Activists unite against oil and gas exploration
The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance supporters gathered at a number of coastline beaches last week.
The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) together with activists from the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, recently picketed against oil and gas exploration in the oceans.
According to the SDCEA, many corporations (such as Shell, SASOL, ENI, Total Energies) are flocking to the South African coastline to explore for oil and gas.
“The impacts for this are immense and affect not only the marine life but fisherfolk who rely on the ocean for their livelihoods, surfers, swimmers, traditional healers, and all ocean lovers and users,” said Oil, Gas, Livelihoods project officer Janeira Reddy.
The SDCEA and its supporters united last Wednesday, at numerous beaches along the coastline, and stood in solidarity with subsistence fishers and small-scale fishers within coastal communities whose livelihoods are most at risk from the potential negative impacts of offshore oil and gas exploration and production.
Pickets were held at Rocky Bay beach near Scottburgh, Umkomaas beach, Amanzimtoti beach, Umgababa beach, Westbrook beach, Snake Park beach and Cuttings beach to say no to oil and gas exploration, no to fossil fuels, no to fish killings and yes to clean healthy oceans.
“The SDCEA is known for taking on oil giants who want to exploit our beautiful oceans for oil and gas,” added Reddy.
“Oil and gas exploration has the potential to destroy our tourism industry, recreational opportunities and the sustainable livelihoods our marine life provides us and to amplify the climate chaos.”
She explained that the SDCEA wishes to highlight the ongoing struggle for environmental justice for the poor and marginalised people who continue to suffer from ill health linked to fossil fuels, and who will suffer the most from a changed climate which will be further compromised once these corporations begin drilling.
“Potential impacts could be felt by coral reefs (including deep sea corals which are incredibly slow forming and sensitive), whale species like the humpback and southern right whales, fish species and bird species. Drilling may also impact the sardine run, an important ecological process and socio-economic contributor to the east coast and its communities.”
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