Nobel Peace Laureate for 2004, Professor Wangari Maathai who founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, is to launch the newly-established South African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI) on July 20 in Johannesburg.
This groundbreaking Institute was established following a national conference in March this year of major faith groups of South Africa.
"We are really excited that Prof. Wangari can be with us to launch the Institute," said Anglican Bishop Geoff Davies, coordinator of the Institute. "We believe she is an inspirational speaker who brings together development issues, democracy, environmental care and peace."
The March conference of major faith groups was under the auspices of the South African Council of Churches. It was funded by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme and brought together representatives from Christian churches, African Traditional Religions, the Baha'i, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist faiths, as well as environmentalists from, among others, Earthlife Africa, the Environmental Justice Networking Forum, SA Climate Action Network, the Group for Environmental Monitoring, the Wildlife & Environment Society of SA and the United Nations Development Programme.
Environmentalists giving presentations expressed appreciation that faith communities were now recognising their responsibility to care for creation.
Professor Jacklyn Cock, a Wits University sociologist, said the Institute could be crucial in forging a new understanding anchored in the notion that we are part of a web of life, part of nature.
"With 70% of South Africans professing to be Christian, the church is in a unique position to lead this movement because it offers leadership, direction and an ethical framework," said Professor Cock.
There was a sense of urgency at the conference for faith communities to see the need for placing environmental responsibility at the forefront of their agenda and not just "another justice issue". The conference Declaration stated that "nationwide and global degradation is one of the most urgent moral concerns of our century."
The launch of the Institute is scheduled for 12 noon at the Delta Environmental Centre, Johannesburg.
Professor Maathai is coming to South Africa at the invitation of the Mandela Foundation to give the 2005 Mandela Lecture on July 19. The two previous lectures were given by ex-President Bill Clinton and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
SA Faith Communities' Environment Institute
7 Upper Quarterdeck Road
KALK BAY, 7975
South Africa
geoffd@intermail.co.za