Call to Canoeists to Join in the Fight
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GAME CHANGERS 13 SUNDAY TRIBUNE JUNE 10 2018 Supported by the Human Elephant Foundation, the Sunday Tribune Game Changers series gives voice to people in KwaZulu-Natal who are making this world a better place for nature and people. Every week we publish the profile of a person who deserves recognition as a Game Changer. All featured Game Changers are nominated for Amaqhawe Awards, which are presented each quarter by Independent Media. E-mail your nomination to [email protected] HEALTH Call to canoeists FACT FILE COXSACKIE viruses are the most common non-polio enteroviruses found in domestic wastewater and in to join in the fight contaminated surface water, groundwater and drinking water. These viruses can cause vomiting, fever, headache, Saving a famous KZN river is rash and diarrhoea, and result in such serious outcomes as aseptic meningitis, the mission of a paddler who myocarditis, respiratory illness, encephalitis, and believes that change is possible, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The stability of the writes Liz Clarke coxsackie virus in the environment, its resistance T’S A widely accepted ible option. to water treatment, and belief that if you haven’t “I could do that, but then its association with a competed in the KZN Dusi I would always think that I range of serious illnesses Canoe Marathon, you aren’t should have done more to underscore the importance Ia real paddler. raise awareness. I would love of maintaining a reliable “It’s one of those things that nothing more than to see the and effective treatment of has just stuck in the world Msunduzi River restored to wastewater and drinking of paddling,” says 10-times good health. It will need huge water. Dusi competitor Brendon Ger- commitment and buy-in from Additional research is maine, who also designs and communities living along the needed on the occurrence of makes boards for KZN paddlers banks. But we have to try, not the coxsackie virus in water at his workshop in Drummond. only for us, but for future gen- supplies, with viral testing “But the sadness is that the erations.” focusing on the identification iconic river that gave birth to It is such an iconic part of specific viruses rather than the Dusi is dying,” he believes. of KZN, he says. “It’s part of viral groups. “Unless we do something our sporting history going The resulting data will lead about it in the next few years, back to environmental pion- to a more complete database the event will no longer be pos- eers like Ian Player who did that can assist in the decision- sible because of the contamin- the first Dusi and realised it making process for water ation and health risks. Already was possible to canoe down the treatment and watershed we are seeing a reduction in river from Maritzburg to Blue protection programmes. – the numbers of competitors. Lagoon.” International Water Works Getting sick is not just a maybe A recent paddling exped- Association in the Dusi. It’s the norm.” ition to Rwanda, he says, For more information, go And Germaine has first- opened his eyes to what is pos- to [email protected] hand experience of the health sible in the way of environ- impact. He has chronic bil- mental awareness. harzia, which many of the “Kigali is one of the clean- Dusi competitors have, and is est cities you can find,” he says. still recovering from water- “Every year, the country cele- Brendon Germaine… on a mission to save a river. born coxsackie virus, which brates a clean-up day. Every- has impacted on his immune thing shuts down – businesses, His search for answers, he like Dean Botcher, John Ivans system and has contributed to restaurants, shops – and every says, is an ongoing mission. and Corran Addison, who are a number of health problems, person is required to pick “Two surfers in America all passionate stand-up pad- which doctors have told him up litter and do something have started a recycling busi- dlers like myself, who want will be with him for life. towards cleaning up rivers and ness making bracelets from nothing more than to be able “I was unable to complete streets. Imagine if we could do plastic found in the sea. They to compete on the river. But the in this year’s Dusi because of that here, it would be a start.” have become must-have fash- river is not well. In fact she is body weakness. Now I have Germaine is encouraging ion accessories, raising money chronically ill.” been warned that unless my his canoeing colleagues to join for anti-pollution outreach pro- Is it a terminal sickness? immune system improves, the in the fight to save the river – grammes. We have enough rub- Germaine and his fellow canoe- likelihood is that I won’t be and to save the race. bish discarded into our rivers ists are hoping and praying it able to compete in the race “At the moment we are look- that could be put to the same is not the case.