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. "

Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp
Cell: 083 778 9923
E-mail: raucamp@deat.gov.za

Mava Scott
Cell: 082 411 9821

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
5 June 2006