National Environment Week (1-6 June 2004)
and World Environment Day ( 5 June 2004) programme

The United Nations General Assembly established World Environment Day in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. This conference resulted in the establishment of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and laid the foundation for the world to gather at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in South Africa in 2002.

Globally, World Environment Day is observed on 5 June every year. It serves as a call of action for all citizens of the world to unite by becoming active supporters and participants in sustainable and equitable living. This should be done by raising awareness and developing partnerships that will ensure that nations and people enjoy a better quality of life.

In South Africa we have decided to extend this period of reflection on the state of our environment for a week. Annually we have a National Environment Week which is observed during the week that World Environment Day is held. This year, the UNEP theme for World Environment Day is “Wanted! Seas and Oceans Dead or Alive” whilst South Africa’s national theme is “A Decade of Sustainability – our environment, our Future”. The South African theme celebrates the progress and achievements made in key areas of responsible environmental management over the past ten years whilst defining our resolve to tackle challenges that will be faced in the next decade. The programme into the future is seen as a partnership across sectors of society who collectively and respectively intend to take responsibility in looking after their environment.

The last ten years of our democracy has witnessed a shift in natural resource management and conservation in South Africa from one that has been elitist and protectionist to an arena concerned with human rights, access to natural resources, equity and environmental sustainability. Environment has been recognised as the resource behind economic development.

There has been a revolution in the last decade in so far as

  • the perception of the importance of natural resources and environmental management to the South African economy;
  • the approach to management of these resources; and
  • the recognition that poverty eradication and sustainable development are integrally linked and that decisions in policy and practice require economic, social and environmental considerations.

Different arms of government, business, civil society groups and communities are uniting behind a people’s contract that will meet challenges ahead through co-ordinated and integrated delivery, working across traditional silos, through partnership, and through action. All environmental stakeholders including communities, non-governmental organisations, business and labour have been encouraged to participate in the celebrations.

National Environment Week is being observed throughout the country with events planned to take place in all provinces of the country. Various interest groups will utilise this opportunity to showcase their projects. For example learners from schools will participate by rendering specific items on the environment and will learn about the progress made and challenges faced by the country in the management of the environment by participating in the events planned. The events planned include:

Date

Province

Venue

Activity

Contact

31 May

Eastern Cape

Bird Island

Marine Protected Area

Port Elizabeth

Media Tour of the Bird Island Marine Protected Area by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk ,

Riaan Aucamp

Tel:( 021) 4657240

E-mail: raucamp@deat.gov.za

 

1-3 June

Western Cape

Old Mutual Conference Centre

Kirstenbosch, Cape Town

Cape Action for People and the Environment (C.A.P.E) Partners’ Conference 2004

Launch of the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation

Announcement of Global Environment Facility Grants

Signature of World Bank Grant Agreement

Signature of UNDP Grant Agreement

Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk will open event on 01 June 2004 from 14h00 to 15h30.

Sharon Bosman

C.A.P.E. Administrator

Cape Action for People and the Environment

Tel: +27 +21 799 8790

E-mail: Sharon@capeaction.org.za

1June

 

Free State

Sasolburg

Enviro Clubs and schools Lekgotla

Duarte Hugo

Tel:051 4004829

E-mail: hugoel@dteea.fs.gov.za

Mpumalanga

Promenade Hotel, Nelspruit

Launch of Capacity building programme for municipalities, signing of MOU between MEC DACE and DBSA

Almarie De Lange

Tel: 013 766 6118

E-mail: adelange@nelagri1.agric.za

Gauteng

Klipriverberg Recreation Centre, Peggy Vera Road, Kibler Park

Gauteng World Environment Day Celebrations;

Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudhafasi to give keynote address on “Sustainable Living, the key to a better future”

Shoni Munzhedz

Tel: (011) 712-6645

Cel: 082 806 2141

3 June

Western Cape

Cape Peninsula

Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk together with media will visit Marine Protected Area in the Cape Peninsula

Riaan Aucamp

Tel:( 021) 4657240

E-mail: raucamp@deat.gov.za

3 June

Northern Cape

Naauwpoort

Grade 7-8 learners involved in researching the water ecosystem and water testing activity

Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudhafasi to give keynote address and expected to attend with Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry

Elise Lameyer

Tel: 053 807 4800

E-mail: elameyer@grand.ncape.gov.za

Gauteng

Johannesburg

Launch of the Bontle ke buntu project and launch of State of the Environment Report

Rajini Pillay

Tel: 355 1365

2-3 June

Western Cape

Oudtshoorn

Community and school children involved in two day repeat activities on environmental education and awareness programmes

Joane O’ Shea

Tel: 021 483 2760

E-mail: joshea@pgwc.gov.za

3-4 June

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Durban

Natal Sharks Board visit, Nature trail,

Treasure Beach education centre visit and talks, Naval Base boat ride,

Exhibitors at Ushaka Marine World,

Vanessa Maclou

Tel: 031 361 2880

E-mail: maclouv@sedbn.kzntl.gov.za

4 June

 

Eastern Cape

Raymond Mhlaba Centre, Port Elizabeth

State of the Environment Report and announcement of the provincial cleanest town competition

Sizwe Sakupa

Tel: 040 609 3233

E-mail: sizwe.sakupa@deaet.ecape.gov.za

Limpopo

Tropic of Capricon

Monument

Revival of the Tropic of Capricon

Monument .Clean up programme

Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudhafasi to give keynote address

Shaidha Sheikh

Tel:015 295 5819

Cell: 082 295 5819

E-mail: sheikhs@finptb.norprov.gov.za

Kwa-Zulu Natal

Durban : uShaka Marine World

Official World Environment Day Celebrations Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism; and

Event to be addressed by Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk

J P Louw

Tel: (012) 3103596

Cell: 0825693340

E-mail: louwjp@iafrica.com

5 June

Limpopo

 

Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudhafasi will launch the National Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Conservation project in Limpopo

Zoodumo Mbuli

Tel: (012) 310 3898

E-mail: zmbuli@deat.gov.za

5 June

North West Province

Molatedi Dam

Fun Walk from Pilanesburg Game Reserve to Madekwe Game Reserve, and awards ceremony

Lebo Diale

Tel: 018 389 5677

E-mail: ldiale@nwpg.org.za