MONDAY,
5 JUNE 2006: “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
van Schalkwyk during the launch of Indalo Yethu,
a national environmental awareness campaign, in
Cape Town on Monday, 05 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 WESSA {Wildlife and Environment Society of
South Africa} 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 program, the Minister said that the campaign
will serve as an endorsement brand and undertake
extensive public awareness campaigns and programmes
which seeks 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.
"
