Arbour week celebrates good green deeds

Climate change is the 21st century’s greatest threat to both humanity and biodiversity. The massive increase in the amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere by industrial processes, transportation and veld fires (to name a few) is increasing the global temperature which is resulting in an adverse change in weather patterns.

In recent years South Africa has experienced several a serious droughts, abnormal flooding and abnormally high temperatures resulting in crop losses, water restrictions, and impacts on food and water security (DEA, 2019).

Africa has the task of balancing the acceleration of economic growth and transformation with the sustainable use of environmental resources and responding to climate change (DEA, 2019).

Studies have shown that trees are the most important carbon sink, taking the carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis. To help correct this serious damage to our biosphere, Eco Culture are doing their part to combat climate change through environmental education awareness campaigns and planting of trees.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “If each and every one of us does at least one green good deed daily towards our Green Social Responsibility, there will be billions of green good deeds daily on the planet”.

Arbour Week is celebrated annually on the first week of September. Eco Culture will celebrate the event the whole month of September with schools and communities in Cosmo City, Randburg. Our aim will be to educate the society on the importance of trees in the environment and how they positively affect people. We will be hosting awareness campaigns in seven schools in Cosmo City. Two of the primary schools, Cosmo city West primary and Cosmo City Primary 1 will get the opportunity to enjoy performances from Joburg Ballet on the 6th and 13th of September respectively.

Guest speakers from respectable organizations will also be joining on the events, including: The Johannesburg philharmonic Orchestra, Sean from Grow A Tree, Lizeka from SANBI, and Dineo from Dineo Environmental Consulting. The MMC for Community Development Ms. Nonhlanhla Sifumba from the City of Johannesburg will also be joining us on 13th September 2019. More than 20 large trees sponsored by GDARD will be planted at the schools.

The date for the school awareness campaigns are as follows:

• Blue Eagle high school 4th September 2019 from 11am
• Cosmo West primary 6th September 2019 from 12:00pm
• Cosmo City primary 1 13th September 2019 from 12:00pm
• Secondary 1 high school 13th of September- from 07:30
• Cosmo Junior primary 19th September 2019 from 07:15
• Tirisano Mmogo primary 23rd September 2019 from 07:15