Nationwide Protest to Save SA Coast

Written by

Spike

December 8, 2023

Our ungodly obsession with fossil fuel has come to a head as nation-wide protest action erupts around South Africa against the tsunami of oil and gas surveys and drilling around our coast, writes Spike.

Protests are being held all around the country tomorrow 9 December against, for starters, the authorisation by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) for Total Energies, using UK-based CGG, to conduct a speculative 3D seismic survey in the Algoa/Outeniqua Basin off the Southeast Coast of South Africa.

The survey - unless public appeals (deadline 13 December) or court action prevent it (see below for details of how you can make a difference) - starts in January 2024. The blasts will go on every few seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 5 months. The blasts are heard for thousands of kilometres. Research increasingly shows that whales stop singing, fish go deaf, and plankton die. The area off the Cape covers more than 12,000 square kilometres and will take place through whale migratory routes.

This approval ignores the precedent set by the court victory against Shell when their seismic survey was stopped off the Wild Coast. Then there is the controversial decision by the Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Barbara Creecy to reject an environmental appeal off the coast north of Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay on the West Coast, which means seismic surveys by Searcher (known from the Shell East Coast debacle) are planned to start after 1 January 2024 unless it is taken to court.

There is also Creecy's recent decision to reject the environmental appeal against oil and gas exploration in blocks 567 (from Gansbaai on the South Coast to Doring Baai on the West Coast). This means Total Energies can start drilling anytime from now unless it is taken to court.

The protest actions are taking place on the global day for climate justice in line with COP28 in which the global climate justice movement is coming together to continue to advocate for a fast and fair phase out of fossil fuels.

SWAMPED: The entire country is mapped for surveying or drilling for fossil fuels. Source Green Connection

The international conference which is meant to be a place for making equitable progress on climate change and energy transitions, has been steeped in controversy and disappointment while the COP28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, has been accused of abusing his position to try to sign oil deals.

Communities, environmental activists, civil society organisations, and legal experts have expressed concern over the lack of public consultation and proper processes being followed around the exploration authorisations.

Of particular concern is the impact that these surveys will have on the livelihoods of small scale fishing communities and those in the tourism sector, marine life such as turtles, fish, whales and plankton, as well as local coastal economies which are founded on healthy marine environments.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

* APPEAL: for details email info@plettenvironmentalforum.co.za or click here
‍* SIGN the petition - https://chng.it/PYksqb6FFt and share it!
* SHARE the info with your network and SHARE on social media
* More details on this group https://chat.whatsapp.com/DqSwo2Q6va44CqagsvZ6ZS

Research increasingly shows that whales stop singing, fish go deaf, and plankton die.

BAD FOR SEA LIFE: Scientific research has shown many negative effects to marine life. Graphic Jocelyn Adamson

Join the group nearest you tomorrow 9 December:

Sedgefield: Wild Oats Market; 7:30am - 11am
KZN: Mfazazane Beach, Mtwalume; 10am - 12 noon
East London: Chintsa East, Main Beach; 10:30am
Knysna: Opposite Shell Garage, 44 Main Rd; 12 noon - 2pm
Saldanha: Pepper Bay Harbour; 10am - 12 noon
Port Elizabeth / GQ: New Brighton Beach; 9am - 11am
St Francis: Cape St Francis Beach; 9am - 11am
Port St Johns: Mngazi Beach; 10am - 1pm
Cape Town: Muizenberg Beach; 10am - 12 noon
Plettenberg Bay: Central Beach; 9am - 4pm
Durban: Suncoast Beach to Ushaka Beach; 9am
Mtunzini: Main Beach; 9am
Gauteng: Pretoria & Johannesburg (Friday, 08 Dec at 6:30am)

Whatsapp groups

Appeal & Protest Forms:
Paternoster Activations:
Cape Town
Stilbaai
Vleesbaai
Mossel Bay
George/Wilderness
Sedgefield
Plett/Knysna
St Francis
J Bay
Algoa Bay
Port Alfred
EL to Coffee Bay
Port Edward
Durban
Richards Bay
Mtunzini
Gauteng

More infomation

All the information on the seismic testing approval here
‍Information on the impact of seismic testing here
Look at this post on Facebook:
Carte Blanche video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MWsPhIfgcY

Hashtags to use

(Selected to increase visibility on campaign posts, and are platform specific)

INSTAGRAM HASHTAGS (you can select up to 30 hashtags in total)

#COP28UAE #YouthClimateAction #PlettenbergBay #SATourism #southafricathroughmyeyes #southafricatravel #southafricantourism #gardenroute #gardenrouteaccommodation #PlettRage2023 #travelsouthafrica #oceanbreeze #marineconservation #TotalEnergies #plett #plettsummer #plettitsafeeling #plettenbergbay #plettARTSfestival #dolphinwatching #dolphinswmimming #tsitsikamma #tsitsikammanationalpark #neocolonialism #touristattraction #touristattractions #naturetourism #blueflagbeach #environmentalstewardship #leavenotrace #blueplanet #environmental #environmentalist #environmentalimpact #wildlifeconservation #exploitation #africatravel

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO TAG

@cggcompany @totalenergies