SAFCEI AGM and Public Meeting - Johannesburg

SAFCEI AGM AND CONFERENCE - “TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE”

We invite you to attend the SAFCEI AGM and Conference at St Peter’s Place, 128 Victoria Street, Rosettenville, Johannesburg from 12h30 Monday 31^st March to lunchtime on Wednesday 2^nd April 2008.

WILL YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY BE REPRESENTED?

It would be to the good of all if more than one representative of your faith community or organization could attend. Those residing in the Gauteng area may be able to attend on a daily basis.

PROVISIONAL CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Monday 31^st March Afternoon session: Climate Change

Evening (19h00): SAFCEI AGM.

Tuesday 1^st April: Morning session: Economics, Environment and Eco-Justice.

Afternoon session: Water

Evening (19h00): Public Meeting

Wednesday 2^nd April: Morning session: How do Faith Communities Respond?

SAFCEI ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

If you want to find out more about SAFCEI and its vision and purpose, please come along to our Second Annual General Meeting which will take place on Monday 31^st March at 19h00 at St Peter’s Place, 128 Victoria Street, Rosettenville. There will be no charge to attend this meeting.

PUBLIC MEETING TUESDAY 1^ST APRIL AT 19h30

We also give advance notice of a Public Meeting to be held on Tuesday 1^st April at 19h30 at St Martin’s School, 114 Victoria Street, Rosettenville. We are hoping that a prominent public figure will address the meeting on the topic: ”Is the current energy crisis a blessing in disguise?”

There will be no charge to attend this meeting and refreshments will be served.

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION COSTS

There is no charge to register for the Conference, AGM or Public Meeting. Meals can be ordered for day delegates at R50 per meal. The cost for accommodation and meals Monday to Wednesday is R550 per person. If your community can cover accommodation and travel costs this would be most helpful. If you are unable to do so, please apply to the SAFCEI office for funding.

TO BOOK YOUR PLACE OR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact the SAFCEI OFFICE: 021 7018145 Fax: 086 6969666 Email: secretary@safcei.org.za

We do hope you can be with us and we trust that your faith community will be well represented at the SAFCEI AGM and Conference.

With all best wishes

Bishop Geoff Davies

SAFCEI AGM and annual conference

SAFCEI AGM and Conference

“TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE”

MEETING DATES

The meeting will start at with lunch (12h30) on Monday 31^st March and end with lunch on 2^nd April 2008.

AGM AND CONFERENCE VENUE

St Peter’s Place, 128 Victoria Street Resurrection Way Rosettenville Johannesburg.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Monday 31^st March

14h00: Climate Change - Session Chair: Peter Just

Ernst Conradie Christian Faith Perspective on Climate Change.

Richard Worthington Climate Change overview.

Annie Sugrue Biofuels.

Eric Mair Demystifying Renewables

19h30: SAFCEI AGM.

Tuesday 1^st April:

09h00: Economics, Environment and Eco-Justice - Session Chair: Andrew

Warmback

Prof Klaus Nürnberger Economics, Environment & Theology

Marilyn Aitken Economics, Environment & Women

Sue Brittion The Oikos Journey

Desmond Lesejane Ecumenical Service for Socio-Economic Transformation (ESSET)

Hillel Avidan Jewish Faith Perspective on Eco-justice

14h30: Water - Session Chair: Tahirih Matthee

Anthony Turton Meeting South Africa’s Water Crisis.

Riedtwaan Gallant Muslim Faith Perspective on Water

19h30: Public Meeting:”Is the current energy crisis a blessing in disguise?” - Session Chair: Geoff Davies

Valli Moosa Chairman of Eskom, President World Conservation Union (IUCN)

Venue: St Martin’s School, 114 Victoria Street, Rosettenville.

Wednesday 2^nd April

09h00: Faith Communities’ response - Session Chair: Tim Gray

Prof Tinyiko Maluleke SACC President, “Faith Community Response to the Environmental Crisis”.

Peter Lukey DEAT - Communicating Climate Change

The Way Forward

For further information contact the SAFCEI office: 021 7018145 or email: secretary@safcei.org.za.

