Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
14 June 2001
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Mohammed Valli Moosa, has today called the youth of South Africa to honour the 25th Anniversary of National Youth Day by becoming active brigades for the protection of the environment through youth programmes that mobilise mass activities in local areas.
"June 16 has always been a day when multitudes of the youth of our country are mobilised into action, this year we must urge our members in various youth organisations to regard the degradation of our environment as an equal deprivation of their bright future. By doing so, the youth of our country will be able to take keen interest in issues of pollution, deforestation, waste management etc," said Moosa.
Moosa further called on South African youth organisations to attend and participate in the Caretakers of the Environment International Youth Conference taking place from 1 to 5 July, at the University of Pietermaritzburg under the theme "Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Tourism".
Amongst issues to be discussed are:
This conference serves as a preview to the World Summit, to be held in September next year in Johannesburg.
"It will be very important that as many youth organisations from South Africa attend, because it is only through them and the schooling system that we can be able to reach out to the youth of our country and discuss a common programme on youth participation in various environmental awareness campaigns," said Moosa.
Meanwhile the Director-General for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Dr Crispian Olver, further committed the department to developing a consultation process with the South African youth. "To advance the role of youth and actively involve them in the protection of the environment and the promotion of economic and social development through sustainable development, the department will soon be developing mechanisms on how best we can meet our duty to consult youth in terms of Chapter 25 of Agenda 21," said Olver.
Dr Olver further said that due to the fact that youth in both developing and industrialised countries are highly vulnerable to effects of environmental degradation, their specific interests need to be taken into account in the participatory process on environment and development, in order to safeguard the future sustainability of any actions taken to improve the environment.
Contact: Onkgopotse JJ Tabane on 082 465 6166