With Durban to host the seventeenth conference of the parties (COP17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC) and CMP7 being held in Durban later this year it came as no surprise the annual Community Engagement hosted by the Durban University of Technology (DUT) would have a green theme in mind.
The event which took place at City Campus Arthur Smith Hall started on a sad note with a moment of silence as a candle was lit in memory of photojournalist Anton Hammerl who was recently killed while on assignment in war torn Libya. Speaking towards the life of Hammerl, Mbali Dhlomo, vice chairman of the Dut journalism advisory board said “It takes people of courage to be in front of the lines to be our eyes and ears and we shall keep them in our prayers.” Adv Robin Sewlall who is also the head of department for the Journalism department added that society depends deeply on journalists to know what is happening.
Many NGO’s where present to talk and educate the audience more on the climate. Organisations included the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA), Durban Green Corridor, One Home One Garden, KZN Substance Fisher’s Forum and many more.
Gabriella Peppers speaking on behalf of the Durban Green Corridor spoke about the uMngeni Green Precinct and Green Hub which are an innovative and sustainable, environmentally responsible building at Blue Lagoon Park, housing nature based tourism, education and promotion centre. When asked by an audience member what initiatives the Durban Green Corridor has in place to better educate the youth of the impoverished neighbourhoods that they work around. Peppers had to elaborate that both the uMngeni Green Precinct and Green Hub are continuously working with the communities of uMngeni and iNanda to educate them more about the environment and it surroundings. “Just recently we had a graduates in the iNanda area where we gave them employment while teaching them about the environment and the many alien plant which are a huge problem for the area” said Peppers.
WESSA activist Jenny Duvenage made a point to educate students who dared to listen outside of the Arthur Smith Hall, teaching us about the importance of a clean green planet. Duvenage apologised for the lack of material saying she would have loved to bring more but a problem with a printer prevented her. Making reference on the upcoming seventeenth conference of the parties (COP17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which will be held in Durban later this year, Duvenage said “This is the time for all of those who believe in a better world to stand together and represent a united front.” She continued saying this world affects all those who live in it and if we continue to treat it this way we will bear the consequences.
The day ended on a high note with the top achieving students in the journalism department being awarded for their performance on the previous year.
