Environmental Affairs and Tourism celebrates World Environment Week, 5 –
9 Jun

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
nvironmental 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 http://www.deat.gov.za

For more information contact:
Mava Scott (Director: Communications)
Cell: 082 411 9821
Tel: (012) 310 3862

Roopa Singh (Deputy Director: Communications)
Cell: 082 225 3076
Tel: (012) 310 3566

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
31 May 2006
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.deat.gov.za)