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Earthlife Africa, Environmental Justice Networking Forum and COSATU Shift to Renewables ?– put the PBMR to rest 11 June 04 The Cabinet?’s approval of a programme to develop human capital and improve research and innovation in relationship to the PBMR project should be really reconsidered. We need a mind shift away from equipment based industry to labour intensive industry. Indeed, there is a great need for South Africa to maintain its competitive edge in relationship to technological and scientific capacity development and also empowering institutions and enabling youth to take active participation in research and development. However, this trend should be to develop labour intensive industries such as renewables. If we look at the creation of sustainable jobs ?– jobs for the majority of South Africans, then renewable energy technologies (RETs) are the way to go. Institutions and investments in green science and technological educational and training programmes would mean jobs for thousands of unemployed South Africans especially youth. For example, for a fraction of the cost of 1 PBMR demo plant, we could create 15 000 jobs, and in so doing, provide 600 000 households with a permanent hot water supply. Implementing such a programme countrywide would decrease the peak residential demand for electricity by 40%. COSATU, EJNF and Earthlife Africa Cape Town call on government to hold a national nuclear summit where the PBMR can be laid to rest for once and for all. Sibusiso Mimi 072 494 1395 Earthlife Africa Cape Town Liz McDaid 082 7315643 Earthlife Africa Cape Town Tony Ehrenreich 082 7733194 COSATU Msi Njwabane 083 9825022 Ace Khabane 083 5778933 Environmental Justice Networking Forum Victor Munnik 082 9063699 Earthlife Africa Johb. ?? |
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