Oil and Gas
exploration has been earmarked for the entire coastline of South Africa through
operation Phakisa, a project launched by president Zuma, to use our oceans as a
resource for offshore oil & gas drilling. This has the potential to produce
petroleum along our coastline and create mess by producing other toxic
substances including mercury, lead, arsenic and barium. These toxins are
devastating for the health of fish, wildlife and the people who live and feed
off of the coast.
The Oil and Gas
activities start with seismic testing. Seismic surveys have been found to kill
fish eggs and larvae and impair the hearing and health of fish, making them
vulnerable to predators and leaving them unable to catch prey, find mates or
communicate with each other. These disturbances disrupt important migratory
patterns, pushing marine life away from their natural habitat. In addition,
seismic surveys have been implicated in whale beaching and stranding incidents.
And this is only
the beginning, if these tests come back positive and Oil deposits are found,
offshore oil rigs will be erected and our oceans and its marine life will be at
great risk to oil spills. This will spell disaster for those who eke a
livelihood on the coast of South Africa. Therefore, we are calling for
fishermen, bed and breakfast owners, small business owners, surfers, all those
that have a love for the ocean and care for its marine life, to join us at our
awareness meeting we will be holding in Scottburgh on the 14th of
November 2017.
The meeting will be hosted at Scottburgh Town Hall at 17:00.
Dr. Jennifer
Olbers of Ezemvelo Wildlife will be presenting on the dangers and impacts
seismic surveys have on the ocean and its marine life. Jennifer has been
working closely with us to ensure this message is spread to as many coastal
towns and communities as possible. Samuel Chademana the climate and energy
campaign manager at f groundWork will also
present at the meeting on the challenges both people, mammal and
business will face along the entire coastline His talk on the socio economic impacts of Oil and Gas
exploration in the parts of Africa where it has caused destruction will very
enlightening for everyone .
We urge all
those who eke a livelihood from the coastline of Kwa Zulu Natal as well as
those who have a love and respect for our ocean and its marine life to join us
and listen to our message regarding the devastating impacts of oil and gas
exploration. We are better united and nothing can proceed with speed if we are
all involved to stop this destruction!
Date: 14
November 2017
Time: 17:00
Venue:
Scottburgh Town Hall
Contact: Chadley
Joseph – 031 461 1991/ Cell 0795011773 or chadley@sdceango.co.za
(SDCEA Project
Officer)
I read this.. Sadly there is always a price to pay for mineral resources.. This sounds very bad
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