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
: 06/05/2006
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Title: van Schalkwyk: Indalo Yethu
National Environment Week kicks off on a high note as the
Minister launches Indalo Yethu
"We must take the people with us in this campaign to prove that a
sustainable world with equality, freedom and equal access to the
natural resources is not only possible but achievable as
well!"
These were the words of Minister of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk during the launch of Indalo Yethu,
a national environmental awareness campaign, in Cape Town on
Monday, 5 June 2006. The Minister launched the campaign on World
Environment Day, kicking off the national environment week
celebrations throughout the country.
The Indalo Yethu campaign, which is a partnership product between
the department and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South
Africa (WESSA) aims to promote and encourage environmental activism
amongst South African communities, the business sector and
government.
The Minister said that the campaign was launched to focus on
stepping up environmental enforcement, reducing biodiversity loss
and encouraging responsible environmental activities. "We are
launching this initiative on World Environment Day to reinforce the
message that everyone has a significant role to raise awareness and
act for the environment," he said.
In explaining the key objectives of the programme, the Minister
said that the campaign will serve as an endorsement brand and
undertake extensive public awareness campaigns and programmes which
seek to encourage behavioural change in all sectors and levels of
society.
"This brand aims to be a rallying point for environmental activists
who are viewed as people who make conscious efforts to preserve and
where possible to improve the quality of our environment," he
said
The Minister concluded by reinforcing the link between the
environment and other pillars of sustainable development. "The
environment forms an essential part of driving social development
and long term economic development and the relationship between
these and the environment needs to be demonstrated clearly," said
the Minister.
Members of Indalo Yethu Trust include:
1. Mr. Onkgopotse Tabane, Chairperson
2. Ms. Zandile Nzalo, Deputy Chairperson
3. Ms Mumsie Gumede
4. Mr. Mark Friedman
5. Ms. Jim Taylor
6. Ms. Pamela Yako
7. Mr. Vuyo Mbuli
8. Ms. Joanne Yawitch
The Chairperson of the Trust, Mr JJ Tabane added "that today's
launch of the Indalo Yethu Trust signifies in a special way the
continuation of the President's call for an Age of hope that is
upon us because this initiative can only succeed if it builds on
such hope for a sustainable future. It is relevant as it happens
today when World Environment Day calls on all of us not to desert
dry lands. For many of our people today here and in our continent *
even living next to wetlands still signifies poverty making all of
their dwellings dry lands. So the call that Indalo Yethu needs to
make in order to succeed is to call for the deliberate link between
economic activity and environmental awareness so that our people
can begin to derive economic value from taking care of their
environment this way a call that will make sense to many of them to
will be do not desert our communities and their plight for a
sustainable livelihood. "
Map
