ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

A theological view of environmental protection in Africa

 

'n Teologiese beskouing van omgewingsbeskerming in Afrika

 

 

K. Mwambazambi

Research Associate, Deptartment of Practical Theology & Missiology "PRACTEMUS". University of Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch. E-mail: profkalemba@yahoo.fr

 

 

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ABSTRACT

African theologians, and indeed all humanity, should individually and collectively make a permanent commitment to environmental protection. Using conceptual tools as well as sociological and theological critical analysis, it can be demonstrated how closely such concepts as politics, economics, war, culture, technology, urbanisation, the Internet, globalisation, missiology, and theology are related to ecology and our natural environment. Consequently, African theologians and concerned people need to take into account, and observe ecological norms as part of the fulfilment of their world mission. Mugambi and Mika (2001:4) affirm that "human beings and nature as such are valuable and deserve to survive". Therefore, global and local role players must assume appropriate responsibility in order to ensure the necessary ecological balance to sustain life on this planet. This article analyses and demonstrates the importance of environmental protection of the African continent. The overall objective is to promote environmental awareness and active engagement in assessing the environmental impact on all human activities.

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OPSOMMING

Afrikateoloë, en inderdaad die hele mensdom, behoort 'n permanente individuele en kollektiewe verbintenis tot omgewings-beskerming te maak. Met behulp van konseptuele hulpmiddels, asook sosiologiese en teologiese kritiese analise, kan gedemonstreer word hoe konsepte soos politiek, ekonomie, oorlog, kultuur, tegnologie, verstedeliking, die Internet, globalisering, missiologie en teologie verband hou met die ekologie en ons natuurlike omgewing. Afrikateoloë en besorgdes behoort gevolglik ekologiese norme in ag te neem en waar te neem as deel van die vervulling van hulle wêreldsending. Mugambi en Mika (2001:4) verklaar dat "human beings and nature as such are valuable and deserve to survive". Globale en plaaslike rolspelers moet dus die toepaslike verantwoordelikheid aanvaar ten einde die noodsaaklike ekologiese balans te verseker vir die handhawing van lewe op hierdie planeet. Hierdie artikel analiseer en demonstreer die noodsaaklikheid van omgewingsbeskerming vir die Afrikakontinent. Die doel is om omgewingsbewustheid en aktiewe betrokkenheid in die assessering van die omgewingsimpak op alle menslike aktiwiteite aan te moedig.

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