HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER LAUNCHES NAMIBIA’S FIRST GREEN CHARITY

Mr. Stephan McGuire, a Producer of the award winning film The 11th Hour starring Leonardo DiCaprio and President of CSAfrica, was the special guest of Mr. Gareth Amos at the launch of Namibia’s first Green Charity, GAWA (Green Awareness Africa).

GAWA was officially launched at Iitumba’s Lekkerkry venue by the Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Minister of Environment & Tourism, on the behalf of His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, The President of The Republic of Namibia. The Hon. Minister welcomed the green initiatives that will be undertaken by GAWA, which will support the continued efforts of the Ministry of Environment & Tourism to ensure Namibia’s favourable Environmental Performance Index (or EPI). According to the EPI, Namibia is ranked 88th in the world, and fourth in Africa.
Namibia’s first green charity, GAWA is a section 21, non-profit organisation which has been established with the aim of leading and growing the Green Movement in Namibia.

Speaking on the philosophy behind the charity, Managing Director of the Interact Group of Companies and founder of GAWA, Mr. Gareth Amos, emphasised that there is no greater imperative than the prevention of the ecological collapse of our planet as reflected in the film The 11tth Hour, and it is crucial that each nation’s people work together to literally turn back the tide of environmental damage.

“Since people spend so much time at work, GAWA’s first objective is to encourage Namibians to practice green awareness in their workplaces, therefore helping them to integrate healthy environmental practices into their everyday activities,” said Mr. Amos.
GAWA’s first initiatives, therefore, will focus locally on the business, corporate and Government sectors. Ultimately, it is the vision of GAWA to be the preferred partner for all green initiatives throughout Namibia.

However, GAWA has already achieved recognition as a credible green charity on the international arena. Mr. Amos especially thanked Mr. Stephan McGuire for traveling all the way from Hollywood, to be a guest speaker at the launch of GAWA.
Mr. McGuire is a partner in Tree Media Group, the company which produced the film The 11th Hour. Narrated by and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the film highlights the urgency of reversing the current ecological collapse, whilst also providing many solutions from experts focusing on sciences such as biomimicry and alternative energies.

Mr. McGuire is also Executive Director of Green Towns USA, a programme of Global Green USA, which focuses on creating healthier communities and American energy independence. Mr. McGuire also produced Woody Harrelson's Voice Yourself website portal and completed web projects for Global Green USA, as well as for the Council on Foreign Relations 2000 Presidential Election Virtual Library.

He is a certified teacher of sustainable, earth restorative farming and living practices known as "Permaculture." Permaculture techniques focus on making communities healthy, culturally rich, and self-reliant models of integrated living. Speaking after the launch of GAWA, Mr. McGuire indicated that it is of great significance that GAWA’s activities will enable the creation of ‘green collar’ jobs, and the establishment of a new ‘green economic sector’ within Namibia.
Mr. McGuire is also the Founder and President of the Coalition for a Sustainable Africa. CSAfrica is an international coalition dedicated to creative and collective solutions for the economic, social and environmental challenges facing Africa today. Mr. McGuire thanked Mr. Amos for the opportunity to be involved in the launch of GAWA, and indicated that he was looking forward to working closely with GAWA and to partnering with Mr. Amos on upcoming initiatives.

Following the launch, GAWA will immediately start the implementation of its first project: The Business Recycling Project. Through this first initiative, GAWA will provide two types of recycling bins to Namibian companies – one for paper products and another for plastic waste. GAWA will liaise with companies to establish a convenient collection cycle, emptying the GAWA bins free of charge, and disposing of the contents at a recycling plant. Initially, these bins will only be available in the City of Windhoek area, but a national roll-out is planned.

Mr. Amos emphasised that GAWA’s first project would not have been possible without the assistance, support and donations of numerous sponsors. Particular thanks go to the official partners of the Business Recycling Project, who are Rent-a-Drum, The Namibian, RadioWave and the Interact Group of Companies. Without their support, in cash, in services and in moral support, GAWA would have remained merely a good idea.

Aside from working together on the GAWA’s Business Recycling Project, Mr. McGuire and Mr. Amos will conduct three corporate workshops from 10 to 12 November 2008. These workshops will focus on how businesses can incorporate environmentally-friendly imperatives into their marketing, brand and corporate social responsibility strategies. PR practitioners, brand and marketing managers, corporate communications managers and business owners are encouraged to attend. Should anyone wish to book at a cost of N$250 per person, please contact Cathy at Interact Advertising on Tel. (061) 245 828 or email cathy@interact.com.na. Space is limited, so please make a reservation soonest to avoid disappointment.

Source:

Designed and developed by Interact DRAFTFCB ©