Weekly Action - 8 May 2023 - DR Congo and Rwanda Floods
DR Congo and Rwanda floods
Unusual levels of torrential rain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have led to devastating floods this week. More than 130 people have been killed in Rwanda and over 411 in eastern DR Congo, some 317 of them buried in mudslides. In DR Congo over 500 people are still missing. Some 200 people have been injured and are in hospitals and health clinics, overwhelming the local capacity. More than 1,300 homes in eastern DR Congo have been destroyed, as well as schools, health centres and churches. Identifying bodies and ensuring rapid burial in the tropical climate is a huge challenge, and many decomposing bodies have been left piled in village streets, presenting a real health hazard. The BBC reports the tragic case of just one victim, Gentille Ndagijimana, “I don't have any more relatives, and I don't have a farm, I have nothing. I must look for a place to sleep. I am only left with my husband. But all out children are dead” she said. All of this in a region of eastern Congo that has already been racked be brutal conflict for many decades, as reported in a recent Arise blog. The head of the UN, António Guterres, has warned that the floods are yet another example of dangerously accelerating climate change.[1]
Urgent action on climate change
He is right, Arise’s 4 Shifts Report summarises how scientists from around the world have for decades predicted that climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels will result in more extreme storms and rainfall. The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s leading scientific body on climate change, was launched two months ago. The report shows just how serious global climate change has become. In recent years the impacts of climate change have included heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones, wildfires, landslides, massive polar melting, the melting of the world’s glaciers, sea-level rise, the devastation of coral systems, mass food and fresh water shortages, ill health, huge negative economic impacts, conflicts over scarce resources, the creation of huge numbers of climate refugees, and much more. In the past 6 months alone, we have seen a massive and tragic food crisis in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, record temperatures in the UK and Europe, and devastating floods in Pakistan, New Zealand, and now Rwanda and DR Congo, all as a result of global climate change. It is developing countries like DR Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Pakistan, whose greenhouse gas emissions are a fraction of those of more developed nations, that have done the least to cause climate change, but are now being hit first and hardest by a changing climate.
As Christians what should we do about it?
As Christians we know we are called both to care for God’s amazing creation, and to love our neighbours, especially the most vulnerable. We read in Genesis how humanity was instructed both to work God’s creation and to “take care of it” (Gen 2: 15). Later the book of Proverbs tells us “The righteous care about justice for the poor” (Prov 29: 7). We therefore need to meet immediate urgent needs for those like Gentille whose lives have already been devastated by climate change. And we also need to tackle the long-term underlying causes, and urgently get out of fossil fuels which are driving global climate change, and instead shift to 100% clean renewable energy, which does not lead to climate change, and is cheaper as well.
Arise’s 4 Shifts Campaign calls for a rewiring of our global economy to be green and fair, so it still creates the jobs and wealth that lift people out of poverty, but does so without relying on fossil fuels and overconsumption which is wrecking our planet. As part of that campaign we need to transition as rapidly as possible to 100% clean renewable energy, whilst also supporting countries like DR Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Pakistan who are already feeling the impacts of climate change right now.
Will you take action as part of Arise’s 4 Shifts campaign this week, to meet the immediate needs of people like Gentille being impacted by climate change and to shift to a clean energy economy?
Take Action
Speak out in advocacy
Get in touch with your MP, and ask for a meeting with them to discuss the crucial issue of climate change and the importance of 4 Shifts. (This is totally appropriate, they are used to meeting their constituents on all topics, that is their job!) You can find your MP, and their office contact details here. Ask your MP to:
1. Urge the government to bring forward and strengthen the UK’s plans to transition out of fossil fuels, so that we shift to zero emissions and 100% clean renewable energy, and ban the use of fossil fuels by 2030. Implement this in every sector (energy, transport, buildings, industry etc.)
2. Meet immediate needs of communities in developing countries who are being impacted by climate change, by urging the government to significantly increasing the amount the UK provides in climate finance to the world’s poorest nations.
Pray
Pray for the people around the world who are currently being hit by the impacts of climate change. Pray for protection, that their basic needs will be met, and for rebuilding and adapting their societies to adjust to a changing climate. Pray for action from the UK and other governments to rapidly shift their economies out of fossil fuels and into 100% clean renewable energy.
Give
Give to Christian organisations like Christian Aid, Cafod, Tearfund or World Vision who are supporting the poorest communities impacted by climate change around the world.
Practical Action
Conduct a mini audit of where you use fossil fuel energy in your life (at home, in travel etc.). Reduce your use as much as possible. When you have eliminated all you can, offset the rest through an organisation like Climate Stewards, a Christian offsetting charity, that can plant trees or take other actions to absorb the equivalent amount of emissions you have made.
Ethical Consumption
Do some research into converting your home from using gas for heating, hot water and cooking, to using a heat pump or clean renewable electricity. If you can afford it, put this into action and make that conversion.
Encourage us and others by letting us know what actions you have taken – message us at info@ariseuk.org, or via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Find out more
It’s great to take this action as individual Christians, but even better to come together with others to pray, discuss, worship, learn, have fun and take action together. Contact Arise if you are interested in joining or starting a local Arise group in your church or area. If you are already in an Arise group, take this action to your wider church, and get them all to do it too.
Find out more about why the world needs 4 Shifts to transition to a green and fair global economy in Arise’s 4 Shifts Report, and how this forms part of God’s bigger vision for our world in the Arise Manifesto.
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[1] DR Congo floods: ‘Miracle’ as two floating babies survive on Lake Kivu, BBC, (10 May 2023), https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65545434