ZAMBIA: ZEC to Host Environmental Conference
The Zambia
Episcopal Conference (ZEC) is scheduled to host a high profiled Conference on
Mining and Agriculture in Lusaka from 25th to 26th April, 2016. The President
of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, H.E. Peter Cardinal
Turkson is expected to be the key speaker at the Conference, while AMECEA
Secretariat will be represented by Mr. Antony Mbandi, the Coordinator of AMECEA
Justice and peace.
Episcopal Conference (ZEC) is scheduled to host a high profiled Conference on
Mining and Agriculture in Lusaka from 25th to 26th April, 2016. The President
of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, H.E. Peter Cardinal
Turkson is expected to be the key speaker at the Conference, while AMECEA
Secretariat will be represented by Mr. Antony Mbandi, the Coordinator of AMECEA
Justice and peace.
Announcing
the development, ZEC secretary General Fr. Cleophas Lungu said the Conference
will highlight the impact of mining and agriculture on the environment on care
of our common home in the context of large scale investments.
the development, ZEC secretary General Fr. Cleophas Lungu said the Conference
will highlight the impact of mining and agriculture on the environment on care
of our common home in the context of large scale investments.
Fr. Lungu
added that the Conference will also help to popularize “Laudato Si”, the Encyclical
of Pope Francis on Care for Our Common Home. In the Encyclical, Pope Francis
critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental
degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take swift
and unified global action towards human behaviour that cause climate change.
added that the Conference will also help to popularize “Laudato Si”, the Encyclical
of Pope Francis on Care for Our Common Home. In the Encyclical, Pope Francis
critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental
degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take swift
and unified global action towards human behaviour that cause climate change.
“We are
excited as a Church to host this Conference. As you know Zambia’s economy is
driven largely by the mining sector and so we want to make awareness of its
impact on the environment,” he said.
excited as a Church to host this Conference. As you know Zambia’s economy is
driven largely by the mining sector and so we want to make awareness of its
impact on the environment,” he said.
The ZEC Secretary
General further said that Zambia has been feeling the effects of Climate Change
as can be seen from reduced rainfall and unpredictable weather patterns which
has resulted to among other problems, crop failure, water shortages and load
shedding of power, thereby affecting production in the country. He added that
the Conference will also look at the impact of large scale tree clearance for
agriculture and how the country should respond and adapt to the effect of
climate change.
General further said that Zambia has been feeling the effects of Climate Change
as can be seen from reduced rainfall and unpredictable weather patterns which
has resulted to among other problems, crop failure, water shortages and load
shedding of power, thereby affecting production in the country. He added that
the Conference will also look at the impact of large scale tree clearance for
agriculture and how the country should respond and adapt to the effect of
climate change.
“Zambia has
rich arable land which is very conducive for agriculture. We have seen people
cutting a lot of trees for large scare farming which has had an effect on
environment. This must be addressed and help bring change” Fr. Lungu pointed
out.
rich arable land which is very conducive for agriculture. We have seen people
cutting a lot of trees for large scare farming which has had an effect on
environment. This must be addressed and help bring change” Fr. Lungu pointed
out.
“ZEC is
excited at hosting this Conference, for we have a mandate to preach good news
to all creation not only human beings. From the time missionaries came to the
continent the Church has been educating people on how to care for the
environment. So we shall collaborate with others during the conference on what
we should do together to care for the environment” He said.
excited at hosting this Conference, for we have a mandate to preach good news
to all creation not only human beings. From the time missionaries came to the
continent the Church has been educating people on how to care for the
environment. So we shall collaborate with others during the conference on what
we should do together to care for the environment” He said.
Fr. Lungu
has also expressed gladness that the president of the Pontifical Council for
Justice and Peace at the Vatican, Cardinal Turkson will be the key speaker at
the Conference. The Conference outcomes, recommendations and resolutions will
be used by the Catholic Church in Zambia to design further Pastoral reflections
to be used by Small Christian Communities throughout the country to effectively
respond to the needs of the environment, by transforming human behaviours and
activities that influence climate change in Zambia and in the world. At the
same time it is hoped that the Conference will influence policy makers to
formulate policies that are responsive to the biodiversity of the environment.
has also expressed gladness that the president of the Pontifical Council for
Justice and Peace at the Vatican, Cardinal Turkson will be the key speaker at
the Conference. The Conference outcomes, recommendations and resolutions will
be used by the Catholic Church in Zambia to design further Pastoral reflections
to be used by Small Christian Communities throughout the country to effectively
respond to the needs of the environment, by transforming human behaviours and
activities that influence climate change in Zambia and in the world. At the
same time it is hoped that the Conference will influence policy makers to
formulate policies that are responsive to the biodiversity of the environment.
The Conference,
which will be attended by ordinary people and experts from various sectors of
life, will provide a forum for sharing ideas and experiences in areas of
mining, agriculture, environment and climate change, in the light of the Papal
encyclical, “Laudato Si”.
which will be attended by ordinary people and experts from various sectors of
life, will provide a forum for sharing ideas and experiences in areas of
mining, agriculture, environment and climate change, in the light of the Papal
encyclical, “Laudato Si”.
The Conference
has attracted participants from Association of member Episcopal Conference of
Eastern Africa (AMECEA), SECAM, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia Environmental
Management Agency (ZEMA) Ministry of Lands, Disaster Management and Mitigation
Unit (DMMU), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Mines, University of Zambia,
Copperbelt University and Catholic University. Others are St. Dominic Major
Seminary, St. Augustine Major Seminary, Civil Society Organizations and
Partners, Islamic Council of Zambia, Evangelical fellowship of Zambia (EFZ),
Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Economic Association of Zambia and Chamber
of Mines, Traditional leaders including the media and other key partners.
has attracted participants from Association of member Episcopal Conference of
Eastern Africa (AMECEA), SECAM, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia Environmental
Management Agency (ZEMA) Ministry of Lands, Disaster Management and Mitigation
Unit (DMMU), Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Mines, University of Zambia,
Copperbelt University and Catholic University. Others are St. Dominic Major
Seminary, St. Augustine Major Seminary, Civil Society Organizations and
Partners, Islamic Council of Zambia, Evangelical fellowship of Zambia (EFZ),
Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Economic Association of Zambia and Chamber
of Mines, Traditional leaders including the media and other key partners.
By Mwenya Mukuka
