SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTS AND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING People abuse the environment. In many parts of the world the environment has become unsafe and unhealthy for people, animals and plants. The Constitution says that everyone has the right to a safe and healthy environment. It is the responsibility of every person and community to look after the environment. It is the responsibility of various levels of government to ensure that environments and services are safe and healthy.

Laws, regulations and rules Parliament Provincial gov. Municipalities Makes laws for the whole country Make laws for their own provinces Make laws for their municipal areas Laws – statutes; Acts; sets of rules Regulations – the details necessary to implement the laws Rules – procedures that have to be followed, or ways of doing things

Laws that promote safe and healthy living 1. The National Water Act Regulates the management of water sources so that everyone can have access to clean water; it protects the quality of water resources. 2. The National Health Act Has rules about the access to health care services; basic health care for children; and how provinces and municipalities should deliver quality health care services. 3. National Environmental Management Act Protects the environment; promotes conservation; and has rules about pollution, ecological degradation, waste management, and the use of natural resources.

4. Meat Safety Act Promotes the safety of meat and animal products; it includes rules about how abattoirs should be operated so that meat is safe to be eaten and so that animals are treated humanely. 5. Environment Conservation Act Monitors and protects the environment against pollution, deterioration, and poisoning so that people can have a safe and beautiful environment in which to live. 6. Consumer Protection Act It makes people responsible for the safety of food they sell; follow standards set by government; keep certain foods cold; control pests and rodents; dispose of waste such as expired food in a safe way.

7. National Veld and Forest Fire Act Its purpose is to prevent and stop veld, forest and mountain fires.

Different national government departments have particular responsibilities to keep the environment safe and health, for example: 1. Department of Social Development Facilitates and supports health related programmes such as vaccinations and HIV and AIDS and access to health services; co-ordinates programmes for street children; redresses and discourages harmful practices such as forced marriages. 2. Department of Water Affairs Makes sure that South Africans gain access to clean water and safe sanitation. 3. Department of labour Inspects workplaces to make sure they are safe and healthy.

4. Department of Health Co-ordinates and monitors all health services in the provinces and municipalities.

The responsibility of local government and municipal councils is to promote safe and healthy environments. They can make by-laws, which are laws and regulations that apply in a particular area or town. A municipality can have by-laws for: ► Emergency services – fire prevention; burning refuse; fireworks; fire protection in buildings; transport; supply and delivery of dangerous goods. ► Public health – sanitary services including sewage system and toilets; water supply; boreholes and wells; swimming pools; keeping of animals; nursing homes; accommodation (hotels / boarding houses).

► Public open spaces – parks; prohibited activities including rules for walking dogs; tree preservation. ► Street trading – prohibited and restricted conduct; cleanliness. ► Water services – applications and fees; unauthorised use and interference; testing; sewage; drainage installation and maintenance. ► Cemeteries and crematoria – disposal of bodies, coffins and graves, care of graves, cremations.

Community services – services which are provided by the municipality. Local governments and municipal councils deliver services such as electricity, refuse collection, water, traffic control, clinics, and fire services. Further examples of community services: ● Provide free basic services such as water and electricity to people who are too poor to afford them. ● Build libraries. ● Construct and run sports facilities. ● Have disaster risk management procedures in place to identify, prevent or reduce disasters. ● Create awareness of fire hazards and install fire extinguishers at schools.

● Provide water tanks to residents so that they can collect rainwater in areas that are affected by drought. ● Create employment opportunities and transfer skills through – e. g. training people to upgrade roads in their own town or remove alien invasive vegetation. ● Start and give funds for community food gardens. ● Run health programmes that deal with specific health issues such as nutrition, HIV and AIDS, TB and the health of women and children. ● Form community policing partnerships between the South African Police Services and communities to fight crime. ● Look after the welfare of animals such as abandoned or mistreated animals or pets of people who can’t afford to have them treated when they are ill. ● Look after street children, orphans, and abandoned children. ● Help addicts and their families. ● Provide public transport. ● Develop and maintain cemeteries.

Educational and intervention programmes: impact studies There a variety of programmes that have an impact on safe and healthy living. The programmes may be organised by, for example; NGOs, organisations, businesses, schools, community centres, religious institutions, municipalities, and the Department of Health. Educational programmes = aim to teach people and make them aware about issues that affect them. Intervention programmes = address particular and urgent problems and try to improve them. EXAMPLES: Pages 161 and 162

Community Health Intervention Programmes (CHIPs) Sport against crime NICRO: Safety Ambassadors Recycling Day Youth Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness Programmes

FORMULATE A PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT FOR LIFE DEFINITION Something that states a purpose, aim or goal

To formulate your own mission statement, consider the following aspects: 1. Personal views Your personal views are your opinions and what you consider to be important. Your personal views may be influenced by your goals for your future, your religion, culture, and values. 2. Values are personal beliefs that guide the way you live your life. They are your standards of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Some of the things that shape your values are your life experiences, the environment in which you live, your school, your interests and the important people in your life.

3. Belief system Your belief system is the way you try to understand the world and your place in it. It answers the questions such as, “Why am I here? ” Who created the world? ”. It is also your set of beliefs about what is right and wrong, true or false. Your belief syatem may be based on the teachings of a formal religion or it may be part of your cultural belief system. 4. Ideologies are an organised set of beliefs, values and ideas. They are the way you believe you should live in the world and the way society should operate. POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES = Democracy, communisim, nasionalism, and fascism. ECONOMIC IDEOLOGIES = Capitalism, socialism and marxism. These different ideologies have different ideas about, for example, social welfare, religion, patriotism, health care, and the justice system.

5. Lifestyle (physical and emotional well-being) Your lifestyle is how you live your life on a daily basis. You may exercise regularly, eat healthy food, practice safe sex, and not drink alcohol so that you care for your physical well-being and health. You make sure that you are emotionally healthy by spending time with your friends, and taking part in community activities. 6. Environmental responsibility If you take your responsibility towards the environment seriously, you know you need to treat nature with respect. You do not do anything that is harmful to the environment. You recycle and get involved in environmental clean-ups. 7. Goals for study and career choices Your goals for study and career choices are your plans for the future, the steps you need to take to achieve your later goals in life.

Formuleer ‘n persoonlike missiestelling vir jou lewe ‘n Persoonlike missiestelling is jou padkaart vir die toekoms. Dit kyk na waar jy nou is en waar jy binne 3 -5 jaar wil wees. Jou missiestelling sal verander en ontwikkel namte jy verander en nuwe dinge oor jouself leer. ● Wees kort en duidelik – hou jou missiestelling kort genoeg sodat jy dit in groot letters op een vel papier kan skryf of dit op jou kamer muur kan hang om jou te inspireer. ● Wys waarop jy wil fokus en op die soort mens wat jy wil wees. ● Sê wat jy wil doen en wees, nie wat jy nié wil hê nie; wees positief. ● Soek ‘n aanhaling van iemand wat jy in besonder vir die mens wat hulle is en/of wat hulle bereik het. Voeg dit by jou missiestelling om jou te inspireer.

Impact of vision Your vision has an impact on your action and behaviour in life. It can: ● affect the choices you make. ● drive you to achieve and do well. ● give you the inspiration and the will to carry on when there are challenges in your life. ● make you achieve the impossible. ● guide you when you set goals. ● make you committed to achieving your goals. ● make you work hard to achieve success. ● be the light that shows you the way when you are not sure what to do.