The preservation of the environment is a matter which Jean Marais, owner of Tunes Studio in Stellenbosch and local drummer, has held dear since an early age. A few months ago, and to his utter dismay, he discovered that his hometown sports a severe lack of recycling infrastructure. After a few phone calls to the local municipality and recycling companies in Stellenbosch, … [Read more...]
Cape Town to open Africa’s first electric bus factory
Cape Town's dream of becoming the heart of Africa's green economy got a boost on Tuesday with the announcement of an electric bus manufacturing plant that will create hundreds of jobs. The plant will be opened in 2018 by Chinese green energy firm BYD‚ and it will also make products such as mass-transit monorail systems and solar panels. Mayor Patricia de Lille said BYD … [Read more...]
Young filmmakers the world over invited to strut their stuff
The Film4Climate Global Video Competition invites filmmakers between the ages of 14-35 years old from all over the world to showcase their talents and create a Public Service Advertisement (PSA) (less than 1 min) or a Short Film (1-5 minutes) about climate action. The videos should show a personal climate change narrative: What does climate change mean to you? What … [Read more...]
A Message of Hope and Inspiration
My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people. You are right in your … [Read more...]
‘Normal Is Over’ premiere at Labia Theatre
I have seen so many movies about the decline on our planet. What more is there to learn? How to keep strong when you know so much? But there is a local film maker, Renée Scheltema (pictured, right) from the Netherlands originally, who has dedicated the past 5 years of her life – and mostly her own funds – to travel the world and construct a film to communicate this message … [Read more...]
Teen scientist plans to solve SA crop woes with orange peels
A 16-year-old South African is the regional winner for Middle East and Africa in the Google Science Fair’s Community Impact Award. She is now in line to be one of 16 global finalists and will travel to the Google headquarters in California for the award ceremony. The finals are in September. Kiara Nirghin (photographed right)‚ from St Martin’s High School in Johannesburg‚ … [Read more...]
Why climate change needs 60,000 artists to tell its story
In 2013, one of the world’s leading public relations experts, Bob Pickard, cried out to the climate world: “mobilise us!” In a frustrated op-ed, he listed 20 key problems with climate communication. One of them was “story fatigue”: bland stories with “highly repetitive and stale” themes. Climate information is still often confusing, unengaging and absent from the wider … [Read more...]
Journalists set off in search of African sustainability stories
On April 9th 2016, a 3-person team of mobile journalists will begin an epic 14,000 km trans-African cycling expedition from Cape Town, South Africa to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Travelling unsupported for up to 10 months, carrying all their equipment, the team will produce documentary shorts that showcase ordinary people doing extraordinary things for their community and planet. … [Read more...]
Nigerian woman weaves wonders from water weeds
Along the Niger Delta, an abundance of vivid purple flowers are blooming gently on the surface of the water, adding a touch of colour to the inland waterways. But that's where the beauty ends because these striking flowers are water hyacinths - an aquatic weed wreaking havoc in local communities and ruining water supplies. Not only does this fast-growing water pest … [Read more...]
SIMA celebrates best impact documentaries from around the world
The annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) celebrate the best impact documentaries from around the world that inspire activism, compassion and social transformation. SIMA has announced the finalists for the 2016 edition of their unique initiative. The selected finalists will compete in the two categories Documentaries (Features, Shorts) and Impact Videos (Innovations, … [Read more...]
PVC products enjoy spotlight at recycled product of the year awards
Products made from PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) could be hard to recycle. Do not fall for the popular misconception that PVC is not recyclable. South Africa saw a 3.9 % increase in the total amount of PVC, or vinyl, diverted from landfill in 2014 (18 488 tons). SAPRO’s Recycled Product of the Year Awards which took place in Stellenbosch recently, proved that there is a growing … [Read more...]
Ten years later, Daisies keeps getting better
Not only does Daisies never normally disappoint, this year they had their ten-year anniversary celebrations to add to the mix. And keeping this ever-expanding eco-friendly festival event of epic proportions going for so long is a feat worth celebrating indeed! I was lucky to be able to make it on Thursday already for a change this year with my good friend and awesome … [Read more...]
Rediscovering ourselves in nature
When we no longer shudder at the ecological warning calls of science, the only voice left that can awaken us belongs to the poets. To hear that voice is to hear the language of the soul. Author and activist, Ian McCullum shares how we are impacting our environment and what we need to do as a human race to reverse the negative effects of over-population and our lack of care … [Read more...]
