groundWork Celebrates World Environment Day: Launches Environmental Justice School

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 2 June 2016 – As World Environment Day is celebrated across the globe on Sunday, 5th June, groundWork will kick off its third annual Environmental Justice School. The school aims to build a cadre of informed environmental justice activists who will contribute towards the mobilization, resistance and transformation to a just society.
 
Twenty activists from South Africa, Mozambique and Kenya will for an intensive three weeks be engaged on issues of development, environmental legislation in South Africa and campaigning in areas of climate, energy, air quality, waste, water, land and food.
 
The school’s logo was designed in remembrance of famous environmental justice activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was murdered by the Nigerian state for his campaigning around Shell’s catastrophic oil operations in the Niger Delta.
 
We remember Ken Saro-Wiwa and other justice activists’ work as we go forward in building a new movement of activists who will continue their work in resisting corporate power and fighting for people’s power.
 
On Saturday, 4th June there will be a meet and greet at Red Acres, Merrivale at 16h00, which media are invited to attend.
 
groundWork is proud to have members from the following organisations and movements participating in this year’s Environmental Justice School:
 
Highveld Environmental Justice Network
Khwezumkhono Environmental Justice
Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation
Mining and Environmental Justice Community Network
Mpophomeni Conservation Group
Livaningo
South African Waste Pickers’ Association
Southern Cape Land Committee
Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance
Urgent Action Fund Africa
 
CONTACTS
Megan Lewis
Media and Communications Officer
Tel (m): +27 83 450 5541
Tel (w): +27 33 342 5662
Email: megan@groundwork.org.za
 
Bobby Peek
Director
Tel (m): +27 82 464 1383
Tel (w): +27 33 342 5662
Email: bobby@groundwork.org.za