Comment - December 2011
Faith moves at Durban climate summit
Whilst there may only be limited reports in our Media of the Climate Summit in Durban, faith representatives are actively involved in a number of initiatives there.
On the eve of the conference the Faith Communities held a rally at King's Park Stadium. Inspired by Bishop Geoff Davies, and hosted by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, the rally involved a number of a speakers which included Lewis Pugh, the ‘human polar bear', well known for swimming across the North Pole, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane the chair of Cop17, the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, Christiana Figueres and Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town and new convener of Anglican Communion Environmental Network. The event included the presentation of a petition containing over 200, 000 signatures in what Bishop Geoff called Noah's second ark and the entrance of a group of cyclists organised by the Roman Catholic Justice and Peace Commission who had cycled hundreds of kilometres throughout South Africa to raise awareness of climate change.
The following evening, the Anglican Communion Environment Network held a meeting chaired by the Revd Dr Rachel Mash, the newly appointed Environment Co-ordinator of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
Faith communities joined civil society in a 10 000 strong march through the streets of Durban on 3 December to hand over a memorandum to the COP leadership.
The following day in the afternoon at the Steve Biko Campus of the University of Technology, a Multi-faith prayer meeting, was held to pray for the success of the talks.
There will no doubt be more news coming through from Durban as the conference and the faith community's action continues.
