Environmental
Awareness - the Tool for Sustainable Growth and
Development
WEDNESDAY, 31 MAY 2006: - "Celebrating
The Age Of Hope By Protecting Our Environment",
is the pertinent theme chosen to commemorate National
Environment Week from 5 June to 11 June 2006.
“The theme is symbolic as it focuses on the long
to medium term interventions and programmes required
to ensure sustainability of environmental protection
initiatives,” said JP Louw, Spokesperson for the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
World Environment Day, which
will be commemorated globally on Monday, 5 June
2006 was established by the United Nations General
Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm
Conference on the Human Environment. This groundbreaking
conference gave rise to the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), which has provided a crucial
platform for the expression of environmental concerns
internationally.
National Environment Week has
become an annual feature on the South African
calendar, with a range of important activities
scheduled countrywide. “Our celebrations are centred
around emphasising South Africa’s commitment to
environmental protection and acknowledging the
fundamental role of the communities in helping
us realise our vision of a cleaner and safer environment
for all,” added Louw.
On World Environment Day, 5
June 2006, Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk will
use the opportunity, as part of the national environment
week programme, to launch South Africa’s National
Environmental Awareness Campaign - Indalo Yethu.
“This land mark campaign is a legacy project of
the World Summit on Sustainable Development which
was hosted in Johannesburg during 2002. Indalo
Yethu intends to reinforce the role of environmental
protection within the context of the country’s
economic and social development programme,” stated
Louw in his explanation of the campaign’s primary
objective.
Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk
together with the Deputy Minister, Ms Rejoice
Mabudafhasi, will also deliver the departmental
Budget Vote in Cape Town on Tuesday,
6 June 2006. Creating awareness on the importance
of oceans as well as the initiatives in place
to preserve our oceans and marine life will form
the focus of World Oceans Day on Thursday, 8 June
2006.
If you would like to view a
comprehensive list of activities planned during
Environment Week, visit the hot issues section
at www.deat.gov.za
National Environmental
Campaign Aims to Encourage Responsible Environmental
Behaviour
South Africa’s National Environmental
Awareness Campaign - Indalo Yethu will be launched
by Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Monday,
05 June 2006 in Cape Town. The launch coincides
with World Environment Day and will signal the
start of a week long celebration countrywide.
Indalo Yethu was established
earlier this year in partnership with the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism as well as
the Wildlife and Environment Society of South
Africa (WESSA).
This land mark campaign is a
legacy project of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development which was hosted in Johannesburg during
2002.
“Essentially Indalo Yethu intends
to draw attention on how responsible environmental
living is a critical component if South Africa
is to realise its development objectives of a
better life for all, especially in terms of ensuring
that benefits derived can be enjoyed by present
and future generations,” said JP Louw Spokesperson
for the Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism.
Indalo Yethu will actively create
awareness while attempting to alter behaviour
change through intense activities. This innovative
programme seeks to become an umbrella for environmentally
responsible, focused programmes and projects that
link economic growth and social development.
Additional information can be
accessed by clicking on the link below - http://www.deat.gov.za/HotIssues/2006/Indalu_yethu/indalu_yethu.html
