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A PORT Elizabeth environmentalist has just returned from a UN Environment Programme workshop in Japan where he helped draft tough new “green” rules for armies worldwide.

The former head of Nelson Mandela Bay Local Environmentalists (Nimble), Greg Smith, received the invitation “out of the blue” last month after responding two years ago to a UN internet survey on the issue.

With the invitation came the exciting news that his response had been “whizzing around the UN”, and his presence as a speaker at the Okinawa workshop would be greatly appreciated.

Smith said he had used his own background of two years as an officer in the old SADF as well as visits to bases around the Eastern Cape to do the survey.

Focusing on the SANDF bases in the city, he highlighted the decay of buildings, poor waste management, poor maintenance of vehicles, and the lack of comprehensive environmental policies.

He also highlighted the presence of just a single military environmental officer in the Eastern Cape, whereas Okinawa, heavily militarised and smaller than the Eastern Cape, has 40 such officers.

Smith also emphasised the opportunities for soldiers in environmental projects, “rather than just sitting around”.

The Okinawa group hopes the new rules will be approved by Unep and enforced by UN members. A key point calls for armies to involve community representatives in monitoring their activities to promote protection of the environment and cultural sites.