Minister of Defence commits South African military to war on climate change: 75 million trees to be planted
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Global Peace Chairperson Mrs Graça Machel will launch the “Plant Trees, Not bombs” global campaign on:
Date: Thursday 14 November 2019
Time: 9h00
Venue: Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa.
This groundbreaking partnership between the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and Global Peace will entail the lowering of a ‘Tree of Peace’ from a military helicopter onto the grounds of the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Durban.
As part of the campaign, Minister Mapisa-Nqakula will commit the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to plant one million trees. The Minister will also challenge her counterparts across the world to plant a million trees each using the military with a global target of planting 75 million trees by 25 October 2020 when the United Nations will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in New York.
The “Plant Trees, Not Bombs” campaign is a Global Peace initiative designed to highlight the need for increased action to reduce and halt the effects of climate change.
Other key participants in the launch include UN Under-Secretary General Mr. Fabrizio Hochschild Drummond, KZN Premier Mr. Sihle Zikalala, eThekwini Metropolitan Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda, UCLG President Deputy Minister Parks Tau and Global Peace Founder Dr. Vasu Gounden.
The “Plant Trees, Not Bombs” campaign is part of a trio of events hosted by Global Peace in Durban this week.
On Wednesday 13 November 2019, at the opening ceremony of the UCLG World Congress, Global Peace Chair Mrs Graça Machel will be handing UN Under-Secretary General Mr. Fabrizio Hochschild Drummond a Declaration calling for a Global Peace Charter.
On Friday, 15 November 2019, Global Peace will host a global Inter-Generational Dialogue between four youth leaders from Brazil, Ghana, Italy and India and mayors from Sierra Leone, Turkey, Costa Rica and Portugal.
Accreditation arrangements
Media assigned to cover the event must confirm attendance by 16h00, Wednesday 13 November 2019 on email rnaidoo32@gmail.com or 083 442 2408
Attending journalists must register and obtain accreditation at the Durban Exhibition Centre on 14 November 2019 @ 07h30.
Enquiries:
Siphiwe Dlamini, Head of Communications
Ministry of Defense
Cell: 083 645 4294
Karishma Rajoo
Global Peace Coordinator
Cell: 082 940 6151
