Development MEC T Essop to celebrate World Environment Day
4 June 2006
Western Cape Minister of Planning, Environment and Economic Development,
Tasneem Essop, will celebrate World Environment Day in Piketberg tomorrow,
Monday, 5 June 2006.
The day will be celebrated at the Pella Park Sports Ground, Porterville from
9:00.
This year's international theme is deserts and desertification. The West
Coast is already experiencing the effects of climate change with drastic
implications for the agricultural community. Farmers have to rethink
alternative crops to optimise scarce water resources in the area.
Desertification is also affecting rural communities on the peripheries of towns
like Porterville.
Minister Essop and Mayor Sanette Smit will also hand over bio-gel stoves and
gel to the community. Made from a by-product of sugarcane, bio-gel is
environmentally friendly. The department will be monitoring the efficiency of
the technology to determine the sustainability, safety and community acceptance
of this product.
It is safer to cook with bio-gel than paraffin, as paraffin has been the
cause of many shack fires. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) will also be handed
over to the municipality who will run the exchange the programme. The
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning will work closely
with the municipality to further roll out energy efficient lighting.
Enquiries:
Lynnette Johns
Tel: (021) 483 3915
Fax: (021) 483 6081
Cell: 083 310 0113
Issued by: Department of Planning, Environment and Economic Development,
Western Cape Provincial Government
4 June 2006
