Dear Earth Keeper,
March was another eventful month, with President Zuma shocking South Africa with the firing of several Ministers, including Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, in his heedless pursuit of state control and a nuclear deal at all costs. Here we can only echo the words of the Quakers of Southern Africa. It was also with great sadness that we noted the one year memorial of Sikhosiphi “Bazooka” Rhadebe’s assassination, a life abruptly taken as he defended Earth and his home, the Wild Coast.
But it was also a month of moving forward and continuing to work for energy, climate & water justice. Frank Molteno shares with us the issues touched on and the insights (re)gained at the Water Justice Conference that was held from 23 – 25 March at the St George’s Cathedral as part of an international conference. Earth Hour was celebrated and in Pretoria Lydia Mogano used this chance to start a conversation around the everyday impacts of climate change that people are already experiencing, and the opportunities that lie in addressing this environmental crisis.
Looking forward there is Easter approaching for our Christian Earth Keepers – a time of renewal and a moment for rekindling our commitment to caring for all Creation, our Green Bishop writes. “Caring,” he writes, “is loving, cherishing, protecting, preserving and being compassionate to and for all life.” And in the times we find ourselves in, this is much needed.
And lastly we belatedly introduce new staff and Board – Francesca de Gasparis as new Co-Executive Director, and Rev Glynis Goyns as SAFCEI’s new Chairperson. We welcome them warmly in these roles and look forward to the continued journey with them.
With hope,
The SAFCEI Team