Ocean Messengers

Aluminium Smelter good bye

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The Nightmare Aluminium Smelter is history.

Lets learn out of this experience.

Was the smelter just a bad dream?

Ocean Messengers was well aware of the problems Eskom would have to deliver the power to Alcan / Rio Tinto for the Aluminium smelter.

But loss of theoretical jobs and an inevitable pollution risk of the prestigious potential World Heritage site is now at least in terms of Aluminium history.

Smelters around the world are known to cause cancer and pollute the environment and its inhabitants (humans and animals) with deadly effects.

Ocean Messengers NGO was founded to create awareness of these dangers and show to the public and industry how it will effect our Algoa Bay.

Well yet still is to be clarified if rumors of up to a billion Rand penalty Eskom has to pay to Rio Tinto for not beeing able to hold its word to the contract is true.

Yet the work for Ocean Messengers has just started. Oil pollution in PE’s harbour, Coega’s non compliance with marine environment and the rumor that only one pilot can actually manoeuvre ships in and out of coega (written in MyPE 7^th October 09) will have to be challenged.

An Oil Refinery is as bizarre as the Alcan Aluminium Smelter. Environmentaly and constitutionaly very questionable.

It is up to the public to become aware that the tourism potential within Algoa Bay is its future, which is by far better than any polluting and hazardous industry around Coega

A bizzare scenario indeed if one thinks a spending of billion Rands for a “new” oil raffinery will long term justify destruction of already spent billions (of tax payers money) to errect, extend and enhance Greater Addo NP.

If additionally accounted and accumulated the potential value of marine resources and employment (sustainable and long term) will positively effect tourism and the world wide “green” trend to protect the environment.

If PE and its responsible tourism managers as well as its Municipality and Eastern Cape Government reacts to the world wide trend of environmental friendly tourism, PE will have the greatest chance of all cities in the world to become an “Environmental Tourism destination N° 1”.

Which not only covers blue flagg beaches, National Parks, World Heritage Sites (established Bavianskloof and future Algoa Bay) and combined with an International Airport – we Port Elithabetheans would never have to fear recession again ever!)

Yet the present outlook of our Algoa Bays scenario are smoking chimneys, dead animals on non blue flagged beaches and sea water full of sewage and no-return tourists.