Carbon trading a scam: The Antidote

The Antidote: "Durban-based activist/academic Patrick Bond makes a very convincing argument against carbon trading, the mechanism meant to mitigate industrial carbon dioxide emissions (for a great intro to the subject, check-out this urban sprout post).

Bond agrees with Vandana Shiva that “the right to pollute is a multitrillion dollar giveaway to the people who caused the bulk of the climate problems” in the first place."

Power crisis may shift Eskom to renewable energy sources

It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

Business Day - News Worth Knowing:

ESKOM’s scramble to mitigate an electricity crisis of gargantuan proportions is likely to accelerate the diversification of the power utility’s energy mix and its move towards renewable energy sources.

With the commissioning of additional coal-fired and nuclear plants several years away before they will bring relief to SA’s overburdened power system, Eskom is turning to alternatives to bring more power in faster.

Scottish churches blaze a trail for eco-congregations action

Ekklesia 18 January 2008
Scottish churches blaze a trail for eco-congregations action
By staff writers

Church congregations across Scotland committed to environmental action are due to meet in Stirling this weekend to develop and promote their work for people and planet. The event is being sponsored by the Church of Scotland and Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The all-day inter-church conference will take place on Saturday 19 January at Stirling Baptist Church, coinciding with the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity today.

Organisers say it will celebrate the success of Scottish eco-congregations, and will examine future challenges in raising global warming and climate change awareness within local churches of different traditions.

Eco-congregations have expanded and developed rapidly over the last five years. In Scotland there are currently 172, whilst in England the figure is over 270. Given the population disparities, that indicates a huge level of commitment in Scotland.

The term ‘eco-congregation’ is awarded to churches that have made a commitment to address environmental issues systemically through worship, programmes, the management of church property, outreach and community action.

The idea is to move away from seeing the environment as a "special interest". Resources and an audit are available to those taking part.

The weekend conference also indicates the importance of peer-to-peer support and information sharing.

Speakers in Stirling will include the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's John Ferguson and Fred Edwards from Scottish Environment Link.

Adrian Shaw, climate change project officer for the Church of Scotland, the country's largest denomination, will deliver the keynote speech for the afternoon session.

Mr Shaw declared: “The Kirk is concerned about the implications of climate change not just in Scotland but across the world particularly because of the threat it poses to the poor."

“Eco-congregations have a vital role to play in addressing this challenge”, he added.

Cherryflava: A possible solution to South Africa's energy crisis?

Cherryflava: A possible solution to South Africa's energy crisis?: "In Holland - a company called Qurrent is pioneering a new way of effectively working with renewable energy within suburban neighbourhoods.

Here's how it works: Using renewable energy sources like small wind turbines and solar panels, this company develops devices, software and services that enable the creation of small Local Energy Networks. Within these networks, which are mostly privately owned, Qurrent members exchange energy to maximize the efficiency of the energy they produce. Surplus energy is then sold back to the grid to subsidise the network."

Cause Effect: Why social networking is important for non-profits

Why does SAFCEI need a blog?

Or a mailing list?

Well here's and article that explains some of the reasons Cause Effect: Why social networking is important for non-profits:

Social networking is a fantastic tool for non-profits because it's relatively inexpensive, it allows for an ongoing, two-way dialog between the organization and the people it serves, and gives passionate people a platform to talk about causes and organizations that are important to them.

This blog is just running in a trial phase. I set it up to try to show why SAFCEI should have a blog. If anyone reading this is involved in environmental NGOs, perhaps you could say why you find blogs useful (or not, as the case may be).

Interfaith events in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN INTERFAITH INITIATIVE

You are invited to attend the following interfaith events:

ALL WELCOME

ÿ

Wednesday 16 January. 2008, 8.15pm

Interfaith dialogue

Moulana Imran Nazar Husein

Anglican Bishop Geoff Quinlan

will discuss

‘Signs of the last Days’.

Kramer Education Building UCT campus 021 671 9972

ÿ

Wednesday 23 January 2008, 7 pm

The Centre for Teaching and Learning,& Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University

Departments of Social Work and Occupational Therapy, University of the Western Cape

Interfaith dialogue

Professor Ariella Friedman, Tel-Aviv University, social psychologist dealing with Gender and Intergroup relations

Ahmad Hijazi, Director of Communications & Development Department, Neve Shalom Wahat Al-Salam; lecturer at David Yellin College of Education, Jerusalem, and Hebrew University, Jerusalem

Glenda Wildschut, Chairman, Trustees of the Institute for the Healing of Memories, Cape Town; Leadership and Development Consultant; former Commissioner, the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission

will discuss

“Peace and Political Education: Jews and Palestinians in Israel”

Centre for the Book, 62 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town

Recommended donation: general public R30, students, pensioners and unemployed R10

Enquiries: Fortunate Ndaba, fortunatendaba@sun.ac.za, 021 8083717

ÿ

Sunday 27 January, 2008, 2-4 pm

Cape Town Interfaith Initiative

Prayers for the City 2008

V&A Waterfront amphitheatre

Introduction

This blog is maintained by the Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute.

It will contain news of interest to members of the Institute.