Green movement in South Africa
Encyclopedia
The environmental movement
in South Africa
traces its history from the early beginnings of conservation, to the rise of radicalism and activism amongst local ecologists. Before the Chernobyl disaster
and the fall of the Berlin Wall
, there were very few green activist groups in the country. Koeberg Alert
and the Dolphin Action and Protection Group
are probably two of the oldest post-conservation groups.
While most early conservationists, with few exceptions, implicated themselves in the apartheid
system, groups such as Earthlife Africa
were consciously aware of their role as nurturers of freedom and human rights as well as the rights of the earth and animal kingdom. The Cape Town Ecology Group
for example, openly campaigned for political freedoms with a platform that "ecologised politics and politicised ecology".
During apartheid while political parties were banned, environmental groups served as an outlet for activism and political expression. In Durban
, the Environmental Justice Network, sprung up alongside ant-apartheid issues that affected the environment as well as the rights of workers. While many radical environmentalists were later absorbed into the governing African National Congress
, some toyed with the formation of a political party that would represent green interests.
Environmental movement
The environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
traces its history from the early beginnings of conservation, to the rise of radicalism and activism amongst local ecologists. Before the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
and the fall of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
, there were very few green activist groups in the country. Koeberg Alert
Koeberg Alert
Koeberg Alert formed in 1983 and started out as a local campaign against South Africa's nuclear programme, in particular the construction of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. Koeberg Alert is possibly the country's first activist green movement, apart from Nan Rice's Dolphin Action and Protection...
and the Dolphin Action and Protection Group
Dolphin Action and Protection Group
Dolphin Action and Protection Group is a non-governmental organization in South Africa which campaigns for the protection and conservation of dolphins and whales . The group was founded in 1977. DAPG has since then broadened its role and activities and has run many national educational and...
are probably two of the oldest post-conservation groups.
While most early conservationists, with few exceptions, implicated themselves in the apartheid
History of South Africa in the apartheid era
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by the National Party governments of South Africa between 1948 and 1994, under which the rights of the majority 'non-white' inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy and Afrikaner minority rule was maintained...
system, groups such as Earthlife Africa
Earthlife Africa
Earthlife Africa is a South African environmental and anti-nuclear organization founded in August 1988, in Johannesburg. Initially conceived of as a South African version of Greenpeace, the group began by playing a radical, anti-apartheid, activist role. ELA is arguably now more of a reformist...
were consciously aware of their role as nurturers of freedom and human rights as well as the rights of the earth and animal kingdom. The Cape Town Ecology Group
Cape Town Ecology Group
The Cape Town Ecology Group is a South African based radical environmental group, founded in 1987, as a "child of Koeberg Alert", and active until the early 1990s. It espoused a more political-orientated green ideology as opposed to the apartheid-based conservation groups of the time...
for example, openly campaigned for political freedoms with a platform that "ecologised politics and politicised ecology".
During apartheid while political parties were banned, environmental groups served as an outlet for activism and political expression. In Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, the Environmental Justice Network, sprung up alongside ant-apartheid issues that affected the environment as well as the rights of workers. While many radical environmentalists were later absorbed into the governing African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
, some toyed with the formation of a political party that would represent green interests.
Apartheid Era
- 1926: Wildlife Society of South AfricaWESSA- Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa :The Society is a non-government environmental organization of South Africa, was established in 1926, but its origins go back to the 1890s.- Relevance to establishment of other...
founded; - 1973: Endangered Wildlife TrustEndangered Wildlife TrustThe Endangered Wildlife Trust is a South African environmental organisation for the conservation of threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa....
founded; - 1977: The Dolphin Action & Protection Group founded with the motto and policy that 'DOLPHINS SHOULD BE FREE'.
- 1983: Koeberg AlertKoeberg AlertKoeberg Alert formed in 1983 and started out as a local campaign against South Africa's nuclear programme, in particular the construction of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. Koeberg Alert is possibly the country's first activist green movement, apart from Nan Rice's Dolphin Action and Protection...
founded; - 1986: ChernobylChernobylChernobyl or Chornobyl is an abandoned city in northern Ukraine, in Kiev Oblast, near the border with Belarus. The city had been the administrative centre of the Chernobyl Raion since 1932....
disaster - 1987: Cape Town Ecology GroupCape Town Ecology GroupThe Cape Town Ecology Group is a South African based radical environmental group, founded in 1987, as a "child of Koeberg Alert", and active until the early 1990s. It espoused a more political-orientated green ideology as opposed to the apartheid-based conservation groups of the time...
founded; with motto: 'FREE THE HUMANS' - 1988: Earthlife AfricaEarthlife AfricaEarthlife Africa is a South African environmental and anti-nuclear organization founded in August 1988, in Johannesburg. Initially conceived of as a South African version of Greenpeace, the group began by playing a radical, anti-apartheid, activist role. ELA is arguably now more of a reformist...
formed; - 1989: Earthlife AfricaEarthlife AfricaEarthlife Africa is a South African environmental and anti-nuclear organization founded in August 1988, in Johannesburg. Initially conceived of as a South African version of Greenpeace, the group began by playing a radical, anti-apartheid, activist role. ELA is arguably now more of a reformist...
