World Social Forum 2007: Another World is Possible!
Take a look:The EWN Photo gallery with pictures from the World Social Forum
Almost 60,000 people from all over the world came together at the World Social Forum (WSF) from January 20th to 25th in Nairobi, Kenya. Though fewer than expected, the spirit was good and the common call for another, a better, world was strong. The Caritas/AACC Ecumenical Platform provided a visible space for churches to stand "Together for social justice". Many events drew attention to the pressing problems of dwindling water resources and lack of access to water in Africa. Participants appreciated and supported the churches’ engagement through the Ecumenical Water Network.
Concerns around debt and trade still clearly dominated in Nairobi. However, the challenges related to water have become a recurrent topic on the agenda of the WSF. The Ecumenical Water Network contributed to several events and was encouraged by the good participation and many positive reactions.
Water and climate in Africa
"Africa contributes the least to climate change but will suffer the most." Grace Akumu (Climate Network Africa) opened the event on Water and climate in Africa, emphasizing that the African continent contributes only very little to the global emissions of greenhouse gases but will be severely affected by the consequences of global warming. Unpredictable rainfalls, the alternation of severe droughts with heavy floods, and the drying up of glacial rivers are likely to make life much harder in many African countries. Already, dramatic changes are taking place: lakes are drying up, glaciers are melting. Floods destroy lives, infrastructure and crops.
Communities need to adapt
The continued melting away of the snow cap of Mount Kenya is one visible sign of global warming for Prof. Jesse Mugambi. Now director of the Starehe Boys' Centre in Nairobi and member of the World Council of Churches Working Group on Climate Change, Prof. Mugambi affirmed the need for immediate action. "Sustainable development depends on freshwater supply." If they are to survive, communities have to find ways of adapting to climate change that go beyond installing deeper boreholes and electric pumps - means that are expensive and cannot guarantee a sustainable water supply. Prof. Mugambi shared his experience that much can be gained where communities commit to harnessing and preserving their water through a combination of small dams, rainwater harvesting, and reforestation.
A task for the churches
"We’ve got to stand together because there is power in it!" Gaim Kebreab (Norwegian Church Aid) from the Ecumenical Water Network called churches and other faith-based organizations to get engaged in water issues. He insisted that churches have a potential, based on constituency, legitimacy and values, to "make an immense difference" by increasing the pressure on governments and international organizations to adopt just and sustainable policies.
Singing, dancing, and praying for "maji"
That music can be a much better way of communicating than speeches was demonstrated at the Ecumenical Youth Event on water. Before an enthusiastic crowd of several hundred young and not-so-young participants, several well-known Kenyan groups sang, rapped and danced to the motto: "maji". The Swahili word for water echoed around the Kasarani stadium grounds, and won't be forgotten soon by the many who heard it!
Look for pictures from these and other events, general impressions from the WSF, as well as pictures from the Kasarani slum in the EWN Photo Gallery.