wfn.org | Churches Challenged to Educate Community on Water Issues in Africa

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

Churches Challenged to Educate Community on Water Issues in Africa
Water Crisis Has Led to Decreased Food Production

NAIROBI, Kenya/GENEVA, 4 May 2005 (LWI) * Churches have been challenged
to educate their congregations and communities on water conservation and
management to end the devastating problem affecting millions of people
in Africa.

Participants attending the April 25*29 regional consultation on water
organized by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Desk for Women in
Church and Society (WICAS), affirmed the church's role as stewards in
water management. 

The theme of the consultation held in Nairobi, Kenya, was "Stirring the
Waters." It was the second such meeting by the LWF Department for
Mission and Development through WICAS, since the July 2003 LWF Tenth
Assembly mandated an action plan on water. A first meeting for the
European region was held in September 2004.

"The church is called to nurture and protect life. [It] therefore has
an important mission to educate the faithful regarding the ethical and
moral implications of the way we live in relation to the rest of the
creation," Rebecca Tanui, a representative of the Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights network in Kenya told the gathering.

"It is impossible to separate religious belief and ethical
considerations in the environmental field because of their intimate
relationship with our world view. The church is called to be faithful
stewards to God's resources and creation," she stressed.

Statistics reveal that over half of Sub-Saharan countries face water
shortages. Estimates predict that by the middle of this century, two
thirds of the global population in over 60 countries are likely to face
water shortages.

In Africa, the water crisis has led to decreased food production,
thereby undermining household food security. Participants in the LWF
consultation called on churches to link up with other organizations
advocating for water, including non-governmental and international
organizations, community owned groups and the private sector to achieve
the Millennium Development Goals of reducing by half the number of
people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2015. 

Joshua Mukusya, program manager, Utooni Development Project in eastern
Kenya, a successful community owned initiative in water harvesting, also
challenged the church to "take the lead in bringing water to its
people."

He called for greater involvement by churches in community-based soil
and water conservation, tree planting, terrace farming, and water tank
and sand dam construction especially in semi-arid areas. 

Dr Colette Bouka Coula, LWF Department for World Service representative
in Mauritania stressed the role of literacy classes in information
sharing about environmental conservation. Citing LWF's involvement in
reforestation activities to counter increasing desertification in the
north west African country, Bouka Coula called for concerted efforts
including working with other faith groups to raise awareness about
issues that affect people's daily lives. 

Priscilla Singh, WICAS executive secretary, shared information about
the effect of global warming in Africa and cautioned that "an ethical
vision, good leadership, far-sighted planning and solidarity are needed
to awaken sufficient sense of urgency and resolve at this point in
time." (499 words)

(By Nairobi-based LWI correspondent, Lillian Kemunto.)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of
nearly 66 million Christians. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
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* * *

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