COP 21 - the climate summit in Paris in December will be crucial in the global efforts to deal with climate change. Faith communities in Southern Africa have seen this summit as worth campaigning for. "We Have Faith" was therefore coined as the slogan for the campaign, and a long bicycle relay is currently on its way from Maputo through nine countries with the aim of reaching Nairobi mid-November. This week the relay crossed the border from Zambia to Malawi. The route so far took the bicycle caravan through Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia before entering Malawi. 15 competitive cyclists received the baton at Mchinji border, and was joined by a number of bicycle taxi drivers... and Stein.
The caravan will continue through the country to its northern border with Tanzania, and continue through Tanzania to Kenya. A group from Uganda will also join the relay before ending up in Nairobi.
The Zambia and Malawi teams were met in Mchinji town after the "prologue" from the border by religious leaders, including the Catholic Archbishop of Lilongwe and government representatives. At the sports ground the formal handing over was taking place, and appeals were made. National television was present, and the event was covered as one of the top stories during evening news.
While the bicycle caravan is making the campaign visible in town, the aim is to have a petition for Paris signed by one million people during the relay.
Today there was a big event at one of the stadiums in Lilongwe with speeches, poetry, traditional dances and display of the bicycle caravan. Majority of patrons were secondary school youths who kept the spirit high through their enthusiastic cheering and clapping.
Mosques, temples and churches have been given "teasers" for the respective sermons Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The climate message will hopefully be heard throughout the faith community this weekend.
Climate change is a burning issue in Malawi. Devastating floods hit in January/February, followed by drought and food crisis. Forest has been cut without proper replanting, and run-off is causing major damage every rainy season, and seasons are more unpredictable than they used to be. Malawi, being one of the poorest countries in the world is struggling with the economic consequences of climate change. One of the "We Have Faith" demands is climate justice: those who cause the major climate changes should pay up! A youth made the following statement in today's event: "Climate change is different from HIV and AIDS,... it hits us ALL". Very true, my young friend!
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