ECO-LOGIC AWARDS 2021 SOUVENIR BROCHURE

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Eco-warrior
Award
Proudly
sponsored by
ELANA GREYLING: EARTHLIFE AFRICA
Elana Greyling is a soft-spoken but dynamic environmental defender who works with her
local communities (7 groups around Lephalale in Limpopo Province) and beyond to foster
a deeper understanding of climate change, in relation to their human and environmental
rights. A people’s person, her work promoting a just transition and eco-social justice takes her to
surrounding villages where she encourages eco-friendly lifestyles, providing tangible examples and training to
create eco-economic opportunities
On a mission to empower (mostly young) rural women, Elana leads by example, taking action against eco-rights
violations. As part of the Concerned Citizens of Lephalale (CCL) – a small group of women passionate about
environmental protection and the development of energy-focused skills in their community – she works hard
to ensure that women feel empowered to speak out against issues that negatively affect them.
In addition to all this, Elana also mobilises the women in her community to make submissions on various
proposals that affect them, from speaking out at public hearings regarding Eskom’s price increases to placard
demonstrations against the ongoing air pollution and eco-destruction. She has also been very vocal against
proposed new coal projects, and as a result of these actions, the proposed Thabametsi coal mine project has
been abandoned. This has been an empowering win for the rural women in the region.
LIZIWE MCDAID: GREEN CONNECTIONS
Liziwe has worked for almost three decades at the energy – poverty– community nexus, with
a focus on participative, ethical governance.
After successfully stopping the South African government’s massive secret nuclear deal with
Russia, her latest campaign is to build a broad coalition to oppose oil and gas exploration, as
well as power generation options and technologies that impact negatively on the coastal environment and
on climate change including the Karpowerships deal currently proposed by the Department of Minerals and
Energy. Liziwe has always been an activist. She was active in the struggle for the new South Africa, a teacher
and a scientific researcher in parliament, and then more recently studied her Masters in Climate Change at the
University of Cape Town. Liziwe is a role model, an avid listener and a daring talker. She is a humble leader,
champion and public servant in the full sense of the word.
Liziwe is a strategic person, who has the ability to read and understand people, politics and science. Her strength
lies in her ability to engage with all stakeholders, she is a true advocate, forming connections with all pillars of
society such as government, educational institutions, religious organisations and economic institutions.
THE JULIET CREW
Juliet Crew, the All-Women Wildland Firefighting Project is the brainchild of Dean Ferreira, MD
of NCC Environmental Services. Currently women are not adequately represented in this sector
globally with many people still believing that firefighting is not a suitable occupation for women.
NCC is attempting to address this in the Western Cape while simultaneously providing life changing
opportunities to vulnerable youth. Ferreira says: “Over time they will stand shoulder to shoulder – not male or
female, just firefighters.”
Most of the crew comes from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, many of them are the breadwinners
for their families. Establishing a crew of this nature presented an array of unique challenges, especially as this
industry is predominantly geared for men (i.e. when it comes to standby quarters, clothing design and sizes).
Despite this, the crew have had two very successful fire seasons.
They have received several calls during this fire season, including the most recent devastating fire on Table
Mountain. The ultimate goal for the crew is not to continue being the only all-female crew indefinitely, but
rather to show that women have a place at the fire. That goal will only be reached when they are no longer
labelled as women-firefighters but just be known as firefighters.
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