Youngsters unite to protest for a clean and healthy environment

The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) recently held its annual youth climate protest, which focused on addressing issues regarding pollution, oil and gas and renewable energy.

The march, which started at King Dinuzulu Park and continued Durban City Hall, saw about 300 youngsters from various communities unite in the fight for their right to a clean and healthy environment.

The protest was a partnership between SDCEA, 350 Org, Abahlali baseMjondolo, Active Citizens Movement, African Climate Reality Project, African Solidarity Network, Coalition of the Poor, Greenpeace, KZN Sustainable Fisherfolk Forum, Market Users Committee, Mobeni Heights Civic Association, Poor Flat Dwellers, Right to Know, Slow Food Community, Sutton Pool Food Garden, South African Muslim Network (SAMNET), Timberwatch, Ubunye Bama Hostela (UBH) and the United Front.

Despite the inclement weather, the young protestors still gathered in their numbers to show the government how serious the issue of climate change was to them.

Reanne Shunmugam voiced her frustrations on how climate change was affecting her community. She said, “The Sappi Saicor Mill has been polluting the water and air in Umkomaas. This upsets me as it is very unhealthy for my community and it makes us sick. As youth of South Africa, we are tired of the government ignoring our voices and not taking action against climate change as the impacts on our health are catastrophic.”

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Once the marchers arrived at the City Hall, they handed over a memorandum to a representative from the mayor’s office, Leonard Masinga. Some of the demands in the memorandum included the government’s move towards using renewable energy, holding chemical industries accountable for their excessive emissions and to make sure that people’s lives come before profits.

SDCEA intern, Tristan Meek, thanked all those, who participated in the protest and mentioned that this was just a start of what the SDCEA was trying to accomplish with the youth citizens of South Africa.

“We plan to build and develop a strong youth movement to save our future and our children’s future. Climate change is real but the government ignores what we fight for, downplays climate change and grants permission to industries and accepts investments in fossil fuels. Many youth do not understand the concept of climate change and major companies like Shell, Sapref and Engen are killing our people slowly. By holding demonstrations, rallies, meetings and workshops we are educating the youth and galvanizing them to take a stand to save their future. Thank you to everyone for standing together with us and fighting for our future,” she said. 

The march was live streamed on the SDCEA Facebook page by their media and communications officer, Joanne Groom, for those who could not make it.