Fiona Macleod
Anita Roddick, founder of international cosmetics success The Body Shop, challenged the South African government this week to put its lip-gloss where its mouth is when it comes to supplying the country’s energy needs.
She plans to make power generated by natural processes such as wind and solar energy as opposed to nuclear energy or fossil fuels a major item on the agenda of World Summit 2002. The summit, expected to draw about 50 000 delegates, will be hosted by Gauteng next September.
Roddick has joined forces with Greenpeace for the “Choose Positive Energy” campaign. Launched in June, the campaign is using The Body Shop outlets around the world to gather support for renewable energy.
A veteran rights and environmental activist, Roddick arrived in South Africa this week to launch the first Body Shop outlet in Johannesburg.
Shortly after her arrival, she met Johannesburg World Summit Company CEO Moss Mashishi to conscript government support for “green” energy.
“Can Eskom continue to forge ahead generating 90% of all its electricity from coal-fired power stations? Will fossil fuels be the back-bone of domestic and industrial energy supply for the next generation?” Roddick asked.
“The answer is blowing in the wind or more precisely, the growing number of small solar and hydro-electric projects being established in rural communities across the African continent.”
The campaign aims to secure a commitment from world leaders at the summit to choose renewable energy sources for 2-billion of the world’s poorest people within 10 years. Its advocates say this will not only reduce global warming but will cost less than half the $500-billion likely to be invested in fossil fuel power stations and infrastructure in poorer countries.
South Africa is a central figure in the nuclear energy debate, with its plans to start manufacturing and perhaps export mini-nuclear reactors from next year. Earthlife Africa and other local NGOs have been fighting a rearguard action against these plans.
The campaign has already received more than 100 000 pledges of support.