaster.
09 May 2011
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New resource links the (Christian) traditional Stations of the Cross to our torture of the Earth
Marilyn Aitken has produced suggestions for Stations of the Cross related to the way humans are betraying and 'crucifying' the Earth. Click here for her thought-provoking one-pager. Though written for Good Friday/Earth Day, this resource can be used in any reflective setting related to the environment, especially where people are familiar with the traditional Stations.
28 Apr 2011
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SAFCEI welcomes Karoo gas fracking moratorium
SAFCEI has given its whole-hearted support to the campaign opposing applications to explore for gas fracking resources in the Karoo, and we are very pleased that the South African cabinet has endorsed a moratorium on exploration licenses pending research into the impacts.
The possible impacts of gas fracking include pollution of aquifer water, air pollution and of course, climate change impacts from the burning of gas and the release of methane (another potent greenhouse gas) during the gas production process.
26 Apr 2011
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Powerful Power Shift 2011 Speech by Bill McKibben of 350.org
This past weekend, over 10,000 young people came together for Power Shift 2011 -- a 3-day conference in Washington, D.C. to train, organize, and mobilize for climate action in the United States.
We want to share with you one highlight from the weekend: the speech from Bill McKibben, which energized a crowd 10,000 people-strong. Watch the video of this incredible talk here: www.350.org/powershift-speech [With thanks to 350.org]
Or click here for the transcript.
20 Apr 2011
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Eco-Congregations Newsletter - April 2011
In the April Eco-Congregations newsletter, Kate Davies writes about the Youth Ambassadors programme and about Earth Day, which coincides with Good Friday this year.
20 Apr 2011
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