Enviro Day to focus on seas, oceans

WORLD Environment Day will be marked in Namibia and the rest of the world on Saturday.

This year’s theme, ‘Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive?’, has particular significance for Namibia as a coastal country that depends heavily on the ocean and its resources. The theme aims to focus attention on how the earth’s seas and oceans should be treated, and how every individual can act to keep it healthy and alive.In Namibia sub-themes have been identified to celebrate the day.These include:Taming the Floods – a look at the impacts and effects of floods; Water Resources – looking at issues such as water utilisation, marine and coastal environments, wetlands and inland waters; and Climate Change – looking at the environmental, social and economic effects of climate change.A series of activities have been planned to celebrate World Environment Day in Windhoek.Some events got underway at the beginning of the week.These include an information and poster display in Zoo Park which runs until tomorrow.An environmental video is being screened at the FNCC between 14h00 and 18h00 until tomorrow.On Saturday, a public commemoration will take place at Zoo Park from 10h00 to 13h00.It will include speeches by Government and the UNDP, performances by Kayec and Jackson Kaujeua and an environmental drama.Other activities include a tree-planting initiative and competition for primary and secondary schools as well as paper and can recycling campaigns.A technical discussion will be held on Talk of the Nation on NBC TV next week, while chat shows on radio are also planned for the week.In line with this year’s theme, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is working on a long-term project to curb pollution.According to Lizette Voges of the National Marine Information and Research Centre at Swakopmund, the awareness and education campaign will aim to prevent and control waste generated by fishing vessels and fishing factories and through other marine-related activities.It will also create awareness of the danger, impact and effect of pollution on the marine environment and resources.Voges told The Namibian that a series of posters and pamphlets would be ready by the end of July to kick off the campaign.One pamphlet will concentrate on anglers and their activities that generate pollution.These will be handed out to each angler when they buy a fishing permit.A pamphlet that focuses on pollution from vessels will be distributed by fisheries observers to crews on vessels.Voges said a section on pollution had been included in the training of observers.The campaign will also be part of an exhibition at the Henties Bay Fish Festival early in July.World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to raise environmental awareness and to encourage action to protect the environment.The day is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.The objective is to give a human face to environmental issues, to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development, to promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues, and to advocate partnerships which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.Many roleplayers have been involved in planning this year’s commemoration in Namibia.They include several Government, NGO and private sector partners, including the Ministry of Environment & Tourism, Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources, Ministry of Agriculture Water and Rural Development, NamWater, City of Windhoek, Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, Namibia Nature Foundation, Earthlife Namibia, Optimedia, the National Museum, the United Nations Information Centre and the United Nations Development Programme.The programme sponsors are Commercial Bank of Namibia (Go-Green), Namibia Nature Foundation, Shell Namibia, British High Commission, Earthlife Namibia and Coca-Cola.The theme aims to focus attention on how the earth’s seas and oceans should be treated, and how every individual can act to keep it healthy and alive.In Namibia sub-themes have been identified to celebrate the day.These include:Taming the Floods – a look at the impacts and effects of floods; Water Resources – looking at issues such as water utilisation, marine and coastal environments, wetlands and inland waters; and Climate Change – looking at the environmental, social and economic effects of climate change.A series of activities have been planned to celebrate World Environment Day in Windhoek.Some events got underway at the beginning of the week.These include an information and poster display in Zoo Park which runs until tomorrow.An environmental video is being screened at the FNCC between 14h00 and 18h00 until tomorrow.On Saturday, a public commemoration will take place at Zoo Park from 10h00 to 13h00.It will include speeches by Government and the UNDP, performances by Kayec and Jackson Kaujeua and an environmental drama.Other activities include a tree-planting initiative and competition for primary and secondary schools as well as paper and can recycling campaigns.A technical discussion will be held on Talk of the Nation on NBC TV next week, while chat shows on radio are also planned for the week.In line with this year’s theme, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is working on a long-term project to curb pollution.According to Lizette Voges of the National Marine Information and Research Centre at Swakopmund, the awareness and education campaign will aim to prevent and control waste generated by fishing vessels and fishing factories and through other marine-related activities.It will also create awareness of the danger, impact and effect of pollution on the marine environment and resources.Voges told The Namibian that a series of posters and pamphlets would be ready by the end of July to kick off the campaign.One pamphlet will concentrate on anglers and their activities that generate pollution.These will be handed out to each angler when they buy a fishing permit.A pamphlet that focuses on pollution from vessels will be distributed by fisheries observers to crews on vessels.Voges said a section on pollution had been included in the training of observers.The campaign will also be part of an exhibition at the Henties Bay Fish Festival early in July.World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to raise environmental awareness and to encourage action to protect the environment.The day is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.The objective is to give a human face to environmental issues, to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development, to promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues, and to advocate partnerships which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.Many roleplayers have been involved in planning this year’s commemoration in Namibia.They include several Government, NGO and private sector partners, including the Ministry of Environment & Tourism, Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources, Ministry of Agriculture Water and Rural Development, NamWater, City of Windhoek, Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, Namibia Nature Foundation, Earthlife Namibia, Optimedia, the National Museum, the United Nations Information Centre and the United Nations Development Programme.The programme sponsors are Commercial Bank of Namibia (Go-Green), Namibia Nature Foundation, Shell Namibia, British High Commission, Earthlife Namibia and Coca-Cola.