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Environmental rock stars in Antarctica
Environmental rock stars in Antarctica
Writer Elaine Davie
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“If this planet is ever to be saved from the shambles we’ve created, it’s going to depend on our youth, and to inspire them we need young environmental rock stars to lead the way.” This was the thought that drove well-known adventurer and explorer, Riaan Manser of Betty’s Bay to launch his five-year ‘Matrics in Antarctica’ project.
“You can tell people until you’re blue in the face that because of the wanton, wholesale felling of 350-year-old giant Redwood trees, fertile soil by the ton is washing into the ocean, but until they see it for themselves, as I have done, it will have no meaning. So that’s the main objective of this project, to expose young people to the damage being inflicted on the earth and the importance of protecting it,” he explains.
For the past two years Riaan had been planning his own trip to Antarctica, following in the footsteps of the early explorers, but then along came Covid-19. “When it became clear that I would have to put those plans on hold, I decided to make use of the knowledge I had already accumulated and to do something aimed at developing environmental warriors for the future.”
With his characteristic enthusiasm, drive and energy, he had soon sold the idea to a range of partners, from Professor Jonathan Jansen, who became the project’s patron, and a team from Stellenbosch University, to the Minister of Education, Angie Motshekga; Minister of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy and a number of funders with deep pockets. The next step was to launch a call for applications from matrics around the country.
Applicants were required to compose an answer of no longer than 100 words to the question, ‘Saving the planet is a global issue, but what would you do in your own community to make a difference?’ The deadline was November last year. “We weren’t necessarily looking for the top student in the class, or someone who was studying maths or science,” explains Manser. “We wanted to be moved by the applicant. We needed to see a sincere message of concern for the environment, expressed in very few, but powerful words.”
Click on the newspaper below to read more (see page 3).
