WATCH: First of 75 million trees planted in Durban for global campaign
The recent heavy rains are a result of climate change, said Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula at the Durban ICC on Thursday.
THE Plant Trees, Not Bombs campaign, which will see 75 million trees planted across the globe to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN), was launched in Durban on Thursday, 14 November. Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Global Peace Chairperson Graça Machel were among the dignitaries at the Durban ICC during the launch.
In her speech, Mapisa-Nqakula said the world is confronted with a new threat today: climate change.
“None of us ever thought we would see a tornado on this continent. But just three days ago, we saw it. Climate change is a reality,” she said.
“Early on in our democracy, we realised the importance of the environment and as such, in our 1996 white paper on defence, there is a section that deals with environmental matters. We have now gone beyond that and established an environmental unit within the South African National Defence Force, whose members are here within our midst. It is for this reason that I agreed without hesitation to commit our military to this campaign in the fight against climate change. I believe that we are the only ones that have the capacity to plant the million trees within the next financial year. Today, as we lower this tree from one of our military helicopters, we are demonstrating to our citizens and the world, the versatility of the military. It can also breed life,” added Mapisa-Nqakula.
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The UN’s Under-Secretary-General, Fabrizio Hochschild Drummond said the campaign was a dignified way to celebrate the UN.
“To plant trees at this moment could not be more critical. Trees are a weapon against climate change. Trees catch carbon and convert it into something that is healthy for the planet. Trees are also a very important reminder. Trees are the oldest living beings on this planet. Most of the trees we see around us came into the world before we existed and many of them will be here after us, so they remind us of the future. In so many of our politics, we forget our obligations to the future, we forget that we are not owners of this planet, but care takers. The planting of trees connects us to the next generation, connects us to the generation after that. It represents our commitment to leave behind as much as we inherited,” he said.
He called for the world to re-commit to international co operation to uphold peace and security, adding that from 75 million, he hoped the campaign would grow to 750 million trees.
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