http://www.thenewage.co.za/32519-1010-53-40day_countdown_to_COP17

 

Faith leaders, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, intend to use the upcoming Climate Change Conference in Durban to push governments to act in the interest of the world's environment.

There are just 40 days to go before the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, commonly known as COP17, which starts November 28.
Faith leaders from South Africa and abroad will have a strong presence among the 30000 delegates from around the world at COP17.
They will be supported by a huge body of young people from throughout Africa who will join in the We have Faith - Act Now for Climate Justice campaign. The initiative invites the public to sign what they hope will be a multimillion signature petition to be presented to the leaders of COP17.
Campaign patron Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will address the crowd and hand the petition to world leaders.
The government should "do the right thing and set an example", said Bishop Geoff Davies, one of several faith leaders who spoke at the launch of the pan-African campaign this week.
In Durban, leaders from the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) publicly signed the petition and symbolically planted a tree in the garden of their Clare Estate property, to mark the 40-day countdown.
"This is the opportunity for the faith community to speak with one voice, so that 20 years from now we can all be proud," said Tahiri Matthee, representing the Baha'i constituency and the Western Cape Religious Leaders Forum.
Environmental faith activists are planning to plant a million trees internationally, which dovetails WAMY's focus of planting trees and examining environmental issues ahead of COP17.
There will also be several public participation events in the weeks leading up to COP17. One of the highlights will be a free interfaith afternoon rally and concert to be held at the Kings Park Rugby Stadium on November 27.