BERTCHEN Kohrs of Earthlife Namibia is asking Government to deter the holding of a planned rock concert in the Spitzkoppe area.
The environmental group said it was the fourth time that an event like this would happen there and a huge event was planned with about 300 visitors expected and 13 rock bands performing. “The overall aim of the organisers is to increase the magnitude of this event gradually and eventually create a cultural festival which can be compared with the ‘Oppiekoppie’ in South Africa”, said Kohrs in a press release yesterday.Earthlife added that “protection of our unique environment for present and future generations is Earthlife Namibia’s main objective” but what they termed questionable activities of local and foreign companies and individuals, in many cases sanctioned by Government, had destructive and irreversible impacts on our nature.”Take for instance mining in protected areas.How will our once pristine Namib-Naukluft Park look after uranium and other deposits have been exploited by mining companies? As a visitor one needs a permit to enter certain areas of the park while at the same time massive damage is done through mining of uranium, granite and marble.Earthlife members fail to see the logic behind this.”It is most upsetting that the beauty and uniqueness of pristine environment like the protected Namib-Naukluft Park, the Skeleton Coast Park and in fact the whole coastal area, just to name a few, are spoiled by mining and other destroying activities, so-called ‘development’.”Earthlife’s concern is the massive negative impact the sensitive area of the Spitzkoppe will be exposed to.Visitors will arrive in cars and on motorbikes, they will have to overnight, they will have to be fed, they will have to relieve themselves.It is unavoidable that the presence and activity of so many people will have severe impacts on the natural environment.There will be massive pollution by means of litter – including human excrement – and noise, disturbance to fauna and flora and other major damage to a prime tourist area.”Earthlife urgently requested the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to look into the situation and act to stop such destructive activities.”The overall aim of the organisers is to increase the magnitude of this event gradually and eventually create a cultural festival which can be compared with the ‘Oppiekoppie’ in South Africa”, said Kohrs in a press release yesterday.Earthlife added that “protection of our unique environment for present and future generations is Earthlife Namibia’s main objective” but what they termed questionable activities of local and foreign companies and individuals, in many cases sanctioned by Government, had destructive and irreversible impacts on our nature.”Take for instance mining in protected areas.How will our once pristine Namib-Naukluft Park look after uranium and other deposits have been exploited by mining companies? As a visitor one needs a permit to enter certain areas of the park while at the same time massive damage is done through mining of uranium, granite and marble.Earthlife members fail to see the logic behind this.”It is most upsetting that the beauty and uniqueness of pristine environment like the protected Namib-Naukluft Park, the Skeleton Coast Park and in fact the whole coastal area, just to name a few, are spoiled by mining and other destroying activities, so-called ‘development’.”Earthlife’s concern is the massive negative impact the sensitive area of the Spitzkoppe will be exposed to.Visitors will arrive in cars and on motorbikes, they will have to overnight, they will have to be fed, they will have to relieve themselves.It is unavoidable that the presence and activity of so many people will have severe impacts on the natural environment.There will be massive pollution by means of litter – including human excrement – and noise, disturbance to fauna and flora and other major damage to a prime tourist area.”Earthlife urgently requested the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to look into the situation and act to stop such destructive activities.
