Youth called to become enviro activists

By: ABSALOM SHIGWEDHA

YOUNG people should be inspired to unleash their potential in protecting the environment, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Uahekua Herunga, said recently. He said, eventually it is the young people who will endeavour to make the world a better one for the generations to come.

“Let us make our youth our absolute priority and make them central to all our development efforts by creating a world suitable for them,” said Herunga.
He officially launched the two-day 2010 annual Youth-into-Environment symposium being held at the Habitat Research and Development Centre in Katutura on August 23 and 24.
He said the symposium was an important initiative by his Ministry as it wasaimed at recognising, and celebrating, the youth’s potential and participation in decision-making and policy setting in the environment and tourism sector.
Herunga said the overall objective of the symposium was to encourage the youth to take greater pride and responsibility in their lifestyles, behaviour and actions in the communities.
The symposium was organised by the Environmental Education Unit in the Ministry of Environment and funded by the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Development Programme.
Learners who participated in the symposium were drawn from schools such as Haimbili Haufiku Secondary School in Ohangwena region, Concordia College, Ruacana High School in Omusati region and Ekulo Senior Secondary School in Oshikoto region.
The Junior Mayor of the City of Windhoek, Charlton Thaniseb, told the gathering that changes to habitats, over exploitation of both renewable and non-renewable natural resources, as well as environmental pollution, were reducing biodiversity and destroying ecosystems.
“We really need good biodiversity awareness at all levels, be it at executive, judiciary or legislative level,” Thaniseb said.
He said this would help Namibia develop effective laws that would ensure environmental protection and human health, avoid biodiversity loss and ensure crucial environmental services.
The Director of Education in the Khomas region, Josia Undjombala said although the world has agreed to reduce biodiversity loss by 2010 it has failed to do so. He said biodiversity loss continues at an unacceptable rate and if nothing is done, it would result in serious ecological problems.
This, he said, was because of the implementation of bad polices. Undjombala said there is a link between biodiversity loss and climate change and synergy should be created between the two.
He said efforts to address biodiversity loss and climate change should form part of the country’s development agenda.
The symposium was held under the theme ‘Biodiversity For Development.’ 

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