We have detected that the browser you are using is no longer supported. As a result, some content may not display correctly.
We suggest that you upgrade to the latest version of any of the following browsers:
close notification
Date
: 05/06/2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Essop: World Environment Day
Excerpt of the speech of MEC of Environment, Planning and
Economic Development, Tasneem Essop on World Environment Day
Minister of Environment, Planning and Economic Development, Tasneem
Essop, celebrated World Environment Day in Porterville on Monday, 5
June, at the Pella Park Sports Ground. This year's international
theme is ‘Deserts and Desertification.’
The West Coast is already experiencing the effects of climate
change with drastic implications for the agricultural community.
Farmers are already looking at alternative crops to optimise scarce
water resources in the area. Desertification is also affecting
rural communities on the peripheries of towns like
Porterville.
Minister Essop and Mayor Sanette Smit handed over bio-gel stoves
and gel to the community. Made from a by-product of sugar cane,
bio-gel is environmentally friendly. The Department will be
monitoring the efficiency of the technology to determine the
sustainability, safety and community acceptance of this
product.
It is safer to cook with bio-gel than paraffin, as paraffin has
been the cause of many shack fires.
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) will also be handed over to the
municipality who will run the exchange the programme.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
will work closely with the municipality to further roll out energy
efficient lighting.
“We are here today to celebrate World Environment Day. Many
times as government we celebrate with people at universities,
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and organisations in the
city.
When have we ever celebrated with you in Porterville? This is the
first time we are celebrating World Environment Day with you.
We want you to know that we as a Department realise how important
our people are in our environment.
We also want environmental issues to be understood on the
ground.
Today, the international theme for World Environment Day is deserts
and how countries will become drier. In the West Coast, the Berg
River area is already seeing changes. Last year our Premier,
Ebrahim Rasool and our religious communities went to Piketberg
where we prayed for rain. It was a huge prayer day because it was
so dry in the West Coast. It was a crisis and every year it is
becoming drier and drier. It has already impacted and will more so
in the future impact on all our lives. I am sure those who work on
farms have already seen the changes. It is not just here, in the
West Coast, where we are experiencing climate change. It is
happening throughout the world. Scientific studies have shown that
in 50 years’ time the northern part of the West Coast will
become like a desert. Think about that, our children and our
grandchildren will be living in a semi-desert. The rainfall pattern
will no longer be the same.
What can we do? We can change our lifestyles and the manner in
which we use energy. Many of you do not have electricity; you use
paraffin and wood for fire. Paraffin is not helpful as it releases
gasses into the atmosphere and this contributes to climate
change.
We have to start using renewable energy. My Department is giving
200 bio-gel stoves and a year's supply of bio-gel to this
community. Bio-gel is a by-product of sugar cane and its gasses are
not harmful to the atmosphere.
Mayor Sanette Smit told you how my Department is looking at making
the environment relevant to all of us by tapping into the
environmental economy. Many of you make money harvesting flowers
and selling it. The entire world loves our fynbos; we must care for
it but we can make money off selling flowers, rooi-bos and buchu.
We are investigating how we can use our natural resources in a
sustainable way to make money.
In Aurora there are 10 women who used to be unemployed. They
realised they could take used paper and using an easy process they
now hand make paper.
I am sure many of you have your own ideas which we would like to
hear about so that we can help you make your ideas a
reality.”
Issued by: Department of Environment, Planning and Economic
Development, Western Cape Provincial Government
5 June 2006
Related social media
