Naturally, this is a topic that appeals to the Church and a number of religious and spiritual leaders have made passionate pleads at COP17 urging people to save the planet. One of them is South Africa’s very own Nobel Peace Prize Winner and favourite man in a pink dress, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The Arch is an iconic and much beloved figure in South Africa and when he called to a “Rally for Climate Justice” last weekend, there was no way I was going to miss my chance to see him live in action.
When he stepped on the stage, the Arch started to greet us in South Africa’s 11 official languages: Sawubona (Zulu), Dumela (Sesotho), Molweni (Xhosa) and then he said in English
“Good Morning!”
Stopped, looked at his watch and what followed was the one thing we all had secretly hoped to hear:
“Hihihihi!
Good Afternoon!"
The Arch laughed for us! He laughed his wonderful high-pitched silly and endearing laugh and (careful, more cheese) we all melted away!Good Afternoon!"
If you want to hear it yourself, here is a video of the sermon I found on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.be/watch?v=o5l1NkdLksA
In case you prefer reading to watching, here’s the best of the Arch!
About the effect of climate change on rich and poor countries:
“We invite you (rich countries): Come and join us!
Hihi
Cause if you don’t join us, maybe we will go first
But then you will come!
And we will be waiting for you on the other side and say “Haha”!”
Hihi
Cause if you don’t join us, maybe we will go first
But then you will come!
And we will be waiting for you on the other side and say “Haha”!”
After seven minutes of speaking:
“God said: I have created you to be a family”
Turns to the organizer:
“Ah – have I done enough?”
Turns to the organizer:
“Ah – have I done enough?”
About the evolution of mankind:
“The first human beings lived in a garden.
God wants us to live in a garden, not a desert – a garden!
Adam was in the garden all by himself with the animals. And he was happy.
But God said “It's not good for this guy to be alone” and Adam said “Yeees God!”
God: “Okay I am going to let the animals parade in front of you and you can choose a partner from one of them. Here they come… What about this one?”
Adam: “Whaaat?”
God: “And what about this animal?”
Adam: “Not in my life”
And so the story goes… and when Adam goes to sleep, God takes a rib and (outlines the shape of a woman).
And when he wakes up Adam says: “Ah - this is what the doctor ordered!”
God wants us to live in a garden, not a desert – a garden!
Adam was in the garden all by himself with the animals. And he was happy.
But God said “It's not good for this guy to be alone” and Adam said “Yeees God!”
God: “Okay I am going to let the animals parade in front of you and you can choose a partner from one of them. Here they come… What about this one?”
Adam: “Whaaat?”
God: “And what about this animal?”
Adam: “Not in my life”
And so the story goes… and when Adam goes to sleep, God takes a rib and (outlines the shape of a woman).
And when he wakes up Adam says: “Ah - this is what the doctor ordered!”
If you are not already left speechless by the Arch’s beautiful interpretation of the events in the Garden of Eden, then I have one bonus comment for you. In a newspaper interview with the Arch, he was again calling for climate justice because:
“If developed nations continued to emit carbon the Earth will go poof and we will go poof with it!”
And at this point I think everyone has to admit: The man has got a way with words!
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