The world is rapidly approaching the 11th hour on fossil fuels, mineral resources and oil reserves.

But there are green programmes that can be implemented now to arrest trends of indifference and to promote a greater awareness of the planet's fragility.

This is the overall message that emerged at the launch last Thursday of Namibia's green charity organisation, Green Awareness Africa (Gawa).

Leading the onslaught against wastage and indifference to the environment, US film producer Stephan McGuire, who made the award-winning green film "The 11th Hour", made an impassioned plea for people to get involved with the fight to save the planet.

Gawa is active in nine other countries already and its Namibia launch was facilitated by media partners The Namibian newspaper and Radio Wave.

The green organisation secured sponsorships worth N$3 million from local companies to kick-start the project.

These include free weekly collection of recyclable waste from businesses by Windhoek's waste removal company, Rent-a-Drum, free advertising space in The Namibian, Business Digest and Radio Wave, while advertising agency Interact is housing the office of Gawa and sponsors the business strategy plans, administration and financial management.

Minister of Environment and Tourism Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made a keynote speech at the launch.

She said: "As I travel in our country, I get worried about too many plastic materials, tins and bottles lying around and I acknowledge that the tourism industry, especially lodges, have done away with the use of plastic bags.

I hope that through the Gawa programme the business sector and the general public will be sensitised to bring an end to the use of plastics, as they are a danger to our environment."

As part of its roll-out in Namibia, plastics and paper will be collected in Windhoek.

"The aim is to lead and grow the green movement in Namibia and to encourage Namibians to practice green awareness at their workplaces," said Gareth Amos, Managing Director of the Interact group of companies at the launch.

"This will encourage healthy environmental practices into their everyday activities, thus making the environment a central issue in corporate Namibia."

Gawa will provide bright green recycling bins in two sizes to businesses for free, one for paper and the other for plastic waste and will empty the bins weeklyt.

Government ministries and state-owned enterprises were encouraged to join the Gawa project.

According to McGuire, who is also the Executive Director of Green Towns USA, focusing on creating healthier communities, "the activities of Gawa will create 'green-collar' jobs in Namibia through the collection of recyclables and the establishment of a green economic sector".