In the final episode of our Cancel Coal season, we're in conversation with Reverend Rachel Mash. We unpack the fundamental role of spiritual leaders in activism, while exploring the intersections, physical, and spiritual worlds, and how it can inspire tangible change within society. 

Reverend Rachel is the Environmental Coordinator of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini). She is a member of the United Nations Environment Programme's ‘Faith for Earth’ task team on pollution. She also works with the Green Anglicans Movement which has spread from Southern Africa to 13 African countries.

About Season 2:

In this second season of the podcast, we are talking all things Cancel Coal. Over the course of five episodes, we will dive into the multifaceted impacts of coal mining and the way forward for our energy future. From frontline advocates in coal-affected communities, and legal experts discussing the environmental crisis, to the transformative power of spiritual leaders, each episode delves into diverse experiences and perspectives, encouraging us to engage with the urgent need to Cancel Coal for a just and sustainable future.

Learn more about the Cancel Coal Court Case:

• Cancel Coal website
• Sign the petition to Cancel Coal
• Join the Cancel Coal Youth Task Force

Learn more about African Climate Alliance:

• Check out our website
• Follow ACA on Instagram

In the fourth episode of our Cancel Coal season, we’re in conversation with Zen Mathe and Michael Marchant from Open Secrets - an organisation holding powerful private actors to account for economic crimes. Together, we uncover the power and money dynamics within South Africa’s energy landscape as well as the lessons that can be learned for achieving an equitable and just energy transition. 

Zen Mathe holds a BA International Studies degree from Stellenbosch University and a PGDip in Sustainable Development from Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership. She previously worked as a postgraduate researcher at the Centre for Complex Systems in Transition (CST), where she engaged in research around State Capture and governance issues. Zen is currently completing her MPhil in Sustainable Development.

And Michael Marchant is the Head of Investigations at Open Secrets. He holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Edinburgh, a PPE (Hons) from the University of Cape Town (UCT), and an LLB from the University of South Africa (UNISA). Michael was the lead researcher on Apartheid Guns & Money: A Tale of Profit

About Season 2:

In this second season of the podcast, we are talking all things Cancel Coal. Over the course of five episodes, we will dive into the multifaceted impacts of coal mining and the way forward for our energy future. From frontline advocates in coal-affected communities, and legal experts discussing the environmental crisis, to the transformative power of spiritual leaders, each episode delves into diverse experiences and perspectives, encouraging us to engage with the urgent need to Cancel Coal for a just and sustainable future.

Learn more about the Cancel Coal Court Case:

• Cancel Coal website
• Sign the petition to Cancel Coal
• Join the Cancel Coal Youth Task Force

Learn more about African Climate Alliance:

• Check out our website
• Follow ACA on Instagram

In the third episode of our Cancel Coal season, we chat to climate advocacy lawyer, Brandon Abdinor, from the Centre for Environmental Rights, as we explore the legal aspects of the Cancel Coal court case, its constitutional basis, and the implications on South Africa's energy future.

Brandon Abdinor joined the Centre for Environmental Rights as a Climate Advocacy Lawyer in 2021. In this role he engages with climate change related laws and policies with a view to helping ensure that these are effective and advance the needs of climate justice for all. The role includes liaising with a wide range of stakeholders to gather and share information and build consensus around legal advocacy in pursuit of an increasingly sound and just climate change response.

About Season 2:

In this second season of the podcast, we are talking all things Cancel Coal. Over the course of five episodes, we will dive into the multifaceted impacts of coal mining and the way forward for our energy future. From frontline advocates in coal-affected communities, and legal experts discussing the environmental crisis, to the transformative power of spiritual leaders, each episode delves into diverse experiences and perspectives, encouraging us to engage with the urgent need to Cancel Coal for a just and sustainable future.

Learn more about the Cancel Coal Court Case:

• Cancel Coal website
• Sign the petition to Cancel Coal
• Join the Cancel Coal Youth Task Force

Learn more about African Climate Alliance:

• Check out our website
• Follow ACA on Instagram

In the second episode of our Cancel Coal season, we hear from Lebohang Dube of the Center for Child Law at the University of Pretoria who shares about the Deadly Air court case, how the South African Constitution protects people's right to a healthy environment, and how we can use the legal system to hold the government to account and call for a just energy future for all. 

