 |
|||
|
Published in Cape
Times in South Africa The Environmental Awards honour those
who try to make a difference By Wouter van Warmelo The coveted Environmental Awards, instituted by the Cape Times in 1976, now sponsored by Caltex and run in association with the Cape Institute for Architecture, once again attracted a large number of entries. That there were 41 entries this year is a reflection of the great interest generated by this annual event. Every year it gets better and better. Even though there were fewer entries than last year, the range of topics was wider. There are so many unselfish people doing wonderful things in the community. They are trying to make life better for ourselves and others. They are trying to ensure a secure future for the environment of all living beings on this planet. So the Cape Times Caltex Environmental Awards pay tribute to the many people who have contributed to the preservation, conservation and enhancement of the natural, cultural, historic and social environment of the Western Cape. Entries were judged in six categories: Architecture and the Built Environment; the Natural Environment; the Social Environment; Heritage; Education and the Raising of Public Awareness; and Youth. The panel of adjudicators consisted of Chris Whitfield, Cape Times editor; Roy Wright, Chevron South Africa; Debbie Preller, president of the Cape Institute for Architecture; Osman Asmal, director: environmental planning, city of Cape Town; Paddy Attwell, director of communications, Western Cape Department of Education; Laura Robinson, director: Cape Town Heritage Trust and vice-president of the Cape Institute for Architecture; and Wouter van Warmelo, environmentalist. The adjudicators decided to make awards to three nominees - from the categories Natural Environment, Social Environment and Education and Raising of Public Awareness - and commendations to another 12 nominees in all categories. The winners of the Environmental Awards were Gareth Patterson, Jo Barnes and Lindie Buirski. Commendations went to Joan Parker; the Table Mountain National Park; the Hermanus Cliff Path Management Group; Advance South Africa Fair; Marilyn van der Velden; the parks and cemeteries department, city of Cape Town; the Novalis Ubuntu Institute; the University of Cape Town; the Wilderness Foundation; John Anthony; the Knysna Montessori Hostel and the Blanco Primary School Land Service Club. Gareth Patterson has so far spent an amazing eight years investigating the welfare of the mysterious and almost mythical elephants of the Knysna Forest. Fewer and fewer sightings in the vast expanse of this dense forest led to fears that they were extinct. But he would not accept this. So he started, at his own cost, walking and recording systematically what he found. It took him a long time but, despite only one or two extremely rare sightings, he has built up enough evidence to conclude that there is a small but thriving population of elephants. It took immense dedication and perseverance. And it has paid off. He has given us hope. Dr Jo Barnes is a determined woman. She had become extremely concerned about the health risks from pollution in the rivers of the Boland. So, concentrating her careful and detailed studies on Khayamandi and the effects of poor sanitation services on the Plankenbrug and Eerste rivers at Stellenbosch, she found that the reality was horrific. Bacterial pollution was excessive and there were unacceptable levels of dangerous pathogens and antibiotic resistance. And children swim in the river! Recent events in other parts of the country have warned us that here we have a huge problem. Urgent action has to be taken. Yet the authorities seem unable to cope. Despite considerable resistance and even personal attacks, she has not given up trying to make a difference. Not only has she continuously alerted the authorities and communities of the danger, she has also conducted education campaigns in the community and got the Department of Labour to train unemployed people as artisans to help in the upkeep of public toilets. Driven by a passion, she has done all this in her private capacity! Lindie Buirski of the environmental department of the city of Cape Town is, without doubt, "Ms Environmental Education of Cape Town". There is no end to the number of projects and initiatives she has started. She is, for instance, the driving force behind the huge annual one-week Youth Environmental School programme (20 000 children, 130 schools in 2005!). She is responsible for the city's environmental education and training strategy. She compiles the invaluable Environmental Resource Directory. She produces comprehensive educational material for learners and educators and organises the Youth Environmental Symposium for high schools. Further-more, her approach is holistic, as subjects like drugs, Aids/HIV and fire safety are included. With her, the least-resourced schools all stand a chance. She is clearly making an enormous difference in the lives of children. Dr Joan Parker is commended for galvanising a team of residents into transforming a derelict section of the Upper Liesbeek River in Newlands into a park, which communities from far and wide can enjoy. The banks have been stabilised, many indigenous plants have been put in, an extensive network of paths has been laid out and floods have been brought under control. This is an excellent example of what a dedicated group of volunteers under good leadership can achieve. The Table Mountain National Park management found a historic and almost derelict wash house by the Platteklip Stream above the Cape Town city bowl, and decided to convert it into overnight accommodation for the recently established Hoerikwaggo Hiking Trail. First built in 1888, it had become an "undesirable residence". But now it also doubles up as the base for the recently trained trail guides. This is a good demonstration of the appropriate use of an old building for new purposes without destroying its heritage value. The Hermanus Cliff Path Management Group comprises local residents, who have taken it on themselves to rehabilitate the cliff path at Hermanus. It is a popular walking route for residents and visitors, and excellent for whale-watching and getting to know the local flora. Having raised enough funding, they have so far managed to sort out over 8km of path, with more to come! And, wherever possible, there is now good access for wheelchairs. The community spirit for the benefit of all clearly shows in this project. Advance South Africa Fair is a relatively small project, but a group of unemployed local residents have transformed the Rocklands Look-out Hill in Mitchell's Plain from a dump into an exciting small park for the benefit of all. The view from this hill takes in the whole of False Bay from Cape Point to Cape Hangklip. Indigenous plants have been encouraged to return or have been reintroduced. They have furthermore persuaded the parks department of the city of Cape Town to assist them in many ways, and now the nearby school has also become involved. This is a project by the community for the community. Tourists too will benefit, because they will discover this attractive viewpoint on their drive along the coast. Marilyn van der Velden came up with an unusual and effective way of teaching the young to take care of the environment, and to teach them some basic economic skills. Any child of any age, even as young as two years, as long as they can carry a bag, is encouraged to collect litter in the community, and bring it to the "Swop Shop", either in Hermanus or in Kleinmond. They are then given points according to the amount and weight of what they bring. With these points they can then "purchase" pencils and notebooks, or toiletries like soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, or even clothes. These are items they need. The Swop Shops are very popular with the children, and at the same time they are learning to clean up their environment. It's different, and it's making a difference.
