There is an expression; “You don’t know what you don’t know” but we beg to differ. This all becomes apparent when 26 teachers from surrounding Midlands schools gathered at the Umngeni river for an edible weed walk lead by vocal slow food activist and passionate locavore, Nikki Brighton. A gentle stroll along the river in the Umngeni Conservancy would take many of the … [Read more...]
Recycling champions uplifting communities
Enterprising individuals and organisations across SA are rethinking the recyclability of packaging, educating and uplifting communities, and creating revenue streams among waste reclaimers and SMMEs to boost the circular economy and the environment. From Paarl to Fisantekraal and Zebediela to KwaMhlanga, innovative South Africans are turning recyclable waste into revenue … [Read more...]
Sharing joy from Africa to the world this festive season
Sustainability, collaboration, creativity and compassion are the foundation of the V&A Waterfront’s festive season this year. The 2020 festive period is preceded by months of global upheaval, extended moments of isolation and change that few of us could predict or control. Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is ready to contribute to humanity’s attempts to restore hope and they … [Read more...]
The importance of youth participation in environmental governance
South Africa’s democracy is a combination of a representative and participatory democracy, meaning we elect our representatives to govern our country on our behalf, but that public participation is entrenched as a crucial element in South Africa’s Constitution to ensure our growing democracy reflects the will of the people. Through public participation, South African … [Read more...]
Climate action at community-level: African solutions that really work
Sufficient access to energy and resilient infrastructure are essential to realise the potential of African cities. Three years ago, a series of local-level solutions made five communities very happy. We revisit them to find out if the solutions were, in fact, sustainable. Through the Urban Low Emissions Development Strategies (Urban-LEDS ll) project, ICLEI Africa assisted … [Read more...]
Will the UK House of Lords protect rural residents from toxic pesticides?
Despite the fact that we are in the midst of the biggest public health crisis for a century with the Covid-19 pandemic - and all the mass deaths and horrifying devastation it is causing - the UK government is forging ahead trying to force through various crucial pieces of legislation. One of those pieces of legislation is the Agriculture Bill which was debated and voted on … [Read more...]
Supporting farm workers with food baskets during lockdown
The Covid-19 crisis will also be a hunger crisis. The PHA Food & Farming Campaign are deeply concerned about the impact the lockdown will have on their farmland communities. The PHA Food & Farming Campaign is initiating a drive to support 1550 vulnerable families in the Philippi Horticultural Area with food baskets during the Covid-19 lockdown. These families are … [Read more...]
New recycling project to create jobs in Limpopo
Residents in northern Limpopo are becoming eco warriors, thanks to a new campaign which aims to see environmental waste reduced and much-needed jobs created at the same time. A “separation at source” project is being rolled out in the towns of Thohoyandou and Sibasa in Limpopo’s Thulamela Municipality, thanks to a sponsorship of 200 waste separation bins worth over R160,000 … [Read more...]
Moratorium on the rollout of 5G essential
Radiation exposure has long been a concern for the public, policy makers and health researchers. Beginning with radar during World War II, human exposure to radio-frequency radiation (RFR) and associated technologies has grown more than 100,000-fold. In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed the published literature and categorized RFR as a … [Read more...]
Fossil fuel divestment: will UCT finally heed the call?
It is now six years since Fossil Free SA first called on the University of Cape Town (UCT) to phase out all investments in climate-destroying fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. In those six years, the global fossil fuel divestment movement has grown from a handful of institutions to well over a thousand, including New York, Paris, London, our own city of Cape Town; a whole … [Read more...]
Activists highlight Safripol’s toxic legacy with protest action
It is high time that Safripol, one of Africa’s top plastic manufacturers, takes full responsibility for its toxic legacy of air pollution in local communities. Yesterday, the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) and its supporters protested in Cape Town outside the building where KAP Industrial Holdings Limited's annual shareholder meeting is hosted. This … [Read more...]
Project Manager needed for River Ambassadors Programme
The Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET) are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic self-starter to project manage a novel training programme linked to river corridor rehabilitation. This position requires an engaging person with the relevant field experience and desire to mentor young trainees. Job Information Location: River corridors in Cape Town. … [Read more...]
World record setters raise awareness of ocean pollution
On this week's African Voices Changemakers, CNN meets endurance swimmer Sarah Ferguson and freediver Shamier Magmoet, both of whom are using their talents to raise awareness of pollution in the oceans. World-record setting swimmer Sarah Ferguson is using charity endurance swims to raise awareness of the importance of ocean conservation. She tells the programme why the issue … [Read more...]
