Reviving Paradise: War is not a game
The spirit of Ubuntu may be hard to detect amongst our ‘rulers’, but it is alive and well on the South Coast.
Members of The Green Net recently gathered on Tweni beach to oppose the ‘war games’ held off our coastline by Russian, Chinese and South African naval forces. These ‘war games’ not only threaten marine life, especially if missiles are fired; they also create the impression that South Africans support Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Despite our membership in BRICS (formed to promote trade and economic development between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), we benefit from various forms of economic support from the West, for example a donation of $8.5 billion promised by the governments of France, Germany, the UK, the USA and the EU in 2021 under the Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa to support South Africa’s decarbonisation efforts.
This partnership has the potential to save ordinary South Africans from the looming crisis of Eskom’s total collapse as well as the social, health and environmental damage that we face if we continue generating electricity by burning coal. Loadshedding is a luxury compared to no electricity at all, which is where the situation is currently headed. It is up to us to speak up and challenge decisions that do not support our future well-being.
South Africans need to work together and solve problems on the ground. The spirit of Ubuntu may be hard to detect among our ‘rulers’, but it is alive and well on the South Coast, as we saw in the recent July riots, when members of our community banded together, regardless of individual, cultural, political or religious beliefs. We have the skills, energy and heart to create solutions, for our own well-being and for the safety and security of our children and grandchildren.
The Green Net is working on various projects that get food into the ground, clean our rivers, provide drinking water and electricity, provide safe sustainable housing, boost tourism and other local economies, and provide platforms for ordinary citizens to participate in creating a healthy future for all. If you would like to join The Green Net, please contact Helen 084 9872018, Joan 083 2667953 or Chris 079 5068816.
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