Good News: As Cape Towns water crisis nears Day Zero, faith groups spring into action

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

Currently estimated for mid-May, Day Zero would mark the unprecedented moment when engineers close most of the city’s faucets. Nearly 4 million residents would be left to fetch daily water rations of just 25 liters (6.6 gallons) from fewer than 200 central collection points until rains resume or alternative sources come online....


Major political parties and faith groups in South Africa have long recognized the toll climate change is taking on citizens and the environment. As tensions rise and politicians point blame in every direction, faith groups are working across spiritual

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2018/02/07/as-cape-towns-water-crisis-nears-day-zero-faith-groups-spring-into-action/?utm_source=RNS+Updates&utm_campaign=27ddecf501-E

[yallerdawg]

1. That other perspective:

“We have stopped major crises in the history of our country, and even this one will come to pass,” Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba told the room, later referencing the HIV/AIDS epidemic and apartheid. Makgoba takes issue with the apocalyptic connotations of the name “Day Zero” and suggested parishioners consider “Day One” — his preferred term for the same scenario — as an opportunity for action.

“From a biblical perspective, the concept of void and nihilism does not sit well, because we take the creation story seriously,” he explained. “Zero has the connotation that this is the end. It doesn’t give us hope. But we are responsible. We can do something. We can avert it.”

A call to action, accommodation - and hope!

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Why is a religious NGO claiming credit for the AIDS progress in Cape Town?

This is a public health issue, with government programs lining up to combat it.
http://www.capetownetc.com/news/100-increase-aids-treatment-cape-town/


Organized Religion helped cause this problem.

Churches in South African townships have largely failed to use their social and cultural influence to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Many churches reject HIV-positive members because they are ignorant about the causes of AIDS, have traditional views on sexual morality, or believe that HIV/AIDS is well-deserved punishment for immoral behavior. In addition, many organizations such as the South African Church Leaders Association have only formally acknowledged the severity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the last decade.[12]

Levy, N. C. "From Treatment to Prevention: The Interplay Between HIV/AIDS Treatment Availability and HIV/AIDS Prevention Programming in Khayelitsha, South Africa." Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 82.3 (2005): 498-509. Print.

Above excerpt covers many south African townships, including Cape Town.

[Voltaire2]

2. What they actually need is massive government investment in desalination plants.

Conservation measures are a good thing, but the problem is that regardless of drought conditions the area has outgrown its fresh water supply.

[guillaumeb]

5. And global climate change will only make the problem worse.

And the pressure might increase violence in the area as people compete for resources.

[msongs]

3. pray for more water. nt

[MineralMan]

4. Global Climate Change

Why doesn't their deity send some rain? I mean, people are praying for it, right?

[Permanut]

6. Says right in the book..

John 14:13-14 - "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do." I don't see the problem here.

[Mariana]

7. One clergyman in the article blames the population.

“Each and every person must ask, ‘Where did I go wrong?’ We have done so much wrong. The consequences have brought us to where we are today,” said Sheikh Moegamad Moerat of Zeenatul Islam mosque. “Once we live in halal, Allah will send us beneficial rain.”

“The root cause is the way we live, the sins we commit,” added Sheikh Riad Fataar, second deputy president of the judicial council. “You have a hand in it, and you can correct it.”

Several imams encouraged worshippers to pay zakat, obligatory alms, citing a hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad that Allah withholds rain for those who withhold their charity.

[Permanut]

8. Oh, yes, the blame game..

Kevin Swanson, pastor at the Reformation Church of Elizabeth, Colorado, from September 2017:

".. said on his radio show “Generations with Kevin Swanson” on Friday that the deadly storm that devastated Houston, Texas is God’s judgment of the city, and other cities like it, that have embraced “sexual perversion” and have not repented for it.

“Jesus sends the message home, unless Americans repent, unless Houston repents, unless New Orleans repents, they will all likewise perish,” Swanson said. “That is the message that the Lord Jesus Christ is sending home right now to America.”

[link:https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pastor-kevin-swanson-houston-repent-sexual-perversion-hurricane-harvey_us_59a97d74e4b0b5e530fe394d|

[trotsky]

11. Hey, that's bad news about religion.

We aren't allowed to post that.

[Mariana]

12. I didn't post it. The g-man did.

You know, his posts make much more sense, now that he's told us he's performing for a legion of secret admirers when he posts in this group. That explains a lot.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1218270285#post159

[trotsky]

13. LOL!

[Dorian Gray]

9. Everybody needs to do everything they can here

Religious or non religious. Conservation may be too late, but SA is in crisis mode here, and they need to plan strategically.

This isn't something that people of faith can do on their own.

The fact that this isn't more widely known here in the USA is a travesty. I've seen a couple of articles on it, but the orange menace and his drama is taking away from worldwide tragedies.

[MineralMan]

10. Well, the Judeo/Christian Deity is supposed to have

once destroyed all life on our planet, save one family and some animals by sending too much water. Afterwards, it was written that the same deity said he'd never do that again. However, the deity did not say he wouldn't destroy all life again by sending no water at all.

A capricious sort of deity, it seems to me. People are praying for rain. The deity is saying, "No." Or so it seems.

Perhaps it has nothing whatever to do with deities at all.

[guillaumeb]

15. Best you could do?

Nothing to say about the actual post? I understand. Perhaps an inability to admit that positive news about religion exists.

[MineralMan]

16. Apparently so, at least at that moment.

The original post mentioned them praying. Do you think that will bring the rain?