Turning the Tide

Middens and caves exposed at promontories around the South African coast show us our ancient and collective reliance upon the sea, as a species. Omega fatty acids from shellfish grew our intelligence, phases of the moon and tides engrained the concept of long time, and our cultural identities were defined by the sea. Our cosmologies taught us as a people that all water must remain pure, that the sea is to be respected, for us to survive. Our ancestors are not some talis-humanity magically rendering the sea religious; it is the sea that gives our ancestors their meaning. They are in relationship with each other, and us. When viewed on a map these sacred sites, collectively, look like a shell necklace encircling our land. 

So too, when we act to protect the sea, to clean our beaches and to show up to protest against offshore oil and gas  – we form a cordon against harm. Movements grow because more and more people find meaning in getting involved; more and more people engage in local consequential actions. We saw that when we petitioned the ministers to stop the Wild Coast seismic survey (nearly half a million signatures). We saw the imperative of local actions when we marched, boycotted and held beach protests against Shell and Impact Africa, which stirred the ire of our Minister of Minerals and showed his colours were pinned to the mast of Shell. We impressed the journalist who described the campaign as the biggest environmental protest in the history of the country.

What if we hadn’t marched, what if each of us hadn’t showed up – would the world know about our collective resistance?

As cormorants flying in formation, it is the brave^[1] who lead perilously close to the waves. It is the brave who are heralded by us all. Because we act collectively it is easier for the next one to join ranks. Because we act collectively, en masse, time and again, we can block out the heat of the rising sun. But it is the state petro-imaginary – Mantashe’s Gas Master Plan – which will lock us in to further emissions, further heat and further extreme climate events. Instead of socio-economic development, this plan will exacerbate social inequalities and vulnerabilities.

Both ministers – Minerals & Energy plus Fisheries, Forestries & Environment – appealed the High Court granting of the interdict with Shell and Impact Africa on the 17th against the coastal and fisher communities, at the Supreme Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein. When Impact Africa’s counsel became obtuse about the ministerial sign off of the obligation to ensure that Shell’s intentions be “made known”, one judge reminded counsel that in fact honourable Minister Mantashe is from the Eastern Cape and should ‘know’ full well the sacred regard for the sea.

Justice Bloem’s interdict judgement at Makhanda High Court, 13 December, last year,

“What this case is about is to show that had Shell consulted with the applicant communities, it would have been informed about those practices and beliefs and would then have considered, with the applicant communities, the measures to be taken to mitigate against the possible infringement of those practices and beliefs. In terms of the Constitution those practices and beliefs must be respected and where conduct offends those practices and beliefs and impacts negatively on the environment, the court has a duty to step in and protect those who are offended and the environment.” 

A seduced, risk-tolerant, permissive government needs to recognize why the ocean needs to be protected in the first place. This is why our fisherfolk affiliates, Masifundisi, committed to travel to support affiliates Sustaining the Wild Coast outside the courts on Friday, joining Amadiba Crisis Committee, The Green Connection, The Cry of the Xcluded and the Botshabelo Unemployed Movement.

Community action, protests and Vigils were held in Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western and the Eastern Cape. Supporter Lori Lake spoke of the importance of “not letting our humility keep us from action” during the Clifton Not-on-our-Watch ocean vigil. Gabriella shared a vigil meditation with us. A focus at each event was the importance of ecological kinship and our ancient mariculture, building alliances and the urgency of defending, regenerating and enhancing the ocean commons. 

Judgement was reserved.

Reflections on the Vigil by Lori Lake:

Our gathering at Clifton 4^th beach turned out to be a small an intimate gathering. Just a handful of people came to celebrate our oceans and stand in solidarity with the activists and fisher folk. Yet is was a beautiful evening lit by the last golden light of summer and it provided a space for us to gather, share, listen and connect with like-minded people, and to build community.

So I draw some strength and encouragement from the words of Margaret Mead who said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

There is no time to waste.  The time to act is now. 

It is time to channel our love of the ocean into action.  It is time stand together, to stand in solidarity with the communities of the Wild Coast who are defending our oceans against Shell in the Supreme Court of Appeal – and to raise a blue flag, to draw a line in the sand, and to say loudly, clearly and unequivocally we stand for Oceans Not Oil.

In the words of Arundhati Roy: 

“Another world is not only possible, she’s on her way and, on a quiet day, if you listen very carefully you can hear her breathe.”

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• ^[1] Sustaining the Wild Coast NPC; Dwesa-Cebe Communal Property Association; small-scale fishers Ntsindiso Nongcavu, Sazise Maxwell Pekayo, Cameron Thorpe, Mashona Wetu Dlamini from Port St Johns and Kei Mouth; community members from Xolobeni; and All Rise Attorneys for Climate and the Environment

Video creds: Ntsindiso Nongcavu; SDCEA; Luke Lerotholi; Lori Lake