Everyone and every organisation – big or small – has the power to make a difference to the planet. That was the core message of the inaugural Eco-Logic Awards, which took place in Cape Town on Friday, 18 November.
Mike Kerr, from Port Elizabeth, was awarded the Eco Angel Award which is awarded to an individual, whose actions have conserved, nurtured or restored the Earths life forms, eco-systems or natural resources. This award is in recognition for Animal Outreaches participation in the care of animals in the poorest of poor communities and numerous Spayathon’s in areas such as Missionvale, Joe Slovo, Shamrock, Langboss, Patterson and Valencia.
“Us greenies are often fighting the symptoms, and not the cause of environmental problems,” said David Parry-Davies, the editor of The Enviropaedia, South Africa’s leading reference to the green revolution and the driving force behind the awards.
“If we want different environmental circumstances, we need a change of mindset. We need to evolve and become Ecological human beings,” he continued.
“However, we should not just focus on the doom and gloom, but also on those who excel. That is why this evening, we are celebrating the phenomenon we call Eco-Logic.”
One of the main award winners was Mariette Liefferink. She walked away with the Eco Warrior Award for her ongoing fight against Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Gauteng region.
“Mariette is a warrior of note, we salute you. Thank you for the work you do,” Parry-Davies noted while handing her the award.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to veteran environmentalist John Ledger. For many years he has played a leading role in protecting South Africa’s vultures from modern threats such Eskom’s power lines.
Other winners 14-year old Tanya Meyer from Johannesburg, who scooped the Eco-Logical Youth Award for her conservation and eco awareness work at school in Northcliff.
“This young lady is impressive,” Parry-Davies pointed out, referring to, among other things, Meyer’s owl project. This initiative saw her high school’s yard being used to help to reintroduce the owl in the area.
Apart from individuals, various organisations and companies too were put in the spotlights. While music festival Rocking the Daisies and the Share Net project of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA) shared the Climate Change Award, Plastics SA won the Recycling Award).
Among the other green champions were De Beers’ Diamond Route (Biodiversity Award), car rental company Avis (Best Water Conservation Programmes, Products or Services) and transport firm Imperial Logistics.
The latter took home no less than two awards: one for the Best Energy Saving Programme, Product or Service and one for the Best Programme, Product or Service that Reduces Environmental Impact in Transport.
“This event has been awesome, as it has brought together so many likeminded people who are all concerned about the environment. Together we can push things forward,” said Paul Jennings, founder of Rights for Rhinos and one of the finalists for the Eco Warrior Award. “I did not win but being nominated has been a fantastic acknowledgement.”
In May this year, together with his friend Sboniso Phakati, Jennings walked from Musina to Cape Town to raise funds and create awareness about South Africa’s rhino situation.
“So far 366 rhinos have been poached in 2011, up from 333 animals over the whole of last year,” he said. “Rhino poaching in South Africa is highly organised. The killings are orchestrated and are not done randomly. If things continue like this, we might lose over 400 by the end of this year.”
Ending the slaughter and making people aware of the fact that South Africa needs its rhinos was the main reason behind the men’s 1 743 km walk.
“We did it mainly to create awareness with regards to the fact that rhinos have rights too,” Jennings said. “In the process we managed to raise roughly R60 000. These funds will be used to set up an educational Rhino programme in Kwa Zulu Natal. We will call it Rights for Rhinos Phase 2. So we are not done yet.”
It is just this kind of initiative and passion for making a difference that the Eco-Logic Awards hopes to encourage well into the future.
