Dear all

I attended a EIA course recently that highlighted in detail the importance of PP not only from a EIA perspective, but all activities that has interested and affected parties.

What stood out for me was the amount of SA law make provision for PP. The most important law that specifically speaks to the rights that each individual has is the Constitution.Through the constitution SA has declared itself a "participatory democracy". That allows for each SA citizen to participate in policy making and decision making.

The Constitution in terms of section 24: Environment. States that everyone has the right a) to an Environment that is not harmful to their health pr well being and b)to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that: to prevent pollution and ecological degradation, 2) promote conservation, 3) secure ecological sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

Section 32 also speaks to the right to assess to information and Section 33 the right to just administration action. There are a number of legislation that gives effect to the Constitutional Right.

I found it so amazing that SA has these fantastic laws to protect the environment and the people yet they are so poorly/to not enforced at all. The stakeholders that are the greatest affected by potential harmful activities are the ones that don't know the law and their rights, and often has the most to loose. Getting people to participate is a big challenge if they do not know their rights and the importance to participate. Often Companies employ an "Independent" public participation consultant that only does the minimum requirement in terms of the EIA process, and the minimum is not enough. We as stakeholders has so much laws and regs at our disposal its not perfect, but we have them but its not being used to its full extent.

Bernacia

What to communicate? I think this should be information that will be effective and efficient to both parties in terms of digest and implementing. Information that is beneficial to stakeholders who are central as we earlier discuss issues of who should be involve and these can be referred to that. From there you will be able to know what information to communicate because if you are communicating to someone who is not interested and do not expect to benefit this will be off no use. We are communicating to learn and share in the sense that all stakeholders involve will have the chance to voice their ideas/experience in what is being discuss and hear from others too. We also communicate to make change in the life of stakeholders/people.
Effective communication is by stakeholders understanding the process of participation, why do they need to participate and the mode of communication that can be use so that the information can be digest by stakeholders. Effective communication depends on effective organizing, planning, controlling and motivation of stakeholders. Great module.