Cell Phones Linked to Bee Decline

Cell Phones Linked to Bee Decline: "Honey bee populations have suddenly begun to decline, and some British researchers think the proliferation of cell phones is a contributing cause.

A limited study at Landau University has found that bees will abandon their hives when cell phones are turned on and placed next to them."

Carbon Output Must Near Zero To Avert Danger, New Studies Say - washingtonpost.com

Carbon Output Must Near Zero To Avert Danger, New Studies Say - washingtonpost.com:

The task of cutting greenhouse gas emissions enough to avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures may be far more difficult than previous research suggested, say scientists who have just published studies indicating that it would require the world to cease carbon emissions altogether within a matter of decades.

Using advanced computer models to factor in deep-sea warming and other aspects of the carbon cycle that naturally creates and removes carbon dioxide (CO2), the scientists, from countries including the United States, Canada and Germany, are delivering a simple message: The world must bring carbon emissions down to near zero to keep temperatures from rising further.

Storm over milk labels

Digital Journal - Monsanto Wants to Ban U.S. Milk Labelling, Hiding Food Info From Consumers:

Agribusiness giant Monsanto is doing everything in its power to keep the contents of milk a secret. Recently, Monsanto led an effort to get rid of milk labels reading “growth hormone-free” in Kansas. The company wants the state’s Senate to pass a bill that would ban any kind of labeling because, they claim, growth hormones can’t be found in lab tests.

But that's not all -- apparently Monsanto is organising the farmers to fight back.

Fighting on a Battlefield the Size of a Milk Label - New York Times:

A new advocacy group closely tied to Monsanto has started a counteroffensive to stop the proliferation of milk that comes from cows that aren’t treated with synthetic bovine growth hormone.

The group, called American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology, or Afact, says it is a grass-roots organization that came together to defend members’ right to use recombinant bovine somatotropin, also known as rBST or rBGH, an artificial hormone that stimulates milk production. It is sold by Monsanto under the brand name Posilac.

Dairy farmers are indeed part of the organization. But Afact was organized in part by Monsanto and a Colorado consultant who lists Monsanto as a client.

Don't Plant GMO Beets

A total of 63 leading U.S. restaurant, food, beverage and candy companies - including such household names as McDonald's, Campbell Soup, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, Sara Lee, PepsiCo, Wendy's and Hershey's - are the focus of a major Web-based campaign at www.dontplantgmobeets.org seeking to block the April 2008 planting of genetically modified sugar beets. The genetically modified sugar beet crop would be used to make the sugar contained in thousands of the most widely consumed food products in the U.S., according to the Web site created by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) - a broad-based coalition of nearly 300 faith-based investors with over $100 billion in invested capital.

Don't Plant GMO Beets

Leslie Lowe, director, Energy & Environment Program, Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility, said: "This is a front-burner brand, reputation and consumer confidence issue for the biggest U.S. companies that sell food, drink, candy and other products containing sugar. These companies face major potential backlashes if they do not act now to stop the use of genetically modified sugar from sugar beets. Not only can these companies send a clear signal that they will not buy, but they have done this sort of thing before.

McDonald's does not use genetically engineered potatoes. General Mills will not use genetically engineered wheat. Anheuser Busch does not use genetically engineered rice. Heinz has a policy of 'seeking to avoid' genetically modified organisms. Campbell's Soup Co. does not use genetically engineered tomatoes even though the company helped to develop such a tomato. Now, it is time for these companies and others to make it clear again that they are not going to try to sneak genetically modified sugar into the diets of Americans."

ABOUT ICCR

The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility is a coalition of nearly 300
faith-based institutional investors, representing over $100 billion in
invested capital. ICCR members bridge the divide between morality and markets
by envisioning a civic economy that integrates ethical, environmental and
social values. Inspired by faith, committed to action, ICCR members work to
build a just and sustainable global community. For more information on ICCR,
visit Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility : Home.

sustainable options

sustainable options: "Some ecological economics organisations in Africa:
African Society of Ecological Economists
Forum for Economics and the Environment
Africa's Search for Sustainable Economic Trajectories (ASSET)
Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa
(Let me know if I have missed important ones)"

Hat-tip to sustainable options: Green Economics in Africa