exposes mercury poisoning of workers at Thor Chemicals ; Kagenna MagazineKagenna MagazineAn alternative magazine from South Africa. Started life as an underground zine published shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and grew into an irregular, irreverent and entertaining read at the newsstand. Published in Cape Town, the magazine carried articles by activists, anarchists,...
is published - 1990: A fishing industry campaign by the Food and Allied Workers UnionFood and Allied Workers UnionThe Food and Allied Workers Union is a trade union in South Africa.FAWU is an affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions ....
links workers issues to the environment; - 1991: First National Conference on Environment and DevelopmentSouth African National Conference on Environment and DevelopmentThe first National Conference on Environment and Development in South Africa was held at the University of the Western Cape during June/July 1991 . It saw at least 231 representatives from a wide range of organisations discussing the links between environmental degradation and the political...
; Environmental Monitoring Group releases a document "Towards Sustainable Development in South Africa"; General Magnus MalanMagnus MalanGeneral Magnus André De Merindol Malan was the Minister of Defence , Chief of the South African Defence Force and Chief of the South African Army.-Early life:...
takes over as new Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry; Bev Geach of the Weekly Mail publishes The Green Pages, a directory of environmental groups - 1992: Earthlife Africa pressurizes the government for an inquiry into asbestos related deaths. Environmental Justice Networking Forum (EJNF) formed at an ELA conference.
- 1993: Group for Environmental Monitoring (GEM) founded.
Post-Apartheid Era
- 1994: After South Africa's first democratic election, environmental rights submitted for debate to the Constitutional Assembly.
- 1995: eThekwini ECOPEACEEThekwini ECOPEACEECOPEACE Party, previously eThekwini ECOPEACE, and before that eThekwini Ecoparty, is a nationally registered environmental political party in South Africa that was founded in 1995. eThekwini is the isiZulu name for Durban. The isiZulu ECOPEACE motto Buhlakuleni uButhi, Yitshaleni iMithi means...
founded - 1996: South Africa's Bill of Rights proclaims: “Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being.”
- 1997: The ANC government moves to provide lead-free petrol as one of its first pro-environment policies
- 1998: The Truth Commission hears about asbestos-related deaths from mining
- 1999: Groundwork (GW), a non-profit, environmental justice service and development organization founded by 3 ex-EJNF activists
- 2000: South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA)formed; eThekwini ECOPEACEEThekwini ECOPEACEECOPEACE Party, previously eThekwini ECOPEACE, and before that eThekwini Ecoparty, is a nationally registered environmental political party in South Africa that was founded in 1995. eThekwini is the isiZulu name for Durban. The isiZulu ECOPEACE motto Buhlakuleni uButhi, Yitshaleni iMithi means...
wins one seat in the eThekwini Municipal Council, the first time a Green Party of any sort in South Africa has won at the polls - 2002: Rio+10 World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg; Earthlife launches the People’s Environmental Centre, the Greenhouse.
- 2003: Asbestos Relief Trust (ART) set up, and the Kgalagadi Relief Trust (KRT), both of which evaluate claims and provide compensation for qualified claimants. A media statement, indicates that the ban on the use of asbestos and asbestos-related materials was "well overdue." National Energy Caucus founded.
- 2004: Marthinus van SchalkwykMarthinus van SchalkwykMarthinus Christoffel Johannes van Schalkwyk is the Minister of Tourism in the Cabinet of South Africa. Formerly both Premier of the Western Cape and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Africa, he was the leader of the New National Party from its inception on 8 September 1997 until...
appointed as Minister of Environmental Affairs and TourismSouth African Ministry of Environmental Affairs and TourismThe Department of Environmental Affairs is one of the departments of the South African government. It is responsible for protecting, conserving and improving the South African environment and natural resources.-Branches:... - 2006: EskomEskomEskom is a South African electricity public utility, established in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission by the government of South Africa in terms of the Electricity Act . It was also known by its Afrikaans name Elektrisiteitsvoorsieningskommissie . The two acronyms were combined in 1986 and...
, South Africa's national energy utility issues energy-saving lightbulbs to consumers as part of a "demand-side" energy-reduction campaign.- Dept of Environmental Affairs and Tourism holds hearings on nuclear power. First evidence of contamination and worker-related deaths caused b exposure to radiation.
- 2009: South Africa participates in the Copenhagen Climate Change round.
See also
- eThekwini ECOPEACEEThekwini ECOPEACEECOPEACE Party, previously eThekwini ECOPEACE, and before that eThekwini Ecoparty, is a nationally registered environmental political party in South Africa that was founded in 1995. eThekwini is the isiZulu name for Durban. The isiZulu ECOPEACE motto Buhlakuleni uButhi, Yitshaleni iMithi means...
- Green Party of South AfricaGreen Party of South AfricaThe Green Party of South Africa is a small political party in the Western Cape province. It has similar policies to Green parties around the world, and is a member of the Federation of Green Parties of Africa....
- Federation of Green Parties of AfricaFederation of Green Parties of AfricaThe Federation of Green Parties of Africa is the organization of Green parties in Africa, similar to other continental Green Party groupings like in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe.-Member parties:*Benin: Les Verts du Benin...