ADDRESS BY CLR. NANCY SIHLWAYI: CHAIRPERSON PUBLIC HEALTH STANDING COMMITTEE
LEAD PROGRAMME ON CLIMATE CHANGE:
PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS
METRO OFFICIALS
PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS
MANAGEMENT FROM OTHER ORGANISATIONS
FELLOW COUNCILLORS
GOOD MORNING
It is indeed an honor to have been invited to such an important occasion, an occasion that attempts to sensitize and build capacity of government and other entities in understanding the effectsof population growth. The NelsonMandelaBayMunicipality feels highlyhonored to participate in a program of this caliber. The population growth of our country is affected by many factors and many of them are those that we take for granted and dismiss as not important but they continue to affect the daily lives of our people.
It is interesting to analyzethe impact of how climate change and its adverse consequences in livelihoods, public health, foodsecurity, and water availability, could result in a substantial rise in the scale of migration and displacement. The environmental factors have always been the cause of people living very harsh or deteriorating conditions and search for livable areas for a better life.
The security of existence continues to be a concern facing every living organism. It then becomes our responsibility as government and as responsible organizations to ensure that we develop capacity to deal with almost every imaginable threat and be able to know what the priorities are and understandhow human needs compete with each other,
PD New Green house international Executive director Mr.Kumis Naidoo,an activistin South Africa’s liberation struggle,has made a call to all world leaders to participate in the programe of climate change to ensure that governmentsact responsibly and even said there is no excuse not to attend the upcoming United Nations summit. He urged the leadership to do what is right not what is comfortable.
This opportunity comes when the country is confronted by many developmental challenges as to how best can we build sustainable communities as we address sustainable development. How do we build our understanding of issues such as forestation, over fishing, air pollution, and land use as well as EIA issues which continues to be a delaying factor in development.
The global response on the issue of climate security is a catalystto ensuring that there is food security in response to population growth. The developmental character of the state has got to respond efficientlyto ensure that communities together with government act in unison to maintain social cohesion.
Today we as South Africa together with many African and International Countries have identified the need to converge with one common goal to address the future of our countries and build a clear understanding and develop a comparative view on how we should behave in improving the quality of life of our people and this is a huge step towards resolving the challenges facing the WORLD.
Today we are reaping the dreams of the ANC President DR Xuma who once appeared in the BBC addressing the world to say that the Freedom Charter is a catalyst TO FIGHT FOR a new, democratic world order and here we are today in one room mapping the way forward together in oneness.
It is with huge appreciation that the event of today as a road map towards a long relationship or knot between the countriesof the world has landed in NelsonMandelaBay, the friendly city as it is traditionally known.
In conclusion Programme Directorthe community of the NelsonMandelaBay and the Council as a whole can not wait any longer to benefit from this marvelous program.On behalf of the residents of NelsonMandelaBay, who will be beneficiaries of the programme, you are welcome.
THANK U.
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