What is The Ripple Effect?
The Ripple Effect is a multi-channel awareness and action movement highlighting a human and ecological catastrophe unfolding on the West Coast. The campaign aims to empower ordinary people to help protect the coast, and assist in urgently finding economically viable industries that create a sustainable future for impacted communities.
The campaign underscores the importance of public participation, with a focus on Ripl (www.ripl.co.za), PTWC’s innovative digital platform for the public to review, comment on, object to and appeal against irregular and ill-conceived mining applications. PTWC does not stand against all mining, only those projects that are not up to environmental and other regulatory standards, including adequate rehabilitation and the fulfillment of labour promises.
Rooted in the belief that small actions can create far-reaching change, The Ripple Effect draws on the interconnectedness among all humanity and the natural world. Just as the destruction of one habitat can unravel an ecosystem, so a single act of change can inspire a community, and drive far-reaching, systemic transformation.
The Ripple Effect includes three major components:
- A Multimedia Campaign: Produced by award-winning multimedia storytelling agency, ReWild Africa (rewildafrica.org), The Ripple Effect brings to life the stories of people, communities and ecosystems across the West Coast whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by destructive mining. These are stories that remain unseen and unheard due to the region’s remoteness – out of sight, out of mind.
- The Ripple Effect Public Gathering & Paddle Out: A public gathering and march in Langebaan, South Africa on Saturday, 1 November will bring together thousands of community members, officials, environmentalists, fishers, students and supporters to demonstrate solidarity and call for action. Additionally, a surfers ‘paddle out’ will be held in Langebaan, and remotely – a symbol of the ocean community joining together to support strategic action that prevents the destruction of the coastline.
- PTWC Special Report: The initiative will culminate in the release of a Special Report presenting PTWC’s latest research on the social, environmental and economic damage caused by unsustainable mining. The report calls for policy change, including a temporary moratorium on new mining applications until the cumulative environmental and social impacts of mining can be scientifically assessed, and a sustainable strategy mapped out by stakeholders, communities and government.
How to get involved
A central goal of The Ripple Effect is to make action accessible. The campaign invites all individuals concerned about the future of South Africa’s West Coast to:
- Follow @protectthewestcoast and @rewildafrica and share campaign content on social media to amplify awareness.
- Join the public gathering and/or paddle out at Langebaan Beach, South Africa on Saturday, 1 November at 10:30 a.m., or orchestrate your own paddle out at your homebreak and share on social media under the hashtags: #ptwcprotest #therippleeffect #protectthewestcoast #ptwcpaddleout
- Sign the petition to urge lawmakers to place a moratorium on new mining until a cumulative impact study kickstarts a sustainable economic plan for the future.
- Register for RIPL – PTWC’s digital platform simplifies the Public Participation Process to enable people to easily monitor and comment on mining applications.
The cultural and ecological significance of South Africa’s West Coast
South Africa’s West Coast is a 450+ km coastline from Langebaan north of Cape Town to the Namibia border. The region has been core to the cultures, livelihoods and social fabric of various indigenous and fishing communities for centuries. For the people of Khoikhoi, !Ama and San heritage, some of the world’s most ancient indigenous groups, the West Coast is intrinsically tied to centuries of traditional knowledge, spiritual stewardship of nature and resilient cultural identity.
Beyond its profound cultural and economic significance for sustainable fisheries and agricultural sustenance, the West Coast is internationally recognised for its ecological importance. It encompasses the Cape Floristic Region and Karoo Succulent Region, two of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots – regions recognised for endemic plant species under threat of extinction. The Cape Floristic Region – a UNESCO World Heritage site – hosts nearly 20% of all flora from the African continent. The Succulent Karoo hosts the most succulent species on the planet, of which 40% are endemic.
The region features four internationally recognised Important Bird Areas, two Ramsar wetlands that host over 250,000 waterbirds each summer, and is home to the endangered Black Harrier. Its nutrient-rich Benguela waters nurture Southern Right whales, rare Heaviside’s dolphins and countless marine species, while the surrounding plains sustain iconic antelope and predators such as the caracal and honey badger.
The impacts of unsustainable and unjust mining
Mining on the West Coast has expanded rapidly in recent years, from a handful of applications before 2020, to 65 current mining rights and applications, with more than 20 new applications in the past year alone. Permits are granted ad-hoc, with inadequate environmental oversight and little consideration for cumulative impacts across the region, or a long-term strategy for sustainable development. Heavy mineral sand operations and diamond and phosphate mining have scarred dune systems, destroyed breeding grounds, and adversely impacted communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy land and sea.
The pace and scale of extraction far exceed the capacity for meaningful regulation, or rehabilitation, which requires much improved oversight and governance, which is why PTWC calls for a more strategic approach to managing the region’s natural resources.
Stakeholder quotes
“For us as the Nama people, the use of minerals is not new – our ancestors smelted iron and copper long before modern industry existed. What pains us is not that the land is mined, but that it is taken and left in ruin, without respect for the people or the place,” said Martinus Fredericks, the Tribal Authority Leader of the !Ama people, “Too many decisions are still made about our land without our voices being heard, enriching a small minority while leaving others in poverty. Nothing about us, should be decided without us.”
“Protect the West Coast calls for an immediate moratorium on new mining applications along the West Coast until South Africa adopts a transparent, strategic, and science-based approach to impact assessment,” said Mike Schlebach, Managing Director, Protect the West Coast. “We hope this campaign empowers and inspires others to join this call for processes that uphold the constitutional rights of people and the planet, rather than allowing short-term exploitation to erode a region of extraordinary ecological and cultural importance.”
“ReWild is honoured to stand alongside Protect the West Coast to amplify the voices of those fighting to protect and restore one of South Africa’s most extraordinary regions,” said Justin Woods, Managing Director, ReWild. “This campaign is not only about safeguarding fragile ecosystems from destructive mining, but reimagining a future where local communities thrive through livelihoods that sustain people and the environment. Our role is to help bring these stories to light, bearing witness to the problem, and at the same time celebrating the beauty, resilience, and possibility of the West Coast for generations to come.”
About Protect the West Coast (PTWC)
This South African non-profit was established in 2020 by citizens committed to ensuring that mining on the West Coast is conducted responsibly, transparently and according to social, environmental, and constitutional safeguards. Using legal action, advocacy, and public participation platform RIPL, PTWC holds mining firms and government accountable to protect the region’s unique biodiversity, cultural heritage and communities.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succulent_Karoo
https://www.conservation.org/priorities/biodiversity-hotspots