Lebohang Dube is a candidate attorney at the Centre for Child Law. He holds an LLB from the University of the Free State and is currently doing his LLM in Environmental Law at the University of Pretoria. His background includes student activism as a former Students for Law and Social Justice leader, and a Young African Leaders Initiative fellow. He has professional and grassroots experience including community organising and education in sexual and reproductive health rights, mining-affected communities and child rights. 

About Season 2:

In this second season of the podcast, we are talking all things Cancel Coal. Over the course of five episodes, we will dive into the multifaceted impacts of coal mining and the way forward for our energy future. From frontline advocates in coal-affected communities, and legal experts discussing the environmental crisis, to the transformative power of spiritual leaders, each episode delves into diverse experiences and perspectives, encouraging us to engage with the urgent need to Cancel Coal for a just and sustainable future.

Learn more about the Cancel Coal Court Case:

• Cancel Coal website
• Sign the petition to Cancel Coal
• Join the Cancel Coal Youth Task Force

Learn more about African Climate Alliance:

• Check out our website
• Follow ACA on Instagram

In the first episode of our Cancel Coal season, we go to the frontlines to speak to Promise Mabilo, from Vukani Environmental Movement, who shares about the impacts of coal on health, wellbeing, and everyday life.

Promise is an activist based in Emalahleni in Mpumalanga where most people living in the area are victims of breathing toxic air and in the heart of coal fired power stations and coal mining production. Promise is also a Coordinator at Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action or VEM. Together with African Climate Alliance and Groundwork, VEM is one of the applicants taking the South African government to court in the landmark Cancel Coal court case that is calling for an end to new coal in South Africa.

About Season 2:

In this second season of the podcast, we are talking all things Cancel Coal. Over the course of five episodes, we will dive into the multifaceted impacts of coal mining and the way forward for our energy future. From frontline advocates in coal-affected communities, and legal experts discussing the environmental crisis, to the transformative power of spiritual leaders, each episode delves into diverse experiences and perspectives, encouraging us to engage with the urgent need to Cancel Coal for a just and sustainable future.

Learn more about the Cancel Coal Court Case:

• Cancel Coal website
• Sign the petition to Cancel Coal
• Join the Cancel Coal Youth Task Force

Learn more about African Climate Alliance:

• Check out our website
• Follow ACA on Instagram

In today’s episode, we are exploring the importance of voting as one way to take a stand for justice and change. With South African elections around the corner, many are wondering who to vote for. So, in this episode, we are asking the question: How Are South African Politicians Planning to Take Climate Action?

It is essential that we cast our votes with knowledge of who it is we are voting for and what it is they stand for. To help you work through the pre-election confusion, this bonus episode unpacks the manifestos of a few prominent political parties in South Africa – with a focus on climate change, energy justice, and plans for a just South Africa.

We will be drawing on the recording of a recent political manifesto debate, facilitated by Asanda Ngoasheng, held in Cape Town on 8 May 2024, where three prominent political parties – the Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, and Rise Mzansi – unpacked their political manifestos on points of climate and socio-environmental issues. We also draw on manifesto research conducted by Project 90 by 2030, which summarised the manifesto stances on these same issues. 

The episode aims to provide some form of political literacy and to encourage political participation for an inclusive society, especially among the youth.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with The Green Connection and Project 90 by 2030.

Mental wellness, mental health, and mental wellbeing are seldom conversations that are brought up when we are talking about climate change and climate justice. In this conversation, we unpack the connections between mental health, the environment, and climate justice.

Panelists:

Vuyokazi Ngemntu (South Africa): Vuyokazi Ngemntu is a writer- performer situated in Cape Town, South Africa, whose praxis uses poetry, song, physical theatre, storytelling and ritual to navigate ancestral trauma, confront inequality and inspire healing. She is an alumna of the Bodhi Khaya Artist Residency 2022, where she conceptualised and presented a seminal performance work titled ‘Ukuvuka kuka Nomhlaba: Exploring The Significance of Land In Healing’.

She is a member of the Daai Deng Hub which was awarded a grant by AfricaNoFilter to use Spoken Word, Documentary Filmmaking and Music to interpret the concerns of ordinary Africans in relation to climate change, presented at #COP27. Her short story, 'The Serpent’s Handmaiden' was shortlisted for the Share Africa Climate Change Award 2022. Her work has appeared in The Kalahari Review, Herri, Ibua Journal, Short.Sharp.Stories, New Contrast, Ake Review, Pepper Coast Lit, The Culture Review, Aerodrome and elsewhere.

