Child activist speaks out against waste‑to‑energy project

A 12-year-old student has drawn national attention to oppose the proposed Energy-from-Waste (EfW) project in Vuda.

Yaeesh Reddy, a Year 7 student at the International School Nadi, has collected 204 signatures supporting the petition raising concerns about the planned facility.

He organised a small campaign, designing and displaying posters around his school and at the Northern Club in Lautoka and speaking to students, friends and members of the public.

“I got interested in this project through the Protect the Heritage Coast Vuda-Saweni group because I care about the ecosystem, marine life and mangroves,” Yaeesh said.

His concern grew after attending an ocean conservation conference last year, where he learned about the importance of protecting coastal environments.

“I am also very concerned about the pollution and environmental impact the proposed incinerator will have on the community,” he said.

“I have a little sister who is only four years old, and I don’t want her to grow up breathing polluted air and getting sick.”

After weeks of campaigning, Yaeesh handed the signed petition to members of the Vuda-Saweni TNG Project Objection group.

The secretary of the Vuda-Saweni TNG Project Objection Taskforce, Ronelle Van Rooyen, said the community opposition to the proposed waste-to-energy project continues to gain momentum, with thousands already backing their petition.

“To date, we have 8105 signed and verified petitions. We are just 600 online signatures away from being the largest online anti-WtE petition in the Southern Hemisphere. If you add our paper petitions, then we have already surpassed that milestone,” Ms Rooyen said.

She is calling on supporters to turn out in numbers for a peaceful march in Lautoka on Friday.

The march will begin at 10am at Shirley Park, with participants walking through the city centre before stopping outside the Department of Environment office to present the petition.

“We are walking together from Shirley Park through the city, past BSP, up Vinod Patel, and over to the PK building, opposite Tigers. That’s where the Department of the Environment is, and the petitions will be officially handed over. They are expecting us,” she said.

Ms Rooyen said the march is the final show of unity from residents opposing to the project.

“This is our time to show the people and the media that we are united as a community. We do not want this waste-to-energy project.”

Youth groups from nearby villages will also take part in the march.

The campaign reflects growing public scrutiny of the proposed development and increasing community mobilisation around environmental concerns.

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