Emissions, dig-out port on SDCEA’s long-term agenda
The SDCEA sets up its agenda as new steering committee elected.
THE new steering committee for the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) has been elected and the 2014-16 action plan announced.
At the SDCEA biennial general meeting on 16 August, a report back on the organisation’s activities and financial report was tabled and the 2014-16 action plan announced. This led, a few days later, to the announcement of the SDCEA steering committee, which comprises Vanessa Black as chairman, Shirley Petersen, deputy chairman, Brenda Pratt as treasurer and Colleen Naidoo, deputy treasurer.
At the meeting, outgoing chairman, Shirley Petersen reported on the work of SDCEA over the last few years, including the pilot holiday programme and congratulated co-ordinator, Desmond D’sa on his Goldman Environmental Prize. “It gives me great pleasure to say that SDCEA gets international recognition as it celebrates its 19th anniversary since its formation in 1995. Never did we think this small organisation that started off with one type writer and a page in Dr Bobby Peek’s family home would one day be known to the world on such a prestigious platform,” said Peterson.
D’Sa announced the plan going forward, which includes tackling long-standing problems. “We continue to face challenges of high emissions from the petro-chemical and chemical industries that results in health being affected. The new challenges we face include the development of the dig-out port and expansion of port-related activities, such as rezoning of residential areas to industrial, the possible displacement of people, the destruction of our green lungs and open spaces as well as the disastrous impacts on our ecosystems and biodiversity,” said D’Sa.
He thanks the staff, committee and community volunteers for their contribution to the SDCEA.
