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Summary of MMSD Southern Africa NEWSLETTER NO. 4 (MAY 2001)

The 4^th meeting of the MMSD Global Assurance Group was held in Johannesburg on 7-8 May 2001. The meeting was a rare opportunity for the region to bring its challenges and issues to the notice of an international audience at an open forum. The ensuing debate included discussion about the following issues:

• The role of natural resources exploitation in conflict on the continent;

• Stakeholder capacity;

• The reticence of NGOs to participate in the MMSD process;

• The value of case studies - both from the regional and international examples;

• Poverty alleviation;

• The challenge of capacity in both governments and other stakeholder groups;

• Small-scale mining;

• The ongoing process after the MMSD project comes to an end.

The source of this article and the papers presented at the meeting are available for downloading on the web. The full minutes of the Global Assurance Group Meeting will shortly be published on http://www.iied.org/mmsd/

MMSD Regional Partners Meeting

On 4-5 May 2001 a meeting of the Regional Partners of MMSD was held. Preventatives from Latin America, North America, Australia and Southern Africa and the MMSD London Working Group got together. Details of the MMSD process in other regions, including research programmes, may be found at:
Latin America – http://www.mmsd-la.org/
Australia – http://www.ameef.com.au/mmsd/

Steering Committee Meeting in Lusaka

The second meeting of the MMSD Southern Africa Steering Committee was held in Lusaka on 9 April 2001. The SADC-MCU hosted this meeting at their head-offices. The full minutes of this meeting are available on the web-site of MMSD Southern Africa (http://www.mining.wits.ac.za/mmsd.html).

Specialist Research Workshop

On 18 April MMSD SOUTHERN AFRICA held a Specialist Research Workshop in Johannesburg. Research co-ordinators from the SADC region and some of their sub-contractors attended this meeting. The aim of the meeting was to reach a common understanding of what was required of the various research groups and to agree on the Terms of Reference, time frame and budget of the research projects. The full proceedings of this meeting are available on their website, along with the final terms of reference. A table of the various research teams is also available.

The Industrial Environmental Forum (IEF) Imbizo*

The IEF hosted its 10th anniversary conference at Stellenbosch from 7-9 May. The conference focused on progress made in the integration of sustainable development programmes into business. A copy of his presentation can be viewed on MMSD Southern Africa (http://www.mining.wits.ac.za/mmsd.html) Website.

The difference between the developed and developing world perspectives on sustainable development emerged as many developed world presenters focused on "green" environmental issues and the implementation of systems such as ISO1400 and stock exchange indicators of sustainability. In the third world we are grappling with issues of poverty, social inequity, health and access to resources, the so-called ‘brown issues’ of the sustainability agenda.

Nevertheless, it was clear from the conference that leading businesses, internationally and in Southern Africa, have placed the challenges of compliance with sustainability at the forefront of their strategic thinking. Many are grappling with ways in which they can practically implement the principles of sustainability.

*Imbizo – a gathering of leaders.

Stakeholder Consultation - broadening the dialogue

During the next few months the Working Group will be holding Stakeholder Meetings in different countries in the SADC region. The aim of these meetings is to report on the progress made by MMSD Southern Africa. If you, as the representative of a stakeholder group in the mining and minerals sector, would like to attend one of these meetings, please contact Marie Hoadley at: hoadley@egoli.min.wits.ac.za

Collaborative Group on Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining (CASM)

The Department of International Development (DIFD), UK, invited MMSD southern africa to participate in a workshop on small-scale mining which was held in London on 27 and 28 March. Charter of CASM (Background, Mission, etc.) is available on the newsletter (see below).

INFORMATION AND CONTACT DETAILS
School of Mining Engineering
University of the Witwatersrand
Private Bag 3, Wits 2050
hoadley@egoli.min.wits.ac.za
Phone +27-11-7177422
Fax +27-11-339-8295
Mobile +27 (0)83-395-0452
http://www.mining.wits.ac.za

The original copy of the Newsletter-May 2001 (349Kb) is available at http://www.mining.wits.ac.za/Newsletter-May.doc