Let's make decision-making process 'green' - Churcher

Accra, June 3,GNA - Ms Christine Churcher, Minister of Environment and Science, on Friday suggested that national politics should be environmentally sensitive.

"This means that we apply ecological principles and processes to our ways of functioning-at the grassroots levels in face to face, democratic and popular assemblies."

Ms Churcher, who is the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast, was making a statement in Parliament to commemorate "World Environmental Day" which falls on Sunday, June 5, 2005.

"It means politics that is based on education, not just mobilisation, so that we help create active politically concerned, participatory citizenry; not passive and spectator-constituents, who have no control over their destinies."

She said the desire for sustainable cities and communities in national development called for the provision of the required financial support to back political will and commitments to enable the Ministry, its Agencies and Departments to tackle the problems head on. She cautioned that any inaction would only succeed in browning the environment that would be detrimental to the survival of life on earth. She asked that the occasion should be used to reflect on the numerous environmental problems in the country.

Dr Benjamin Kumbour, Member for Lawra Nandom, said the degradation of the environment might be linked to the poor standard of living of the people.

He said hunger usually led people into the temptation of stripping whatever was in view for survival.

The member blamed archaic laws and institutions for the poor environmental conditions in the country. He asked that traditional mechanisms that were used long ago to achieve ecological balances should be explored.

"We love to assume that to achieve development, one must battle against tradition," he said.