Green festival to discuss environmental sustainability
01 June 2015
The second annual Constitution Hill Green Festival, presented jointly by Constitution Hill and the City of Johannesburg, will take place at Constitution Hill over three days from Monday June 1.
The theme of this year’s festival is: “Our City, Our Environment – Should we Care?”
Interestingly, this year’s edition coincides with the Global Environmental Week and will feature various activities aimed at especially creating awareness and educating the youth about environmental sustainability.
Some of the planned activities include a children’s workshop, art exhibition made of recycled materials, a panel discussion and a Green Expo. Environmental enthusiasts can look forward to learning how to give new life to discarded items at an exhibition of recycled art, which will be presented by Vusi Mfupi, Mbongeni Buthelezi and Professor Pikita Ntuli.
On the policy side of things, various pre-eminent speakers and experts in the environmental and economic fields have been lined up for a panel discussion. The discussion will be facilitated by former international footballer and analyst Christopher Bongo.
The panellists will focus on issues such as the green economy, climate change, waste management and agriculture. Among the panellists are Noxolo Mthembu, Head of Green Economy Project Management at the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency; Michael Obien Onyeka, Executive Director of Greenpeace Africa; Ravi Naidoo, Executive Director of Economic Development in the City of Johannesburg; and Tiaan Ethers, Executive Director of Environment and Infrastructure Services in the City.
Extolling the virtues of the Constitution Hill Green Festival, acting CEO Themba Ntuli says the aim is to create a lasting legacy in the institution’s quest for educating communities about the importance of protecting the environment.
He says Section 24 of the Constitution emphasises that everyone has a right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being.