It’s thanks to you
Confession: I (Jo-Anne) have always found even the idea of AGMs tedious and have avoided them wherever possible.
I’m ashamed to admit that. Organisations must be managed, after all, and need their audiences to approve how this is done so they can stay accountable and do better. Nonetheless, I’ve balked at the thought of the long evening of dry speeches, financial reports, and election processes.
But this last Fossil Free SA AGM put a spring in my step and a light in my heart. And that was due to the presence, spirit, and contributions of you, our supporters.
Of course, it helped that we were celebrating 10 years of Fossil Free South Africa’s activism, that the talented FANA Trio played jazz at the end, and that there was a delicious curry for dinner. It also helped that we could show we’ve worked rather hard in the past year, and that all these efforts are making an impact. It was the most substantial AGM we’ve ever held.
But the most important takeaway was more than that.
You responded with genuine interest to our campaigners’ reports. During our presentations, your faces were alert with interest. You gave us your thoughts and suggestions about energy, activism, communication, and more in countless conversations over dinner and afterwards.
Some of you even offered to volunteer for our organisation, such was your interest.
And you weren’t there only for the free food and music. Some of you have been at our previous AGMs, coming faithfully every year to help oversee the running of Fossil Free SA. A big hat off to you! (You know who you are.)
We had the sense that we are building a community, not just an organisation; a community of people with enormous creativity, dedication and brainpower in the battle – because sadly it remains a huge battle – to help protect and regenerate a liveable planet.
Thank you all for a wonderful evening. It is a privilege to work with you.
DID YOU KNOW:
The world has “passed a moment of no return” in its transition to renewables, UN chief Antonio Guterrez pointed out recently. If we “follow the money”, we find that $2 trillion flowed into clean energy last year, $800 billion more than fossil fuels and up almost 70 per cent in a decade.
However, the stakes are sky-high. The World Meteorological Organization forecasts a 70% chance the average global temperature will breach the critical 1.5°C threshold for the next five-year period.
In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice has declared that nations failing to tackle climate change could be violating international law and could be obliged to pay reparations to other countries. Activists are hailing the ruling as a “massive step forward for climate justice”.
