Minister launches Indalo Yethu
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 of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Marthinus van Schalkwyk during the launch of Indalo Yethu, a national
environmental awareness campaign, in Cape Town on Monday, 5 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 the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA)
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 programme, the Minister said that
the campaign will serve as an endorsement brand and undertake extensive public
awareness campaigns and programmes which seek 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. "
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp
Cell: 083 778 9923
E-mail: raucamp@deat.gov.za
Mava Scott
Cell: 082 411 9821
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
5 June 2006
