OPINION: ‘Mistakes will be catastrophic and permanent’

DEAR Editor:

I attended a meeting last Saturday at Ramsgate Lions’ Club to update various members of the local conservancy and environmental groups about recent developments regarding the oil and gas exploration programme.

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The meeting was well-attended, with about 100 concerned citizens and was conducted by Desmond D’Sa of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) and the team.

The main point of the gathering was to inform the local community about the appeal against the recent authorisation granted by the Department of Mineral Affairs to ENI and Sasol to conduct exploration and drilling for oil and gas deposits off the KZN coastline.

The appeal was submitted on October 21 and was based on 10 main objections, these being that the decision taken by the DME did not:

1 place local people and their needs above possible commercial interests and gains;

2 any resultant consequences will not result in sustainable economic, social or environmental development;

3 there were incomplete studies of relevant factors available before those responsible for the decision taken;

4 a risk averse and cautious approach was not followed;

5 the proposed exploration does not present the ‘best’ practical environmental option;

6 the exploration will not enable equitable access to resources;

7 not all interested or affected parties were meaningfully consulted;

8 the interests, needs and values of all interested and affected parties were not properly considered;

9 the social, economic and environmental impacts of the proposals were not considered, and

10 the decision taken is in direct conflict with national policies concerning environmental and social developments.

A lively discussion followed, which demonstrated that local people are well aware of the problems associated with poor decision-making (they are without clean potable water and are suffering considerable hardship as a result).

It is fairly evident that a line is being drawn where concerned and responsible citizens are defending the principles that many give voice to, but lack the commitment to get personally involved. Mistakes could be catastrophic and permanent.

More updates will follow.

“The world will not be destroyed by those that do evil, but by those good men that watch and do nothing.” (Albert Einstein 1879 – 1955)

CROSS

(Concerned Resident of Scottburgh South)

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