Stinicah Kemunto (Kenya): Stinicah Kemunto is a mental health and psychiatric nurse practitioner, based in Kenya. Kemunto is also the founder of Threshold of Hope Africa which is a community based organization that creates mental health awareness as a prerequisite to stigma eradication through advocacy.

Learn more about African Climate Alliance:

• Check out our website
• Follow ACA on Instagram

This conversation helps us to identify current and emerging opportunities for indigenous peoples and local communities to contribute to climate change mitigation, including opportunities for application of traditional knowledge and practices.

Panelists:

Linda Seekoei (South Africa): Linda Seekoei is a vibrant outspoken indigenous woman on a mission. She is on a mission to promote and restore the Khoisan heritage, history and language. She does this through her movement called "Khoi Kulture" on various social media platforms. Through these platforms she shares her poetry, vlogs and posts all inspired by the Khoisan people and their culture. Activism, modelling, singing and writing are among her passions and she uses these talents to further the "Khoi Kulture" movement. Having said that, she is a lover of art and occasionally she is the art itself.

Heizal Patricia Nagginda (Uganda): Heizal Patricia Nagginda is a lawyer, climate educator and environmentalist from Uganda. She is the founder of Climate Operation, a youth led organisation whose mission is to make climate education more relatable, less scientific and fun for young people.Heizal is passionate about creating more inclusive and collaborative spaces where young people regardless of their position in the climate space can have free discussions and collaborate together on relevant climate innovations for their future.

Aghmad Gamieldien (South African): Aghmad Gamieldien is the Founder and Director of Mzanzi Organics and a Miyawaki Forest Maker with SUGi. He is passionate about establishing urban forests using indigenous trees and shrubs. He mimics Afromontane forests found on the Table Mountain range in the form of pockets forests in and around Cape Town. Mzanzi Organics is a social enterprise focusing on small scale pocket farming in and around Cape Town. Aghmad has led the establishment of the Khoi First Nations Forest at the Oude Molen Eco-Village. Khoi First Nations Forest is a collaboration with the Goringhaikona Khoi tribe. This forest is a local landmark, and serves the broader community by educating visitors on indigenous tree species, biodiversity, and the benefits of rewilding urban spaces in South Africa.

Learn more about African Climate Alliance:

• Check out our website
• Follow ACA on Instagram

We look at the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline as a case study to understand how communities are being displaced, wildlife is being threatened, and the worsening effects of the climate crisis. 

Panelists:

Baraka Lenga (Tanzania): Baraka Lenga is a young climate change scientist and livelihood expert, and committed climate activist, based in Tanzania. He works as a Representative of GreenFaith International Tanzania chapter. Baraka is also a striker with Fridays For Future Tanzania, whcih involves asking business leaders and politicians to act urgently against climate change. Baraka is currently running a campaign against East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and all Fossil Fuel investment all over the world.

Kayinga Muddu Yisito (Uganda): Kayinga Muddu Yisito is a human rights defender addressing the needs of the vulnerable children and marginalised groups for healthy and self-reliant communities in Uganda. Kayinga is currently the Network Coordinator at the Community Transformation Foundation Network (COTFONE).

Clay Mwaifwani (Tanzania): Clay Mwaifwani is a lawyer, environmentalist, and natural resources enthusiast based in Tanzania. Clay is currently a Project Coordinator at Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (LEAT), in Tanzania, as well as a Member of the Consultative Board at Friends of Earth Africa (FoEA).

Learn more about African Climate Alliance:

• Check out our website
• Follow ACA on Instagram

This conversation helps us understand the connections between gender and the impacts of climate change on different groups of people, and how this affects how we advocate for a better world for all.

Panelist:

Francina Nkosi (South Africa): Francina is a frontline human rights defender and a champion of gender justice and environmental rights in Lephalale, a mining community in Limpopo. She uses her work to stand up against gender-based violence and advocate for climate justice, gender justice, land rights, and human rights. Drawing on her own lived experiences, Francina also aims to show the impacts of mining on women.

Learn more about African Climate Alliance:

• Check out our website
• Follow ACA on Instagram