By Samson Moekoena
In Parys, Free State, people from the “polluted heart of South Africa” are camping on the banks of the Vaal River this week, protesting the poor action and false solutions offered by world leaders in Paris, France, and calling on the South African government to institute an early peak and steep decline in emissions if it is serious about supporting Africa’s position of limiting warming to under 1.5 degrees Celsius. Participants say that “a liveable future is in the hands of ordinary people” who are affected severely by the inequality stemming from an economy shaped by the use of dirty energy and cheap labour. The camp is hosted by the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) and the South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA).
For more information please call:
Samson Mokoena / Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance / 084 291 8510
Paulos Nobela / South African Waste Pickers Association / 073 890 1875
Musa Chamane / groundWork / 082 380 2237