“One day I want again.” ing into the possibility of a use.” to say to my 5-year old son, Walking away from a nega- research project that would He says there is a growing Brody, that we helped clean tive situation is the easy thing test the water at each stretch understanding that the health the river so that you and your to do. Finding a healthier river of the river to get a better situation with the Dusi cannot generation can paddle without to paddle on, like the Fish understanding of the issues continue. getting sick.” River, would be a more sens- and what needs to be done.” “I have canoeing colleagues [email protected] Stand-boarding on the Msunduzi River is strenuous and exciting, but the health risks are always close by. Everyone can help reduce plastic use TRIBUNE REPORTER ERADICATING plastic pollu- tion begins with small, indi- vidual consumer actions such as avoiding single-use plastic products and recycling exist- ing plastic products wherever possible. This is what Dr Edna Molewa, the Minister of Environmental Affairs, is advocating as the international community marks World Environment Day. This year’s theme is “Beat- ing Plastic Pollution” and governments, industries, com- munities and individuals are urged to explore sustainable alternatives to urgently reduce A new attraction at the Kloof Conservancy Indigenous Gardens Show is the Nature Facts Treasure Hunt. the production and excessive use of single-use plastic prod- ucts. Molewa reiterated senti- ments expressed during her Helping children and indigenous department’s budget vote speech last month, that South Africa was committed to mini- mising plastic pollution and Environmental campaigners collect plastic at Freedom Island in Paranaque, south of Manila, in the Philippines, during the last International Coastal Clean- plant lovers get their facts right that the DEA was looking at up Day, which is celebrated every third Saturday of September in more than 100 countries. PICTURE: FRANCIS R MALASIG/ EPA-EFE/ANA introducing a raft of measures to curb plastic pollution. TRIBUNE REPORTER The show will also high- One such measure is phas- cations (NRCS) – as well as the ment Day, the minister has In this regard, the DEA man- 12 black-owned and -managed light garden transformations ing out the use of micro-beads National Treasury will soon be announced the coming launch ages a number of programmes enterprises. THE 19th Kloof Conservancy – particularly from exotic to DETAILS in cosmetics. These would be reviewing the implementation of the #THUMAMINA/green/ aimed at waste minimisation Furthermore, the DEA is Indigenous Open Gardens indigenous flora. All seven aligned with recommendations and impact of our plastic bag good/deeds for a clean and through the 4Rs: recovery, conducting a third periodic Show will take place next open gardens are at different Dates: Saturday and Sunday, of a plastic material flow study policies. beautiful South Africa cam- reduce, reuse and recycling. review of the NWMS. weekend. Devoted gardeners stages of their transformation, June 16 and 17 undertaken by the department. “Plastic pollution is par- paign, in response to the presi- One such programme, in The review will take into will be showcasing the benefits exhibiting step-by-step pro- Times: 9am to 4pm In line with resolutions ticularly insidious because dential THUMAMINA Initia- line with the objectives of consideration the country’s and pleasures of indigenous cesses of incorporating local Entry fee: R60 donation taken at the UN General once plastics enter the environ- tive. the National Waste Manage- commitment to waste mini- gardening, and there’s a new plant species into a variety of (adults) – includes a slice of Assembly and UN Environ- ment, they do not biodegrade, This campaign aims to ment Strategy (NWMS), is the misation; the further develop- addition to the show – a Nature garden designs. cake and cup of tea/coffee mental Assembly, the study but simply break down into change attitudes and behav- Recycling Enterprise Support ment of the circular economy; Facts Treasure Hunt for kids. The event takes place in the FREE entry for children showed that only 21% of plas- smaller pieces over time,” said iour towards waste and the Programme (RESP) which pro- and consider the capacity Five clues and riddles are Upper Highway area (Winston under 12 tic waste was recycled. Molewa. environment in general and to vides grants for projects. or resource implications for hidden in each of the gardens. Park, Crestholme and Forest Nature Facts Treasure Hunt: The study recommends, “This has a detrimental mobilise every citizen to take These projects are either the implementation of waste The riddles are tailored to each Hills).