On Tuesday, we launched the #DivestCapeTown campaign, which calls on Cape Town to demonstrate its political leadership and commit to divesting from destructive fossil fuel companies. Here are the best bits of what happened:
As part of Global Divestment Mobilisation, 350Africa and Fossil Free South Africa hosted an interactive discussion and poetry session on the role divestment occupies in the struggle for climate justice in Cape Town and Africa.
Our panelists: Fromleft to right: Ahmed Mogkopo(@AhMd26), Andile Mngoma, Rachel Mash, David Lapage(@DavidLePageZA) #GDMAfrica2017 pic.twitter.com/y0SSTtlcsP
— 350 Africa (@350Africa) May 9, 2017
David Le Page, co-founder and coordinator of Fossil Free South Africa, kicked things off talking about the history of the fossil fuel divestment movement.
“Let’s take our money away from the things we don’t want & put it in the things that we do want” – @DavidLePageZA #fossilfree #GDMAfrica2017
— 350 Africa (@350Africa) May 9, 2017
Rev Rachel Mash from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa spoke about goals of the fossil fuel divestment campaign and the challenges the church has faced with the divestment movement – they’ve committed to moving their money, but they don’t know where to because there are no 100% fossil free options in South Africa financial markets.
Each act of divestment helps build an even stronger case for keeping fossil fuels underground – Rev Rachel Mash #GDMAfrica2017 pic.twitter.com/LWIdj0OiAr
— 350 Africa (@350Africa) May 9, 2017
“If it’s wrong to wreck the planet, then it’s wrong to profit from the wreckage” #GDMAfrica2017 #FossilFree
— 350 Africa (@350Africa) May 9, 2017
Andile Mngoma, student and a member of Fossil Free UCT(University of Cape Town) spoke about why he joined the fossil fuel divestment movement.
“I personally joined the divestment campaign in my campus because I wanted to see change” – Andile Mngoma. #FossilFree #GDMAFRICA2017 pic.twitter.com/zOWFyG6KeT
— 350 Africa (@350Africa) May 9, 2017
Ahmed Mokgopo, 350Africa.org’s divestment campaigner closed the panel, by highlighting the need for residents to push their local councillors to pass a motion for divestment as a critical next step in the city campaign.
The fossil fuel divestment movement stands for a just transition away from dirty and harmful fossil fuel energy. #fossilfree #GDMAFRICA2017 pic.twitter.com/ZIaXF8TTMR
— 350 Africa (@350Africa) May 9, 2017
It’s completely counter-productive to help those affected by climate change using money made from the fossil fuel industry. #GDMAfrica2017
— 350 Africa (@350Africa) May 9, 2017
The event concluded with some poetry:
Check out our global divestment mobilisation live coverage website – and join the conversation on social media using #GDMAfrica2017 #fossilfree.