The Novalis Ubuntu The University of Cape Town felt it was time that the historic Herbert Baker-designed stone fountain, neglected and with bits missing at its original site in town, should be restored and moved to the South African College School or SACS. It had been part of SACS in any case, when the school was in town. It was a small but meticulously researched project, carefully carried out. It is again fully functional, and correctly part of the school fabric. This is another relic from our heritage which has been saved. The Wilderness Foundation, through its "Pride of Table Mountain" project, has continued to train young people from the communities to become leaders with great success. It has been running for nine years, and many of these young boys and girls have become useful and dynamic citizens. Some of them have now found permanent employment as trail guides on the new Hoerikwaggo Trail from Table Mountain to Cape Point. This project has instilled pride and skills in the youth. John Anthony is a committed environmentalist. He is also a devoted teacher. For years he has combined these passions to instil a strong environmental ethic in all his pupils. This he does in school, as part of his teaching, and in extra-curricular activities. On top of this he is continuously encouraging local authorities in his town of Ceres to take a stand on environmental issues. Not only does he practise what he preaches, he gets results. The Knysna Montessori Hostel houses young people from the school who learn the importance of an all-round approach to their place in life. So it's no surprise to find groups of learners involved in a number of projects outside the school, projects of benefit to the community. Of particular note are the pupils who have undertaken to look after and conserve a group of rare Knysna seahorses, which they undertake diligently and with real concern. Others have adopted a part of the Knysna Pledge Nature Reserve, planted vegetation appropriate for the return of butterflies, and continued this with great success. These young people are a wonderful example to all. The Blanco Primary School Land Service Club boys and girls discovered that several of the caves in the cliffs at Glentana contained features which told of not only the geological history, but also the history of early man in South Africa. These were however being vandalised. The learners wanted to do something about this. They therefore started a concerted conservation campaign: recording what they found, seeking expert advice, cleaning the caves and raising public awareness about the cultural value of these caves. These young people, too, are an example to all. There is clearly a huge swell of genuine environmental concern and application in the community of the Western Cape, as reflected by the number and standard of nominations this year. Of course, not every one of them could be rewarded, but they really are all most worthy contributors towards a better world. The nominees who didn't quite make it: Envirotouch cc was nominated for its environmentally friendly wall paints and wood finishes; Sherwood House Nursing Home for the conservation of the nursing home; and Jeremy Taylor for his commercial water-saving devices. François Hugo was nominated for his work in the protection and rescue of seals: Eskom Koeberg Nature Reserve for the rehabilitation of the natural habitat in Koeberg Nature Reserve; iNkanini Youth Awareness Campaign for trying to preserve the biodiversity of the Macassar dunes; Lindsay Hunt for the establishment of the Solole urban game reserve; the Harmony Flats Community Working Group for their community-based conservation work in the local nature reserve; Buckingham Primary in Mitchell's Plain for their award-winning school mural about water conservation: and Jessica Hayes and Pezula Private Estate, Knysna, for the development of a new environmentally-based residential estate. Nontsebenziskwano Educare was nominated for its vegetable food garden in Phillipi; Zanethemba Non-Profit Organisation for the promotion of township environmental ethics; Dr Margaret Elsworth for her work to enable disadvantaged matriculants to undertake further education; Jacqueline Sara Jones for her devotion towards the improving of personal lifeskills; MG Lethunya for the promotion of an environmental ethic in a school in Ceres; Arabella Country Estate for its environmentally supported golfing estate; Edith Mwezo and colleagues of the Masizame Women's Group in Driftsands for their vegetable food garden and soup kitchen; and Vukani Primary Environmental Group in Phillipi East for its school greening project. Elizabeth Nocele of Luhlaza High School, Khayelitsha, was nominated for a high school environmental club; Thulani Stomele of Khayelitsha for the excellent promotion of arts and culture talent and behaviour; Anthea Torr for house cleaning and body care products using only natural material; and Wasiema Taliep of Hanover Park for improving the life skills of traumatised, disadvantaged children, especially those who are deaf. Nduli Environmental Group of Ceres was nominated for its
river clean-up work; and Pinehurst Primary School, Pinelands, for its
youth school recycling project.
|
|||