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As we approach the World Environment Day on 5 June 2004, we want you to help the environment by making small but significant changes to your daily life.  A clean, healthy environment means a better quality of life - we all benefit from cleaner air, fresh water and healthier land. Therefore we all have a responsibility of caring for the environment not only for ourselves but also for future generations.

Environmental hazards
Our well being depends on the state of the environment. Polluted and degraded environment could cause diseases or lead to progression of some diseases, e.g. in the case of people with weak immune system as a result of HIV/AIDS. When water is contaminated, people will suffer from waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, bilharzia and others. Similarly, when the air is contaminated people will suffer airborne conditions, which include respiratory problems and others. The land cannot not sustain lives if it is degraded. We spend more productive hours at work. Therefore, it is important to keep the work place safe, healthy and environmentally friendly. 

How to pledge
Below we suggest things that you can do to help save the environment. By pledging to carry out just one of them, you will do your bit to reduce environmental degradation, preserve water or reduce the growing problem of waste. We are encouraging everyone to make pledges, register them below and then carry them out throughout the whole year. We will certainly make a big difference through our combined efforts to save the environment. 

What is your pledge?

• I will replace one light bulb in my house with an energy saving version
• I will make my business greener by observing environmental laws and standards
• I will make my business worker friendly by complying to Occupational Safety Health and Environmental (OSHE) standards
• I will start using a shopping bag when doing groceries 
• I will throw rubbish in a bin
• I will stop washing dishes under running water
• I will report any leaking pipe 
• I will turn off the tap when I brush my teeth
• I will recycle waste
• I will use a bucket to wash my car
• I will not smoke in public
• I will plant one tree either in my garden or as part of community forest

About World Environment Day
The World Environment Day is commemorated each year on 5 June. It is an important day to all of us because we sustain life from the environment.

The theme for this year’s celebrations is Wanted! Seas and Oceans-Dead or Alive? The theme asks that we make a choice as to how we want to treat the Earth’s seas and oceans. It also calls on each and every one of us to act. Do we want to keep seas and oceans healthy and alive or polluted and dead?

Your mind could be saying, "We do not have oceans and seas in Swaziland." Yes! You are right! But think about our rivers. Do we want to see them polluted and dead? 

Act now, make your pledge and send it to Yonge Nawe.