Thursday 22 August 2002

Two important areas for the Church were considered today, the fourth day of the Anglican Communion Congress; Economic Justice and Environmental Justice.

Bishop Geoff Davies explained that we have Biblical injunctions to witness and be involved in both areas yet they have been seriously neglected by the Church in the past. "We don’t have to be economists to know there is something seriously amiss in today’s world." Bishop Davies continued: "We are now recognising the need to be involved in Economic Justice because of the gross inequities prevailing in our world - people are being enslaved by our present world economic structure. Fifty years ago, the majority of people in Africa could feed themselves. Today a fifth of the world’s population, over a thousand million people, don’t have enough to eat. Bishop Davies went on to seriously question the morality of our present economic system when we have a greater abundance of wealth and resources than ever. “Unrestricted capitalism panders to our base instincts of selfish acquisitiveness and greed - and that is why it is an issue that involves us as people of faith."

International odious debts, he explained, are a direct cause of the over-exploitation of natural resources. This combined with human greed, is bringing about the destruction of indigenous habitants causing the large-scale extinction of species and poverty.

Bishop David Beetge, from the Diocese of Highfelt, which includes some of the poorest parishes north of Johannesburg, recalled the first four years of his ministry (1990-94 - the lead up to ending apartheid) when 8500 people died in political violence in his diocese alone. Since then many more have died in African countries because of war and the turmoil’s have contributed to the current situation where 10 million people now live below the poverty line. "We are still living in an apartheid economy. Real security must come from governments taking seriously the needs of their people. If governments really invested in their people than they would not need to invest in arms. Unfortunately," the Bishop told delegates "the global community seems totally committed to violence - the bullet that killed your son provided a job for someone else" and he recalled the words of Ghandi - "poverty is one of the worst sorts of violence."

Dr. Richard Fuggle, Professor of Environmental Studies, University of Cape Town explained that he was also a consultant to a World Bank inspection panel which examined projects where investment led to negative effects. He quoted several examples of how what had originally been designed to improve a situation had in fact proved detrimental. The introduction of Nile Perch to Lake Victoria the largest lake in the world had originally been intended to improve the local economy by producing added employment and trading opportunities. Instead it had proved a disaster to the natural ecology of the lake and totally destroyed the income opportunity for the local women who had previously cured and sold the natural fish. Until the introduction of the Nile Perch, the smaller indigenous varieties had kept the water of the lake clean, but their extinction by the introduced variety meant that pollution had been added to the lake’s problems allowing water hyacinth which had escaped from local gardens to get a strangle-hold on once profitable ports. Dr. Fuggle explained that in the environment it was often not possible to change just one thing!

A session on the Beauty of Empowerment began with a statement from Wangari Maathati the founder of Kenya’s Green Belt Movement. The Movement began in 1977 to involve local people in civic education and environmental projects. Its work today has been extended to include food, security, advocacy and networking. 100,000 are involved in the Movement’s tree campaigns where local community associations are formed to organise plantings. Groups are encouraged to plant indigenous species and to date some 2 million trees have been planted throughout 19 of Kenya’s 26 regions.

Wangari’s statement inspired delegates to look to themselves to germinate and tend the seeds of change. She said, "I believe that inspirations come to all of us but if we are unprepared they fall on infertile ground." Richard Fuggle had concluded that the most important tools for change are "the hands at the end of our own arms."

Thursday afternoon saw delegates travelling from Good Shepherd Retreat Centre to visit three initiatives operated by the Tumelong Mission. At the first they saw modern agricultural methods are being introduced to grow tomatoes and peppers. Then the delegates moved on to a centre where clothes are produced and embroidered, including some being produced to celebrate the World Summit. The visit finished at a Centre for young people, who for a variety of reasons find themselves at odds with society. The Centre began offering 100 young people a year training in skills and community living. The delegates were shown new building work which will enable it to provide residential courses thus providing the users to move away from often disturbed homes and families where many of their problems begin.

Despite this full programme delegates still spent time in the evening finalising the wording of the Anglican Communion’s statement to the World Summit.

Friday morning began with delegates considering future developments including the establishment of an Anglican Communion Environmental Network.

Before leaving the Retreat Centre for the World Summit in Johannesburg the delegates were joined by the Most Rev. Njongonkulu Ndungane, Archbishop of the Province of South Africa who led their final Eucharist. During the service Archbishop Ndungane blessed personal commitments written by each delegate.

David Shreeve
Claire Foster

Good Shepherd Retreat Centre