The Ripple Effect Gathering

THE RIPPLE EFFECT GATHERING

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The Ripple Effect Gathering, presented by Protect the West Coast (PTWC), takes place in Langebaan on Saturday 14 March at the Langebaan Town Hall.

As a positive and celebratory forum for stakeholders, communities and residents of the West Coast, the event comprises a series of talks, demonstrations, exhibits, and the screening of a powerful film called Out of Mined.

The Gathering explores and presents alternative economic solutions to a coastline facing increasing cumulative impacts from excessive, unfettered and often illegal sand mining for heavy minerals and diamonds. The event is not anti-development, nor is it an attempt to prevent mining. The event is a positive forum to discuss what is needed for a equitable and sustainable future for the West Coast, including mining that is done responsibly to the letter of the law.

As a platform for attendees, the event provides a mechanism whereby people from different industries, governmental bodies, activist entities, para-statal groups, officials and other key stakeholders can network, and share ideas. PTWC hopes that the Ripple Effect Gathering will be the genesis of a fresh source of energy from which ripples of change and positive energy can spread across the West Coast.

The goal is to start a discussion about how to restore and rehabilitate not just the physical damage from mining along the beaches and coastal belt, but also the cultural integrity of the people who depend on the ocean and land for their livelihoods. A panel discussion entitled The Way Forward will focus on Nature-based Solutions and other economic opportunities in a bid to achieve economic parity for communities, while also seeking ways to protect the environment.

Speakers include top minds working to create conservation areas, and even a contiguous corridor of protected marine environments around SA. There will be people discussing potential to grow a range of industries, such as agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and eco tourism.

Fisher folk and other community members from as far as the Richtersveld - including Koeboes, Eksteensfontein, Sanddrift, and Lekkersing - will be in attendance, as well as other residents and indigenous communities from surrounding areas, with representation from towns such as Alexander Bay, Port Nolloth, Kleinzee, Hondeklipbaai, Doringbaai, Strandfontein, Saldanha and Langebaan.

A number of key stakeholders will speak, including Nama, Cochoqua and Hessequa indigenous elders, culminating in a keynote address by rehabilitation expert Peter Carrick who speaks about his focus on rehabilitating the arid biomes of the Karoo and West Coast, with solutions on how this can be achieved.

RUN OF EVENT

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10h30 – Gather, mingle, stalls open

12h00 – First Nation Blessing

12h15 – Speaker Session (8 x ±7-minute talks)

13h00 – The Way Forward Panel Discussion

13h30 – Out of Mined film screening

14h30 – Mix & mingle

16h00 – Event concludes

16h30 – Final strike down