Protect the West Coast

Protect the West Coast is super excited to announce the launch of our new range of bags and backpacks, all of which are made from upcycled materials, and combined with style, functionality, durability and sustainability, are the perfect new partners for your West Coast (and overseas) travel adventures. Designed by Dominique Le Roux and hand made by local artisans in Cape Town, the bags are fashioned from repurposed yacht sails and Bedouin tents. Each one comes in individual colourways and is a unique, one-of-a-kind product, with its own history embedded in these durable quality, fabrics. All our bags satisfy a practical need when traveling or exploring, and do so sustainably. Not to mention that the profits from these items will go back into fighting to #protectthewestcoast Every piece of merch that is purchased helps us continue to fight these greedy companies who are destroying our natural West Coast and its communities that have called it home for thousands of years. We have backpacks, moon and cross-body bags, travel kits, totes, duffel bags, laptop cases and many more. All of these are now available on our website and in a variety of different colours. Visit our shop get yours. Let us know in the comments what you think of our new range of bags and backpacks or what else you think we should make. https://lnkd.in/dhgdkwRx

Our Communications Manager Miles Masterson recently appeared on Australian Barrelled surf podcast to talk about the work of Protect the West Coast. https://lnkd.in/d9i7AXrg

Record turnout for Run West 2024 raises R25k for PTWC; new Trans Hex West Coast applications perfect test for Ripl digital public participation portal; PTWC launches new range of unique upcycled bags and backpacks; Al Jazeera English publishes article 'The surfer and the tribal chief fighting to save a 550 km South African coast' featuring PTWC MD Mike Schlebach and advisory board member and South African !Ama leader Goab Martinus Fredericks.

New West Coast mining applications by Trans Hex perfect test for Ripl Protect the West Coast is encouraging its supporters to sign up to their new public participation portal Ripl by commenting on a double application by Trans Hex. The mining company has applied for a marine diamond mining right offshore of two eco-sensitive areas and a multi-commodity prospecting right in multiple concessions totalling 321km2 along a huge 80 km swath of the West Coast. The giant crawling machines they intend to employ potentially threaten fisheries, marine and coastal ecology and three marine heritage shipwreck sites. The recently launched Ripl platform gives the public a chance to register as an Interested & Affected Party (I&AP) and comment and object to mining applications – a key part of how these applications are considered, especially if there are objections about the impact on the environment and communities. The deadline for comments and objections is October 1, so please sign up and lodge your concerns post haste. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d9-tDf8T Or sign straight up to Ripl here: www.ripl.co.za

A big thanks to Nick Dall for his article 'The surfer and the tribal chief fighting to save a 550km South African coast' on the Al Jazeera English website featuring PTWC's Mike Schlebach and Martinus Fredericks. This great piece outlines the struggle the communities of the Northern Cape have had with a mining industry that does not seem to care about the environment or people, just profit. Thanks to the rallying cry and support of Protect the West Coast, after years of isolation the Richtersveld community have renewed hope that they might finally benefit from the riches beneath their feet and that the last remaining stretches of coast will remain undefiled by beach mining. The fight is far from won, but we are united in our commitment and up for it! https://lnkd.in/dmu76Qxk

Protect the West Coast's innovative new digital tool is set to revolutionise the fight against unchecked mining on the West Coast.

Protect the West Coast (PTWC) is pleased to announce the launch of Ripl, our innovative new digital public participation platform, developed in partnership with ibay connect a leading Cape Town digital agency. The platform is designed to simplify and expand public participation in mining applications on South Africa's West Coast, empowering people to voice their concerns and hold the mining industry and government more accountable. “With Ripl, we’re not just fighting one mining company at a time,” says PTWC MD Mike Schlebach, “we’re mobilising a movement. Every objection counts, and together, we’re amplifying public voices in ways that can no longer be ignored.” Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ds8a92Pm Or watch the video: https://lnkd.in/dF9bSvV4

Protect the West Coast (PTWC) welcomes collaborations on fundraising projects with artists and companies whose values align with our cause, which is to safeguard the environment and people of the South African West Coast from unethical and destructive mining practices. Such as Cape Town artist Karen Elkington, whose exhibition at the Everard Read London gallery in Franschhoek, 'West Coast Silence', is inspired by the starkly beautiful scenery around Elands Bay on the West Coast. It is an attempt to project both the awesome power of the area and its tragic vulnerability to exploitation. Proceeds from the sale of the painting 'Not Mine', which is specifically about the destruction of the coastline by the diamond industry, will go to support the invaluable work of PTWC. The exhibition starts this Saturday, the 14th of September and ends on the 13th of October. Details are in the images below. A big thanks to Karen and Everard Read for the support!

"What stood out for me during the experience was the beauty of nature and the coastline, the ugliness of the detritus of greedy mining, the sadness of the decline of once booming villages and the resilience of the residents remaining there." - Larry Dolley. https://lnkd.in/dB9Zjmz3

If you are not doing anything on the 22 September, and feel like an ‘active challenge’ to support a worthy initiative, register to run/walk either a 10km or 21km with RUN WEST, starting in Strandfontein. It is not just a race—it's a way to support the protection of the stunning West Coast and make a positive impact. Whether you're an avid runner/walker or just want to contribute to a great cause, this is your chance to get involved and help Protect the West Coast 👉 Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dtDdEfmh Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dZYrvzXD #RunWest #ProtectTheWestCoast #Conservation #JoinTheRace