Breaching the peace

Noseweek Issue #167, 1st September 2013   By Hilary Venables


Breaching the peace

While South African environmentalists have focused on fracking in the Karoo, the world’s energy giants have already begun invading other vast swathes of ecologically sensitive South African territory in the hunt for oil and gas. But because it’s offshore, over the horizon and out of sight, hardly anyone seems to have noticed. By Hilary Venables

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Keywords:
marine prospecting concessions
offshore gas prospecting
dugongs
Environmental Management Programme
seismic survey rig
Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act
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Submitted by : Anne Delaet of Somerset West on 2013-09-13 23:41:13
Dear Mr Stephenson,

Be aware that at death's door, your immortal "spirit" may plunge into the body of an innocent sea creature, you will be in deep waters ...

@theist
 
Submitted by : Jenny Smith of Hyper By The Sea on 2013-09-03 11:01:24
Richard you have read the Noseweek article - From your response it is obvious that you feel this "Petroleum exploration" - a euphemism for decimating our ocean life - is justified as somehow it will benefit the poor in the communities you represent.
No mention is made as to who will benefit but I remain convinced that the only people who will benefit will be from the top echelons of power and their cohorts. This is in no way an opportunity to uplift the poor but just another Tenderpreneurs paradise.
 
Submitted by : Richard Stephenson of Port Elizabeth on 2013-08-29 10:48:16
Heather, I represent a few million people so the term "catch a wake up" falls a little short of objectively giving me your best advice on why I should "start objecting as vociferously as possible".

Every situation has two, or even more, sides to it. I can assure you that I am wide awake. So leave the politic and emotions to one side and tell me what I should tell the rural peoples of the affected Kingdoms? Why should we stop this type of development? Why should we stop an industry that could employ our people and buy our agricultural produce and add tax revenue to our government, both local and national. Come and look the people of our rural areas in their eyes and tell them to not accept this type of development because you have better options and ideas for them to consider, to lift them up and give them hope.

But please, a word of advice if I may, do not tell them to catch a wake up!!

Yours sincerely

Richard Stephenson
Secretary General
Royal Monarchs Council, Eastern Cape.
Richard@rmcec.co.za
 
Submitted by : Jenny Smith of Hyper By The Sea on 2013-08-29 09:31:32
Catch a wake up Richard Stephenson and start objecting as vociferously as possible as you have been given misleading information. After reading this article we should all be demonstrating - Walker Bay in Hermanus would be a good place to raise national and international alarm!!
Has Hermanus Tourism any idea that their whale watching days are coming to an end?
What is it with the ANC that their short sighted greed allows no respect for our Parks or our Oceans?
 
Submitted by : Richard Stephenson of Port Elizabeth on 2013-08-28 14:08:22
Good afternoon and thank you for this article.

I have registered as an I&AP for the Wild Coast Exploration activity on behalf of the Royal Monarchs and their peoples from the Kingdoms along the Wild Coast. They (Impact Africa) have come to consult with us on one occasion but obviously the consultation was from their perspective.

This article has given me more (additional) information and I would ask that anyone who can enlighten us as to what to expect in the future should please contact me via email so that I can bring it to the Royal Monarchs Council, Eastern Cape's, attention, should it be necessary.

Based on the information given to us so far we have supported their application for prospecting license, but also advised them that if we feel we have been misled or misinformed, we reserve the right to withdraw our support.

Yours sincerely

Richard Stephenson
Secretary General
Royal Monarchs Council, Eastern Cape.
Richard@rmcec.co.za

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