Botswana

UNDP Commemorates World Environment Day

Gaborone: 6 June 2004: UNDP Botswana joined the rest of the world in commemorating this year’s World Environment Day.

UNDP collaborated with the National Conservation Strategy Coordinating Agency (NCSA), of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife & Tourism, in commemorating the day in the southern village of Good Hope in the Barolong Farms.

Hundreds of people braved the morning chill to start environmental marches from the village Kgotla to the Fair Grounds where ceremonies were held.

The keynote speaker was the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Ronald Sebego who told his that conservation of the environment is a must for all people.

“We should be identified as friends of the environment by the way we interact with it”, he said.

The Member of Parliament, who is also the chairman of the parliamentary Agriculture & Environment Committee, told his audience “our fore fathers had protected and conserved the environment hence we have inherited it with an abundance of natural resources and plenty of wildlife.” As such we are obligated to conserve and preserve it for future generations, he cautioned.

The global theme for the day was “Wanted! Seas and Oceans; Dead or alive”. The Botswana national theme was: Environmental Conservation; Our Responsibility” while the local theme for Good Hope was: It’s our Environment; Let’s Protect it”.

While giving the United Nations’ perspective of the day, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Bjoern Foerde, stated that “Botswana may be far away from the oceans and seas but as we live in a global village I’ll urge you to think globally and act locally”.

Today we live in a global village where the activities of or actions of people living in one corner of the world directly or indirectly impact on the lives of those living on the other side, he said.

“Human activity even in landlocked countries such as Botswana can directly or indirectly pollute oceans and seas on which millions of people around the world depend on for their livelihoods,” said the Resident Representative.

The occasion was attended by various stakeholders including representatives of district and town councils from as far afield Masunga in the northeast, Francistown and Selebi Phikwe. Highlights of the day included keynote messages, environment marches, entertainment by the Botswana Defense Force, traditional music troupes as well as drama.